Patrick out to first day lead, Christensen takes javelin

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

SACRAMENTO -- Texas freshman George Patrick of Texas took a first-day lead in the junior men's decathlon on Friday as the USATF Junior Championships began its three-day run concurrent with the senior championships.

Patrick, fourth in the 2015 World Youth Championships decathlon, got off to a strong start with 4,113 points. 

High school junior Kyle Garland of Philadelphia, Pa. is second with 3,819 points.

"Not a bad day for me," Garland said. "Some good PRs in the 100 and shot put so I can't complain."

In the only final of the first day, Liam Christensen won his second national title in the javelin in less than a week. The senior from Academic Magnet in South Carolina (a state that doesn't offer javelin in its championships) threw 225 feet, 8 inches on his third attempt and won by more than nine feet. 

Christensen won the New Balance Nationals Outdoor title last weekend in Greensboro, N.C. 

"Luckily I planned ahead and got on California time as quickly as I could," he said of the short turnaround. "It was just a bunch of preparation."

The top two finishers at the USATF Junior Championships qualify to represent the U.S. at Pan Am Juniors in Peru, July 21-23.