Several of the state\'s top athletes in track and field competed in this past week\'s USATF Junior Olympic National Championships held at Morgan State University in Baltimore. A total of two national titles, one national runner-up, and more than a handful of top eight finishes highlighted the six day of event for Virginia.
Park View sophomore Natalie Baird had another monster 150 plus foot throw in the discus as her mark of 152\'2.75\" on day four earned her a national title in the intermediate girls age group. Her throw was a Junior Olympics age group record in the event.
All-American jumper Marlon Woods, a recent graduate of Booker T. Washington and future member of the Norfolk State University track squad, won his second national title of the year in the high jump with a clearance of 6\'9.75\" in the young men\'s high jump. Woods had won his first national title at Nike Indoor Nationals in March. He also finished third in the young men\'s long jump with a mark of 23\'4\" and eighth in the triple jump at 46\'9\" as AAA outdoor state champion Antonio Miller of Manchester was the top finisher in the event at 47\'5.75\" for fourth place.
Bethel\'s Shakia Forbes was a national runner-up at the USATF Junior Olympics in the young women\'s long jump with a personal best mark in 19\'9.75\". An All-American outdoors, Forbes also finished ahead of AAA indoor state champion Brittni Finch (4th, 18\'10.75\") of Centreville and outdoor state champion Brittni Dixon-Smith (18\'9.75\") of Woodbridge.
Nike Outdoor Nationals runner-up in the 400 meter hurdles, Nicole Saunders of Menchville, finished fourth in the finals of the young women\'s 400 meter hurdles in a time of 1:00.94. Menchville teammate Kali Watkins ran seventh in the young women\'s 100 meter hurdles finish with a swift time of 14.05, but benefited from an illegal wind of 3.1.
Taylor Sykes of Great Bridge, who has yet to begin his freshmen year of high school, took seventh in the finals of the 400 meter dash in 49.34.
Several of the state\'s top athletes in track and field competed in this past week\'s USATF Junior Olympic National Championships held at Morgan State University in Baltimore. A total of two national titles, one national runner-up, and more than a handful of top eight finishes highlighted the six day of event for Virginia.
Park View sophomore Natalie Baird had another monster 150 plus foot throw in the discus as her mark of 152\'2.75\" on day four earned her a national title in the intermediate girls age group. Her throw was a Junior Olympics age group record in the event.
All-American jumper Marlon Woods, a recent graduate of Booker T. Washington and future member of the Norfolk State University track squad, won his second national title of the year in the high jump with a clearance of 6\'9.75\" in the young men\'s high jump. Woods had won his first national title at Nike Indoor Nationals in March. He also finished third in the young men\'s long jump with a mark of 23\'4\" and eighth in the triple jump at 46\'9\" as AAA outdoor state champion Antonio Miller of Manchester was the top finisher in the event at 47\'5.75\" for fourth place.