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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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Blair wins Junior Olympics title in 3,000 meters

Shipley places second in javelin in her age group

By , Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter
Published:

Rachel Blair of Camas is a national champion.

The 13-year-old won the 3,000-meter race on Saturday for her age division at the United States Track and Field Junior Olympics National Championships. The meet was held at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Blair, one of 11 Evergreen Storm Track Club athletes at the national meet, won the race for girls ages 13-14 with a time of 10 minutes, 5.83 seconds. Blair finished almost 3 seconds ahead of runner-up Isabella Fauria of Sacramento.

Blair is the eighth Evergreen Storm athlete to win a national title in the six-year history of the Clark County club. She had the second fastest qualifying time for the nationals.

“I was more in disbelief than anything,” Blair said of her emotions at the finish line.

Blair, though, said she prepared to win. Blair, who is entering her freshman year at Camas High School, said she was aware of her competitor’s times and prepared with the goal of winning.

The start of the race was a bit unnerving. Blair made it to the track without a race number on, so she had to find her number and hustle to the starting line. She said she fought for a spot on the inside near the front for the first half of the race. With two laps remaining Blair and two others separated from the lead pack. With about 300 yards to go, Blair kicked away from Fauria and with 100 meters left was confident she would win the race.

Scott Timmons, the head coach for the Storm, said Blair ran a smart race. He wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

“She is not afraid of any workout and/or competitor,” Timmons said. “She pushes herself very hard and has a smile on her face the entire time.”

The Storm nearly had a second national champion. Kaelyn Shipley took second place in the javelin for girls ages 15-16. Her mark was 144 feet, 1 inch. Shipley, 13, had a consistent series of six throws and finished with her farthest toss. Keira McCarrell of Salem, Ore., won the event with a throw of 147-3 on her first throw of the finals.

Miguel De La Melena earned all-American status (top eight) in the 2,000-meter steeplechase and as part of a 3,200-meter relay team for boys ages 15-16. He finished third in the steeplechase with a time of 6:44.

In the relay, Sean Flynn, Miguel Cruz, Parker Lihnhart-Wubbena and De La Melena teamed to earn the Storm a fourth-place finish with a time of 8:25. They entered the race with the 13th-best qualifying time.

De La Melena also competed in the 800 meters (24th in 2:05) and in the 1,500 meters (21st in 4:20).

Here are the results for the other Evergreen Storm athletes who made the trip to Florida for the nationals:

• Amanda Creagan placed 21st in the discus (108-2) and 26th in the shot put (33-7) for girls ages 15-16.

• Evan Yackell placed 27th in the 3,000 meters (10:04) for boys ages 17-18.

• Ethan Gould placed 31st in the high jump (5-foot-5) for boys ages 15-16.

• Blake Derringer placed 32nd in the 400 meters (55.15) and 49th in the 200 (24.52) for boys ages 13-14.

• Will Sun placed 34th in the 400-meter hurdles (1:01) and 51st in the 110 hurdles (17.80) for boys ages 15-16.

The Evergreen Storm qualified athletes for the nationals in 55 events, though many chose not to make the trip to Florida. Storm founder Scott Slamp said he expects many more will go next summer when the Junior Olympics nationals are in Sacramento.

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Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter