On the fifth day of competition at the 21st AAU Club National Championships, it was a day filled with impressive 800m races and rain delays. The delays caused the meet to be over two hours behind, causing them to roll over the remaining 200m heats to the semifinals, and to run the 4x100m relays the following day.
The 800m finals were the first event of the day for all age groups under 12. South Florida didn't fail to represent and take home some hardware throughout the time final.
Kiara Alexandre of Miami Gardens Express started off the day and took home gold for South Florida in the 8 year old division running 2:44.82.
The major highlight of the 800m was Cha'lel Johnson and her record breaking performance. Johnson just came from the USATF Regional Qualifier running 56.48 in the 400m, separating herself from the field very easily.
She applied that same skill and determination to her 800m race. Johnson set the record by running 2:14.80, setting such a quick pace that 2nd place, Serenity Brazell aslo broke the record (2:15.76).
In the 12 year-old boys 800m, MGX swept the event.
Jaleel Gelin (1st - 2:12.86)
Menki Gammons (2nd - 2:15.66)
Isaiah Scott (3rd - 2:16.61)
Once past the 12-year old boys, the 800m turns into a preliminary race all the way to the ages of 17-18. In the 15-16 year-old girls age group, a real fight-to-the-finish final seems to be on the horizon with an evenly matched prelim. 3x AAU Club 800m Champion, Daishon Spann ran a solid 2:19.86 with no pressure from competition in her heat of the 800m. While past AAU Club National Championship record holder of the 12 year-old girls 800m, Athing Mu ran 2:19.68 with the next fastest time in her heat being 2:26.
Mu's record was broken by Cha'lel Johnson, coincidently only a few races before she took the track herself.
It's not every day where a pair of twins competes in the same track meet, as well as the same event, while running the top 2 performances going into the semifinals. Keaton (1:54.08) and Colin Jones (1:54.21) are ready to run side by side in the 17-18 year-old boys 800m final.
Following the 800m runs, came the 200m dash prelims. With over a thousand kids running in the event, the gunman and officials were doing everything they could to keep the meet moving quickly. However, Mother Nature had different plans for the day. The 200m was stalled for over an hour before it was clear to return to the track, for only to be put on another weather watch shortly after.
The South Florida sophomore and junior class from the 15-16 girls 100m got to compete before the final decision was made to roll over the remaining heats to the next round. Briana Williams had the second fastest time overall, but the fastest wind legal time with 23.83, which is only two tenths shy of Symone Mason's record of 23.66. Teon Elite girls, Zahria Allers (3rd - 24.41), Myra Cadet (6th - 24.60) and Morgan Rhett (9th - 24.65) and Danielle Bess (10th - 24.66)
Tomorrow is a new day, and the track and field doesn't stop at the AAU National Club Championships.
