Two more locals win events at Junior Olympics
| Saturday, Jul 31 2010 10:57 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Jul 31 2010 10:57 PM
SACRAMENTO -- Discus thrower Daniel Richardson and high jumper Evan Eggenberg, both of Bakersfield, earned championships in their respective events Friday in the National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships at Sacramento City College's Hughes Stadium.
The victories marked the second and third titles earned by Bakersfield athletes at this year's meet, with Ridgeview High's Johnny Carter winning the Young Men's Division triple jump on Thursday.
Richardson, who attended Patriot School last year and competes for Team RAW (Ready And Willing), launched the discus 133 feet, 11 inches to win the event in the Midget Boys Division by an eye-popping 17 feet over second-place Elijah Zoucha of West O Throws in Omaha, Neb. Richardson's toss was also a national record for the age group, athletes born in 1998 and 1999.
The discus win was the second high finish of the meet for Richardson, who was second in the pentathlon last week. He will compete in the shot put today.
Eggenberg, who will be a junior at Stockdale High and is competing for Kern Future Athletes & Leaders, cleared 6 feet, 63/4 inches to win the Intermediate Boys Division high jump. He beat four other jumpers who were unsuccessful at that height in three attempts apiece.
The mark was an improvement for Eggenberg, whose top jump for Stockdale last season was 6-4. He placed fourth in the Central Section Championships.
The meet concludes today.
-- Carl Bryan
