Columbia youth win five championships, 19 All-American crowns at AAU

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

A total of 40 athletes from Columbia's Blue Thunder Track Club competed in the AAU National Junior Olympic Games in Houston, from July 30-August 6. More than 13,000 athletes from across the country and Puerto Rico competed. 

Local youth won five national championships and 19 All-American crowns, which are earned by placing in the top eight nationally. A total of 45 Blue Thunder athletes qualified to compete, but only 40 were able to participate.

Blue Thunder's All American performances are:

Jackson Cantwell, 8-year-olds, shot put, 31-10¼, national champion

Jackson Cantwell, 8-year-olds, turbo javelin, 81-2, national champion

Jayden McCaster, 9-year-olds, turbo javelin, 77-7, 5^th place

Athena Peterson, 9-year-olds, high jump, 3-11¼, bronze medalist

Athena Peterson, 9-year-olds, triathlon, 732 points, 7^th place

Brock Schweikert, 9-year-olds, 1500-meter race walk, 10:43.48, bronze medalist

Collin Wise, 9-year-olds, 1500-meter race walk, 9:29.72, national champion  

Joshua Larkins, 10-year-olds, shot put, 32-2, national champion

Rhiannon Williamson, 11-year-olds, discus, 69-6, 6^th place

Hannah Wise, 12-year-olds, 1500-meter race walk, 9:02.4, 4^th place

Kevin Schweikert, 13-year-olds, 3000-meter race walk, 21:00.87, 6^th place

Eryn Puett, 14-year-olds, javelin, 123-7, national champion

Eryn Puett, 14-year-olds, shot put, 44-9, silver medalist

Eryn Puett, 14-year-olds, discus, 103-8, 6^th place

Tyra Wilson, 14-year-olds, 200-meter hurdles, 29.34, 6^th place

Peyton Davis, 15-16-year-olds, decathlon, 5,312 points, bronze medalist

Hasadiah Miner, 15-16-year-olds, decathlon, 5,280 points, 4^th place

Kurtis Schweikert, 15-16-year-olds, 3000-meter race walk, 18:19.83, 8^th place

Cayla Davis, 17-18-year-olds, 3000-meter race walk, 19:00.16, bronze medalist

Here is a list of the rest of the 45 youth that participated in national championships from Blue Thunder: Stefan Appold, Eleanor Bacon, Madeline Bostick, Robert Connor, Charles Gaines, Jada Gaines, Journey Gaines, Chandler Gibbens, Caelan Harland, Tara Hillebrand, Charles Johnson, Jade Johnson, Weston Jokerst, Marissa Kraus, Cash Martin, Chiasia Maxwell, Bailey Moore, Iyannah Newsom, Kayshun Prince, Kaleb Schweikert, Abigail Tarrant, Emma Tatlow, Nicholas Timbrook, Dominic Viet, Makaylin Viet, Jacquelyn Walker, Quinn Walker, Tyra Wilson, Zachary Wright, Derrick Young and Isaac Young.