Ogbonnia surpasses 70 feet with 6-kilogram implement, with Sobota qualifying in both shot put and discus; Tyler secures back-to-back high jump titles, with Barnes making third straight U.S. U-20 roster

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

MIRAMAR – Otito Ogbonnia knew it was coming, he just had to remain patient in pursuit of a special shot put performance.

That moment finally came Sunday in the sixth round at the USATF U-20 Outdoor Championships, when the UCLA freshman became a 70-foot performer for the first time in his career at Florida’s Ansin Sports Complex.

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Following a collegiate season competing with the 16-pound implement, Ogbonnia propelled the 6-kilogram shot put (13.2 pounds) out to 70-3.50 (21.42m), becoming only the fourth American U-20 athlete in history to surpass 70 feet.

Ogbonnia, one of three Bruins to place in the top 10 with the 16-pound shot June 5 at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, also became the first UCLA thrower to capture the men’s U-20 title since Braheme Days in 2014.

Kentucky freshman Joshua Sobota, already on the American roster to compete July 19-21 at the Pan-Am U-20 Outdoor Championships in the discus throw, finished second with a mark of 68-6 (20.88m) in the fourth round to ascend to the No. 8 all-time American U-20 performer with the 6-kilogram implement.

Sobota is one of four U.S. athletes who earned the opportunity to compete in multiple individual events in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Two athletes who will provide valuable international experience for the American roster will be high jumpers Shelby Tyler and Sanaa Barnes, who took the top two spots at the U-20 final for the second straight year.

Barnes, a Villanova freshman, was the only U.S. athlete to make a third straight U-20 team after finishing second in the high jump for the third straight year following a first-attempt clearance at 5-10.75 (1.80m).

Tyler, a Noblesville IN graduate and Georgia signee, became the first female athlete to repeat as champion since former Auburn standout Maya Pressley in 2009-10 with a third-attempt clearance at 6 feet (1.83m). She also became the first prep athlete since Amy Acuff in 1992-93 to win consecutive titles before entering college.

Auburn freshman Dontavious Hill won the men’s high jump crown with a first-attempt clearance at 6-11.75 (2.13m), but there was drama in determining the second spot on the American roster.

Charles McBride II of Apex NC prevailed in the second round of a jumpoff against Colorado freshman Jeremy Cody after both athletes made 6-9.75 (2.08m) on their first attempts.

Kansas freshman Treyvon Ferguson relied on a strong first-round effort of 52-11 (16.13m) in the triple jump to hold off Brien McMahon CT graduate Justin Forde, who elevated to the No. 14 all-time prep performer with a 52-10 (16.10m) second-round jump.

Houston Memorial TX junior Claire Bryant, representing Houston Christian Track Club, soared to a 20-1 (6.12m) effort in the fourth round and added another 20-foot performance on her final attempt to win the long jump.

Albany freshman Ijeyi Onah ascended from fourth to second with her final jump of 19-4 (5.89m) to earn a spot on the American roster.