City of Columbia Missouri

P.O. BOX 6015
COLUMBIA, MO 65205

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 10, 2015

CONTACT: Camren Cross, Parks and Recreation, 874-6378

Columbia Youth Win Two Championships and 17 All American Crowns at AAU

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

A total of 44 athletes from Columbia's Blue Thunder Track Club qualified and competed in the AAU National Junior Olympic Games at Norfolk State University in Virginia, from August 1-8.  More than 11,000 athletes from across the country competed. 

Local youth won two national championships and 17 All American crowns, which are earned by placing in the top 8 nationally.  A total of 53 Blue Thunder athletes qualified to compete, but only 44 were able to participate.

Blue Thunder's National All American Performances are:

Jackson Cantwell, 8 year olds, Shot Put, 22'10.5", 6th place

Jayden McCaster, 8 year olds, Turbo Javelin, 67'4", 8th place

Joshua Larkins, 9 year olds, Shot Put, 28'7.5", National Champion

Kaleb Schweikert, 10 year olds, 1500m Race Walk, 11:14.57, 8th place

Me'Khi Williams, 11 year olds, Shot Put, 34'3.5", 5th place

Kevin Schweikert, 12 year olds, 1500m Race Walk, 10:04.36, 7th place

Eryn Puett, 13 year olds, Javelin, 117'5" National Champion; Shot Put 43'0.25" Bronze Medalist

Zaida Williams, 14 year olds, Javelin, 83'4", 8th place

Kurtis Schweikert, 14 year olds, 300m Race Walk, 19:26.04, 4th place

Peyton Davis, 14 year olds, Pentathlon, 3099, Bronze Medalist; High Jump, 5'8.75", Silver Medalist

Cayla Davis, 17-18 year olds, 3000m Race Walk, 18:10.97, Silver Medalist

Davis Atkins, 17-18 year olds, 800m, 2:19.54, 8th place

Hannah Schweikert, 17-18 year olds, 3000m Race Walk, 18:50.55, 4th place

Rachel Briner, 17-18 year olds, 3000m Race Walk, 11:35.17, 7th place

Faramola Shonekan, Katie Imhoff, Davis Atkins, Jerica Mahaney, 17-18 year olds, 4x800m Relay, 9:48.38, 4th place

Here is a list of the rest of the 53 young men & women that qualified for the national championships from Blue Thunder that were unable to medal:  Jaleah Brookins, Athena Peterson, Makaylin Viet, Zy'Shyreion Hawthorne-Brown, Rhiannon Williamson, Abigail Tarrant, Eleanor Bacon, Hannah Wise, Sabrina Schlacks, Mara Davis, Mya White, Marissa Kraus, Tyra Wilson, DeAriel Derritt, Sasha Campbell, Brianne Campbell, Ojurere Shonekan, Tara Hillebrand, Jacquelyn Walker, Nicholas Timbrook, Zachary Wright, Charles Johnson, Dominic Viet, Oscar Bomgaars, Jaden Hill, Weston Jokerst, Stefan Appold, Marquese Johnson, Tate Fletcher, Marquis McCaster, Ethan Schroeder, Markus Anzaldua, Mojuba Shonekan, Isaac Young, Chandler Gibbens, Christopher Crane, Brian Williams.



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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