06-26-2004

COLLEGE STATION - Eighteen-year-old Caitlin Chock broke a 25-year-old U.S. high school record and the USA Junior championships record in the women's 5,000m on day two of competition at the 2004 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The University of Richmond-bound Chock ran 16 minutes, 10.60 seconds to better the U.S. high school record of 16:13.7 set in 1979 by Mary Shea of Raleigh, N.C., and set a Frank G. Anderson track and field facility record.

"Going into my race, I wanted to get the qualifying time, so I was going to go out kind of strong," said Chock. "I'm really excited to represent the U.S., I've been shooting for this all season, it's a really big honor." The 18-year-old Roseville, Calif., native also bettered the USA Junior Championships record of 16:28.60 set in 2003 by Amy Hastings. University of Arkansas' Sarah Saffa finished second in 17:36.72.

Ashley Owens upset former high school phenom Allyson Felix in the women's 100m dash. The UNLV-bound Owens ran an 11.12 to secure her spot on the USA World junior squad, while Felix finished in 11.23.

In the men's decathlon, Tennessee sophomore Chris Helwick swept the last three events and won his first USA Junior Championship, scoring 7358 points. Jangy Addy was second (7102).

Kentucky high school state indoor and outdoor pole vault record holder, Chip Heuser won the men's pole vault with a clearance of 5.00 meters/16 feet, 4.75 inches. "Each year at Junior Nationals has been stiff, stiff competition. This year is different," said Heuser. "The pole vault turned into a marathon due to the rain. Everyone was jumping really well last night, this morning we were all kind of dead.

Zach Pollinger was pretty confident entering the men's 10,000m race walk and finished first in a time of 48 minutes, 22.40 seconds. "I knew I was not going to get a PR because I was just trying to place," said Pollinger. "I tried to loosen up after two-miles and began to feel pretty confident as I pulled the lap splits down and opened up the gap." Jared Swehosky of Stayton High School (Ore.) was second with a time of 48:39.57.

Nicholas Brown won the men's long jump with a mark of 7.42m/24-4.25 followed by the University of Wisconsin's Paul Hubbard finished second leaping 7.42m/24-4.25 (+2.0 wind). Brown hit his mark on the first jump, then fouled five consecutive times. However, Norris Frederick will represent the U.S., as he made the qualifying standard at the Golden West meet in Sacramento, Calif., June 12. Norris, a freshman at the University of Washington, jumped 7.14m/23-5.25 to finish seventh in today's competition.

In the men's 10,000m run, James Hower won in 31:21.13 followed by William & Mary's Keith Bechtol (31:24.33), and LaSalle University's Sean Quigley (31:33.58) finishing in third-place.

In the day's other events, Nicole Leach of Philadelphia, Pa., won the women's 400m hurdles (58.48) with Christina Smith finishing second in 59.53. In the women's 800m, LaTavia Thomas placed first with a time of 2:08.11. UCLA sophomore Brandon Johnson won the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 49.59 seconds, while 2004 NCAA outdoor 400m hurdles champion Kerron Clement finished second in 50.86. 2003 Pan Am Junior 5,000m gold medalist Galen Rupp won the men's 5,000m, finishing in 14:16.21.

More than 700 of the country's finest athletes ages 19 and under are competing for the right to represent Team USA at the 2004 IAAF World Junior Championships July 13-18 in Grosseto, Italy. Competition concludes Sunday.

For more information on the 2004 USA Junior Championships and the Verizon Youth Series, including results and a complete list of the athletes entered in the event, visit the redesigned USATF website at www.usatf.org.