Baker elevates to No. 4 all-time prep performer and sixth in U.S. U-20 history to hold off Fiamoncini; Amaechi, Wilson return to American roster by taking top two spots in discus

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

BLOOMINGTON – Dana Baker went big on her first throw Friday in the women’s javelin competition and it turned out to be the biggest performance by any of the prep female athletes at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships at Hayes Track at the Haugh Complex.

Baker not only improved her high school national lead with an opening effort of 178 feet, 1 inch (54.28m), but the Olathe North KS standout elevated to the No. 4 all-time prep performer and sixth in American U-20 history to edge Bucknell freshman Maura Fiamoncini for the title. Both athletes secured spots on the U.S. roster to compete July 10-15 at the IAAF World U-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

BAKER INTERVIEW | FIAMONCINI INTERVIEW | WATCH LIVE WEBCAST

“It felt pretty good. I wish I could have matched it with some other throws, but it was really nice to start off the day like that,” said the Duke-bound Baker, who is ranked No. 8 among World U-20 performers this year.

“I was ready for this. I got really nervous toward the beginning, but I was really excited to compete against the best. I still feel like there is more there, I just have to put it together. But I was excited to see progress.”

Fiamoncini, the No. 2 all-time U.S. U-20 performer at 184-5 (56.21m), had an opening effort Friday of 177-3 (54.02m). But she couldn’t improve on her March 31 mark from the Jim Taylor Invitational which has her ranked No. 3 among World-U20 athletes this year.

“I’m not really disappointed. Any thrower here could have popped a big one off, so I’m just happy how it turned out,” Fiamoncini said. “The key for me has just been consistency. Coming into the season, I wouldn’t have expected any of this. I couldn’t be any happier with how the season has gone.”

Princeton freshman Obi Amaechi elevated to the No. 9 women’s discus performer in U.S. U-20 history with a third-round throw of 186-11 (56.98m) to win the title after placing second last year with an effort of 174-2 (53.10m). UCLA freshman Alyssa Wilson took runner-up with a second-round throw of 176-8 (53.84m) to return to the American roster after winning the hammer throw and taking second in the shot put last year in Sacramento.

AMAECHI INTERVIEW

“I think this one means a lot more to me based on the fact that I came in understanding what the competition was all about,” said Amaechi, who placed fourth last year at the Pan American U-20 Championships in Trujillo, Peru.

“My senior year of high school I went to the meet and it was the biggest meet I’d ever been to and I had no idea what I was competing for. Now that I actually know what the competition is, there is more pressure created by it, but it makes me really happy that I was able to fight through that and (maintain) a good mindset and perform.”

USC freshman Twanisha “Tee Tee” Terry won the 100-meter dash in a wind-legal 11.24 seconds, leading a quartet of first-year collegiate athletes to sweep the top four spots.

TERRY INTERVIEW

Alabama’s Daija Lampkin took second in 11.34 to secure the other automatic berth to race in Finland, with Florida State’s Jayla Kirkland and Alabama’s Tamara Clark both running 11.37 to place third and fourth and be added to the American 4x100 relay pool.

Terry, a member of USC’s national championship team, still boasts the fastest wind-legal time among World U-20 athletes this year at 10.99.

Furman’s Kristlin Gear prevailed in the 3,000 steeplechase in 10:28.05, with Michigan’s Alice Hill taking second in her first career steeplechase race in 10:31.07. Gear has a personal best of 9:52.71 from the NCAA Division 1 East Regionals, which ranks her No. 8 among World U-20 performers this year.

GEAR INTERVIEW

Texas A&M freshman Sammy Watson, the reigning NCAA Division 1 Outdoor champion, led all qualifiers into the 800-meter final in 2:08.31. Wausau West WI junior Brooke Jaworski posted the fastest 400-meter hurdles time by clocking 58.68 seconds.