Published Sunday, July 05, 2009
Ward wins high jump at USA Youth Outdoor Championships
The Times-Herald
It's only been two months since Graylin Ward won a Class AAAA state championship in the high jump. But this summer, the Northgate junior has continued to elevate to new heights on the national youth track level.
On Thursday, Ward won another title, this time in the Young Men division of the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held at Eastern Michigan University. The championships also coincided with the IAAF World Youth Trials for establishing members of Team USA for this week's World Youth Games in Italy.
Ward held off Thomas Larson of Iowa on number of attempts after both cleared 2 meters (6 feet, 6 3/4 inches) in Thursday's USA Outdoor Championships. It was just under the Viking standout's winning mark of 6-8 at the GHSA Georgia Olympics in May.
One day earlier, Ward eclipsed that mark during the IAAF World Youth Trials, clearing 2.1 meters (6-8 3/4), but finished fourth. The top-two finishers in each event advanced as members of Team USA to this week's world trials.
Ward's youth track teammate David Smith of Lovejoy High School, this year's Class AAAAA state champion, won Wednesday's trials, clearing 2.20 meters (7-2 1/2), a 1/2 inch higher than his state-winning leap. Both compete with the Southside Pioneers out of Fayetteville.
Ward was invited to attend the IAAF World Youth Trials by meeting a standard of 1.90 meters (6-2 1/3) in the high jump.
Davis Fraker of McIntosh High, a Class AAAA state champion in both the discus and shot finished second in the shot to Oregon sophomore Ryan Crouser. Crouser needed an impressive heave of 70-8 1/2 to top Fraker's throw of 63-8 1/4. He also finished fifth in the discus.
Fraker will represent Team USA at the World Youth Games in Brassanone, Italy starting Wednesday. He set a new state record in the discus in May with a throw of 181-1.
Ward has qualified for both the AAU and USATF Junior Olympic meets. He was exempt from qualifying for the USATF meet, to be held July 28-Aug. 2 in Greensboro , N.C., due his performances at last week's outdoor championships.
He qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics, which will be held simultaneously from July 27-Aug. 8, during the Area 6 qualifier in late June in Augusta. Ward cleared 1.97 meters (6-5 1/2) easily winning the Young Men division by six inches over his nearest competitor.