Leone, Settle earn summer track and field honors

Reigning state champion distance runner Alexis Leone continued her winning ways last week, earning two victories at the USATF Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif.

Leone won the 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters in the Girls 15-16 Division.

In the 1,500 finals on Sunday, Leone’s winning time of 4 minutes, 36.45 seconds was nearly six seconds faster than the second-place runner.

On Saturday, Leone claimed the 3,000 meter crown in 10:05.55 for a winning margin of more than 30 seconds.

Leone, who will be a junior at Seton Catholic this fall, won the Class 1A state cross country individual title last November, leading the Cougars to the first team championship in the history of the nine-year-old school.

Leone followed that up with two championships at Class 1A state track and field meet in May, claiming the 1,600 and 3,200.

Kelso track and field star Josie Settle is also having a successful summer. The soon-to-be senior placed third in the heptathlon at the AAU Junior Olympic Games on Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. Her score of 4,375 points earned All-American status.

In May, Settle won the Class 3A state championship in the triple jump while also placing in the long jump, high jump and 300 hurdles.