John Warren @ SEC Championships in Starkville, Miss., 05/15/2015 (photo by Jeff Curry)John Warren @ SEC Championships in Starkville, Miss., 05/15/2015 (photo by Jeff Curry)
Track & Field

John Warren Wins Gold at USATF Junior Championships

Freshman John Warren continued to add to his stellar freshman season this weekend, making yet another trip to Eugene, Ore., and the historic Hayward Field where he earned gold at the USATF Junior Championships in the triple jump.  He was joined on the podium by freshman Karissa Schweizer, who placed third in the junior women's 3000m run with a 9:45.59 crossing.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Freshman John Warren continued to add to his stellar freshman season this weekend, making yet another trip to Eugene, Ore., and the historic Hayward Field where he earned gold at the USATF Junior Championships in the triple jump.  He was joined on the podium by freshman Karissa Schweizer, who placed third in the junior women's 3000m run with a 9:45.59 crossing.

"John did an amazing job showing his growth this weekend," Assistant Coach Carjay Lyles, in charge of the sprints and horizontal jumps, said. "He earned new personal records [PR's] at the last two meets, and that's what you want this time of year.  Being your best when your best is needed."

This was Warren's second consecutive competition at the historic Hayward Field, after he earned his first All-American honor two weeks ago, placing 11th in the triple jump at the NCAA Championships with a PR mark of 15.99m (52-5.50).  He eclipsed that mark on Saturday (June 27), fouling four of his first five attempts only to land at 16.00m (52-6) on his sixth and final jump. 

That performance, the third-best mark in Mizzou history, also earns him a spot on Team USA for the Pan-American Junior Games, scheduled for July 31 - August 2 in Edmonton, Canada.

"Last year he came to the Junior Championships, and although he made the team, he wasn't at his best," Lyles said. "I think that was in the back of his mind leading into this weekend and he allowed it to push him to some really big marks."

The Tigers had a total of six competitors at the USATF Championships this weekend, including a pair of senior qualifiers in Kearsten Peoples (shot put, hammer) and Jill Rushin (shot put), who closed their Tiger careers back in Eugene after earning All-American honors two weeks ago.

Other USATF Junior Championships qualifiers included freshmen Gabbi Jacobs, who placed tenth in the women's discus, and Avery Carter, who was 17th in the men's shot put.

For the latest on your Tigers, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MIZ_TrackField.

THURSDAY RESULTS
Women's Discus, Junior - 10. Gabbi Jacobs, 46.22m (151-8)
Women's Shot Put, Senior - 12. Kearsten Peoples, 17.18m (56-4.50) // 13. Jill Rushin, 17.16m (56-3.75)

FRIDAY RESULTS
Men's Shot Put, Junior - 17. Avery Carter, 17.01m (55-9.75)

SATURDAY RESULTS
Women's 3000m Run, Junior - 3. Karissa Schweizer, 9:45.59
Men's Triple Jump, Junior - 1. John Warren, 16.00m (52-6) #3
Women's Hammer Throw, Senior - 17. Kearsten Peoples, 59.58m (195-6)