IAAF World Junior Championships 2004

On Day Two (7/14) of the IAAF Junior World Championships in Italy, Nicole Leach won her heat of the 400 Hurdles in 57.98, the 2nd fastest time of the day. Former William Penn star Christina Smith, now at Clemson, did not advance from the first heat in the 400 Hurdles, going 1:00.42. And Leach teammate, rising junior Latavia Thomas, ran out of PR\'s and went 2:09.11 to miss the finals of the 800. On Tuesday, she had run 23:07.17, a PR, to advance to the Semis. Also on Day One, Union City grad Justin Clickett threw the 6kg shot 60-08 to advance to Finals later that day where he threw 59-04.50 to finish 12th.

Running against the best competition in her life, West Catholic\'s Nicole Leach ran a PR of 57.56 to take 4th in the IAAF Junior Outdoor World Championships in Grosseto, Italy. She was just .12 out of 2nd. The race was won in 55.55 by Russia\'s Katya Kostetskaya, who will be a frosh at Texas State University this coming fall.

O\'Hara grad Robert McDade finished 7th in the first bracket of Discus (1.750kg) qualifers on Day 4 with a throw of 179-05.50, then waited for the 2nd bracket before he learned he had missed the finals by one spot, just 10.25 inches. He would finish 13th. And Norristown grad Michael Whitehead was 9th overall, and did not advance in the Triple Jump, going 49-10.00.

Florida Gator Kerron Clement set a new championship record today, on his way to the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy. The freshman won the 400 meter hurdles in a meet record time of 48.51, despite appearing to falter before the last two hurdles.

On Day Five, the next to last of competition at the IAAF Junior World Championships in Italy, Juanita Broaddus and her 4x100 teammates posted a 44:00. The mark was the second fastest of the day. Finals are Sunday. Broaddus graduated from William Penn (Philly) in 2003. And Nicole Leach ran the first leg of the 4x400 Trials, as they posted the fastest qualifer in 3:30.13.

Ivory Williams graduate of Beaumont Central won the IAAF World Junior Championship 100m.

Kerron Clement and Brandon Johnson are the best juniors in the world. Kerron (LaPorte/Florida) and Brandon Johnson (West Orange Stark/UCLA) went 1-2 in the 400 Hurldes at the World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy

Rising USC Gamecock sophomores Ronnetta Alexander and Stephanie Smith competed at the World Junior Track and Field Championships from July 12-18 in Grosseto, Italy.