Cunliffe produces meet’s all-time best clearance to secure first Junior Olympic national title; Washington sweeps men’s long jump and triple jump crowns

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Chloe Cunliffe came to the 52nd USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships with two significant pole vault records already to her credit.

The West Seattle WA junior added another to her resume Friday and nearly produced the most historic vault of her career at North Carolina A&T’s Aggie Stadium in Greensboro.

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Cunliffe, representing Seattle Speed Track Club, set the meet record by clearing 13 feet, 11 inches (4.24m) on her second attempt to win her first 17-18 women’s national championship.

Cunliffe had already established the national Junior Olympic record, in addition to improving on her own Washington all-time best July 7 by clearing 14 feet (4.27m) at the USATF Region 13 Championships at Summit High in Oregon.

“I feel really good about it, like I really accomplished a lot,” who eclipsed the 2016 meet record of 13-10.50 (4.23m) by Winthrop University’s Alina McDonald, representing KMR Athletics.

“It means a lot. It feels really good to see my name up there.”

Cunliffe took attempts for the second time in her career at surpassing the junior class national record, but missed on three opportunities at 14-3.25 (4.35m).

“I probably just needed more energy,” Cunliffe said. “I feel like on the first two, I wasn’t really paying attention to the wind, which was my fault, because I should have moved forward. But I think I just needed to be more aggressive because my run was kind of dying.”

Cunliffe concluded her sophomore year with a personal-best 13-1.50 (4.00m) after winning the Region 13 title. But after capturing the WIAA 3A state championship May 26, Cunliffe became the 13th prep female athlete in history – and fifth junior – to clear 14 feet outdoors.

With her performance Friday, Cunliffe became the only girls pole vaulter in the country this year to clear at least 13-11 twice.

“I noticed a huge difference in my results this year due to my focus in my entire training,” Cunliffe said. “(I took) a lot more vaults at practice. I think I just worked harder and at practices, I paid a lot more attention and put in a lot more work.”

New Caney TX graduate Nastassja Campbell, a Stephen F. Austin signee, also entered the competition with a 14-foot clearance from March 31 at the 91st Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Campbell was among six athletes Friday who cleared 12-5.50 (3.80m), but tied for third based on fewer attempts.

North Brunswick NC graduate Jayhlen Washington, representing Cape Fear Flyers, secured his second men’s 17-18 national title, winning the triple jump with a third-round leap of 50-11.50 (15.53m) to prevail against Jequan Hogan of Fountain-Fort Carson CO, who nearly rallied for victory in the sixth round, but came up just short at 50-11 (15.52m).

Washington, who will attend Sandhills Community College in North Carolina, also won the long jump championship Wednesday with a third-round effort of 23-11 (7.29m).

After placing third Wednesday in the women’s 17-18 shot put, Raymond WA graduate and USC signee Karlee Freeman, representing Team Evolution, captured the discus championship Friday with a fifth-round throw of 158-8 (48.38m).

Kathleen Young of South Carolina, the shot put winner with a 50-0 (15.24m) effort, placed second in the discus with a throw of 147-6 (44.96m).

Grand Forks Red River ND sophomore Shelby Frank, representing Ragnarok Athletic Club, rebounded from a fifth-place finish Wednesday in the girls 15-16 shot put to prevail Friday in the discus with a third-round performance of 157-8 (48.06m).

Helena MT sophomore Trey Tintinger, representing Helena Vigilante Runners Club, secured the boys 15-16 high jump championship with a third-attempt clearance of 6-10.75 (2.10m).