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XO Turns in Three Top Ten Performances at Nationals!Published by
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XO Turns in Three Top Ten Performances at Nationals! Carson, CA – Warm weather and a generation of young talent prevailed on a sunny day in Carson, CA, site of this year’s USA Track and Field National Championships. Among the many world class performances was a note-worthy mark set by 400 meter hurdler Kerron Clement who ran his way to number seven all the all-time world list at 47.20. Team XO sent five athletes altogether. Adam Kriz and Cari Soong both competed in the hammer throw as they did last year at the Olympic Trials. Kriz managed his best finish ever at a national championships and a very consistent series of throws. “I’m very happy,” said Kriz of his performance, “every throw was right up there, 218 (feet), 219, 220, 219 . . . It was my best single day of throwing ever.” At 220-9, Kriz earned eighth place, one of three top eight finishes on the weekend for Team XO. Soong also found success as a throw of 213-10 earned her a sixth place finish in a field that included Erin Gilreath on a day when she broke her own American Record. “This was my best finish ever at USA [Nationals],” said Soong. “[It] was pretty fun. It was my first time competing at [Nationals] as a post-collegiate, so it was an open slate [on what would come of it]. I wish I could have connected on one of my throws but it just gets me fired up [to do better] next year.” Soong finishes a year where she dominated the region and continues to improve and make a name for her in the national throwing scene. XO high jumper Kyley Johnson felt ready for a breakthrough the day of his final. “I felt great as I even cleared 7-0 in warm-ups which I have never done before in my career,” said Johnson. Unfortunately equipment failure was to blame for his end result of “No Height” as Johnson describes that “on my first jump I planted and my shoe blew out.” Not having his second pair of shoes readily available, a quick fix was not enough to make the shoes comfortable enough to jump in and he courageously took his three attempts at 6-11.5 but came up short. “I’m just happy to have finished the year ranked in the top 15,” smiles Johnson after what was a very solid 2005 campaign in which he notched in his belt a new personal record. Simidele Adeagbo almost matched her performance of last year’s Olympic Trials (12th) as she finished thirteenth in a field of twenty-two jumpers. Well off her personal record, Adeagbo finished at 42-8.25. Happy to have had another opportunity to jump against the nation’s best, Simi looks forward to continuing her success into the 2006 campaign. The top finisher for XO at this year’s Nationals goes to 3000 meter steeplechaser Max King who completes a breakthrough year. King now adds a fifth place finish at USA Outdoors to his resume as he ran to a personal record and new Team XO Record of 8:33.06. “After [the prelims] a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders because the final is supposed to be fun and just to see how hard you can race,” said King. “Unfortunately, I don’t feel like I raced up to my potential . . . . The good thing is that I ran pretty fast but know I can run faster and I’ll be back to prove it.”
Saturday, June
25, 2005
Friday, June
24, 2005
Preview Team XO’s 5 2005 US Outdoor qualifiers! Team XO’s 5 2005 US Outdoor qualifiers! Max King -- Men's 3000 meter Steeplechase Lastly we had another athlete that qualified
but will not be going to the meet.
The XO Invite was not to be missed in its 2005 edition. With many of the top athletes in the state on hand, statewide bragging rights were up for grabs in almost every event. The highlights are perhaps too many to name in such a short space, but the 2005 XO Invite cannot be mentioned in the same breath without Newberg’s Rachel Yurkovich’s national record setting javelin throw of 176-5. This is one XO Invite record that may stand a while. So, after a day of gutsy performances, state-leading marks, and competition so intense that the meet came down to the final events where Benson and Summit looked to be about ready to cut the XO trophy straight down the middle, it ended up being the perennial powerhouse Techmen of Benson who raced to wins in both 4x400 meter relays and the team title. Please visit www.xoinvite.com for full results and a full press release. As the 2005 USA Track and Field National Championships looms, several XO athletes who have already qualified tune up and several others look to qualify soon. Athletes who have qualified include: Simidele Adeagbo in both the long and triple jump, she recently took part in a world-class field at the Prefontaine Classic in the long jump earning a seventh place finish at 6.11 meters (20-0.5); Cari Soong in the women’s hammer throw; Adam Kriz and Justin Carvalho in the men’s hammer; John Stiegeler in the javelin; and Max King in the 3000 meter steeplechase. On the bubble are: Kyley Johnson and Jason Boness in the high jump; Paul Kezes in either the 5000 or 10,000 meter races; and Brandon Holliday in the 400 meter hurdles. Team XO also looks forward to the upcoming XO Athletic Camp to be held July 25-28. This camp is designed for athletes of all sports who want to improve their overall athleticism. Members of Team XO will be on hand to share their knowledge and experience of competing at the PAC-10 and National Championships. More information can be found at www.teamxo.com under the XO Athletic Camp tab. Kevin Ullman More news
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