Barbosa second, Navarro fourth at USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field meet

Four freshmen members of the Arizona State University track and field program competed in the 2008 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio. Two of those competitors, Nectaly Barbosa and Cj Navarro, placed among the Top 4 in their respective events, as each athlete competing in the meet was looking to finish in the Top 2 of their event and earn a place on Team USA for the 2008 IAAF World Junior Outdoor Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland (July 8-13).

Barbosa, a 2008 All-American in the outdoor 800m run last week at the NCAA Championships, was the meet leader after the preliminary run of the 1,500m event, clocking in at 3:50.92 to advance to the final where he was joined by teammate Dylan Hatcher, who placed 12th in 3:56.14 to earn the final qualifying spot. In the final, Barbosa clocked a time of 3:49.44 to place second and earn a spot on the Team USA roster while Hatcher, who redshirted his rookie year with the Sun Devils, placed 11th overall in 4:02.13.

On the women’s side, Navarro and Dominique’ Maloy both competed in a pair of events. Navarro, who redshirted this season, placed fourth in the discus with a toss of 49.29m (161-08) while also finishing 21st in the shot put at 12.91m (42-04.25). Maloy, an All-American in the 4x400m relay this season, ran in the preliminary rounds of the 100m and 200m dash events, but did not advance to the finals. Battling head winds, Maloy ran 12.02 (-2.3) in the 100m dash to place 13th before missing the 200m final by one place as she was 10th at 24.28 (-1.1).

While Barbosa prepares for the Junior Championships, many of his current ASU teammates will be preparing to travel to Eugene, Ore., this weekend to compete in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field that will be held at Hayward Field on the Oregon campus. The athletes headed to the meet will by vying for places on the Team USA roster that will compete at the Beijing Olympics in August.

2008 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Men’s 1,500m Run - Preliminary
1. Nectaly Barbosa - 3:50.91 - advances to final
12. Dylan Hatcher - 3:56.41 - advances to final

Men’s 1,500m Run - Final
2. Nectaly Barbosa - 3:49.44 - qualifies for Team USA
11. Dylan Hatcher - 4:02.13

Women’s 100m Dash - Preliminary
13. Dominique’ Maloy - 12.02 (-2.3)

Women’s 200m Dash - Preliminary
10. Dominique’ Maloy - 24.28 (-1.1)

Women’s Discus - Final
4. Cj Navarro - 49.29m (161-08)

Women’s Shot Put - Final
21. Cj Navarro - 12.91m (42-04.25)