Awotunde, Moore Narrowly Miss Qualifying for IAAF World Junior Championships

July 6, 2014

EUGENE, Ore. – Thrower Josh Awotunde came one round away from representing Team USA at the IAAF World Junior Championships in the shot put as he completed his weekend today at the USA Track & Field Junior Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.

On his second attempt, the South Carolina freshman recorded a heave that came in at a new personal best of 62’3″ (18.97m) to move into second place. On his fifth attempt, Awotunde increased his hold on second with a mark of 62’10¾” (19.17m), but with one attempt remaining, he was passed by Amir Ali Patterson by four inches, knocking him out of a spot at the junior world championships.

Yesterday, he was sitting in second in the discus through four attempts after setting new personal best in the event, but was passed in round five and six as he eventually placed fourth.

Awotunde wasn’t the only South Carolina athlete to narrowly miss qualifying as incoming freshman Isaiah Moore, who entered the men’s 110-meter hurdles with the second-best time in qualification, finished third as he clocked in at 13.42 (+1.7). His time was one one-hundredth of a second out of second place. Yesterday he recorded a time of 13.41 (+1.3) to reach today’s final.

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles championship, rising sophomore Mollie Williams placed eighth, finishing with a time of 19.93 (+2.0).