Boys Recap; In Potential Preview Of World U20 Final, Training Partners Collide In Nike Outdoor Nationals 100 Final; Dylan Rowell Takes Command Of 2-Mile; Joshua-Kai Smith Wins Loaded 110 Hurdles Final; IMG Academy Edges Carmichael In 4x800

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Becky Holbrook Photos

RESULTS/VIDEOS | INTERVIEWS

EUGENE -- The upcoming World Athletics U20 Championships continued to loom large over Nike Outdoor Nationals even after the team selection meet concluded on Friday. 

In the boys championship 100 meters, Jake Odey-Jordan went head to head with Tate Taylor and beat him by running a wind-legal 10.01 seconds to Taylor's 10.10. 

Here's the thing: Odey-Jordan competes for Great Britain, the country where he was born. Taylor is likely to be one of the headliners of a U.S. team competing on home soil in early August at Hayward Field.

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There's bound to be some smack talk between the two sprinters, but it's about as good-natured as it can possibly be. 

Odey-Jordan and Taylor are training partners with the Texas Titans club team. They are both coached by Kevin Schexnayder. They attended the same high school this year. They are both committed to Texas Tech in the fall. 

Odey-Jordan had been sitting through the first two days of action at Hayward Field waiting to jump in. Taylor had already raced four times in two days, including a 200 meters national high school record 19.94 on Friday. 

"I was confident. I train with him every day and we know what happens at practice," Odey-Jordan said. 

That, presumably, is that they go back and forth. They both have wind-assisted times under 10 seconds this season. Taylor has gone 9.95 with a +2.2 wind and Odey-Jordan has a 9.94 with a +3.3. 

"Me and my boy Jake, we want the same things and we're working toward the same things," Taylor said. "So neither of us is going to get it without having to beat the other."

Odey-Jordan said he has a spot on Team GB in the 200 meters and will have to go to England and race in 100 to show his fitness to earn a team spot in that event. His time Saturday is a European U20 record.

The two friends will mostly likely be going head to head with medals on the line and perhaps with Australia's teen sprint sensation Gout Gout alongside. 

"Fastest U20 race ever," Taylor said, forecasting the upcoming World finals. 

Sunday, Taylor and Odey-Jordan will race together in a club 4x100 relay. 

Elsewhere on Saturday, the 110-meter hurdles were back in focus after an epic USATF U20 final on Friday. 

This time, Joshua-Kai Smith of Gar-Field VA ran a winning time of 13.08 seconds and beat a field that included Andrew Jones, Rylan Hainje and Josh Hamblin. 

In the boys 2-mile, Dylan Rowell of Anacortes WA led 21 boys under 9 minutes and zoomed well into the lead on the final lap to break the tape in 8:44.65. Mikah Peters of Brandon SD was second in 8:45.62 and Bjorn Blankenship of Summit OR was third in 8:46.32. 

The IMG Academy boys pulled out a close win over Carmichael CA (Jesuit) in the boys 4x800 relay. Anchors Matthew Dodds and Luke Alberts battled over the final lap and Dodds was able to nudge wide off the final turn and prevent Alberts from passing him. The outcome remained an open question until Dodds hit finish line in US#4 7:33.68. Carmichael finished with US#5 7:33.89. 

Sophomore Jayson Jones from Georgia won the 400 meters championship out of the fifth of nine sections when he ran a personal best 45.99 seconds. 

Maddox Krotzer of South Garner NC, who made the U.S. U20 team on Friday, won the Nike Outdoor Nationals title in the high jump on Saturday when he made 2.20m (7-2.50) on his third try. He had a tiebreaking advantage over second-place Chase Hunter, also from North Carolina. Krotzer passed his final attempt at 7-4.50 because he blew hole in his shoe.

Yevhen Zhmailo of GLS Speed (Lake Washington WA), who will represent Ukraine at the World U20 meet, won the Nike Outdoor Nationals title in the triple jump with 51-0.25 (15.55m). He hit a big jump on his sixth attempt but it was flagged for a foul. 

Isaiah Whitaker of Bloomington Central Catholic IL won the boys pole vault with a clearance at 18 feet, which was matched by Kadyn Hysong. Whitaker won due to fewer misses. Jaxon Jerabek of IMG Academy, the U.S. prep leader, finished third at 17-8.25.

CJ Wlliams of Momentum Throws (Frisco Heritage TX) won the boys shot put crown by a wide margin with 71-7.25. He bounced back after finishing 11th in the U20 shot put on Friday.