Three advance to national track championships
July 20, 2023
Three Upper St. Clair student-athletes recently qualified for the 2023 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, which are set for July 24-30, 2023, at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Peyton Meckstroth, Emily Powell and Owen Carothers were among the top finishers in their respective events at the regional qualifying event.
Competing in the girls’ 13-14 division, Peyton, a rising seventh grader at Fort Couch Middle School, qualified in three events. Peyton will compete in the high jump, 100-meter hurdles and pentathlon. The pentathlon includes the 100-meter hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump and 800-meter run.
Emily, a rising junior at Upper St. Clair High School, competed in the girls’ 15-16 division. She qualified in all three of her events – long jump, 400-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles. This marks Emily’s second year in a row qualifying for the national championship event.
A rising sixth grader from Boyce Middle School, Owen finished third in the 80-meter hurdles and sixth in the 800-meter run. He competed within the boys’ 11-12 division.
The 2023 USATF Region 2 Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships were held July 7-9, 2023, at SUNY Cortland in Cortland, NY. To advance from Region 2 to the national championships, athletes must finish within the top eight in an individual or team event. For those competing in combined events – including the pentathlon – only the top two advance; third place must meet qualifying standards to qualify for the national competition.
Athletes qualify for the Region 2 championships by competing in their association championships. The Upper St. Clair athletes compete locally within the USATF Three Rivers Association.
2023 USATF Region 2 Junior Olympic Track & Field Championship Results
Peyton Meckstroth
- 2nd Place (tie): Girls High Jump, 13-14 Division
- 2nd Place: Girls Outdoor Pentathlon Overall, 13-14 Division
- 6th Place: Girls 100 Meter Hurdles, 13-14 Division
Emily Powell
- 4th Place: Girls 400 Meter Hurdles, 15-16 Division
- 6th Place: Girls Long Jump, 15-16 Division
- 7th Place: Girls 100 Meter Hurdles, 15-16 Division
Owen Carothers
- 3rd Place: Boys 80 Meter Hurdles, 11-12 Division
- 6th Place: Boys 800 Meter Run, 11-12 Division
