Jack Caudle of Atchison wins 13 years old javelin and sets National record at AAU National competition

Several top Northeast Kansas area track athlete's took to the biggest stage on the AAU circuit competing at AAU Junior Olympic Games in Norfolk, Virginia at Norfolk State University last week and many came away with top flight performances, including a gold medal and National record for one area athlete. The area athletes competed with Northeast Kansas Track Club.

Jack Caudle of Atchison after qualifying for the National competition went into Nationals with the third best throw in the javelin at his age group of 13 years old, posting a mark of 115 feet to win Regionals in St. Louis. At Nationals he stepped it up a notch registering a toss of 147 feet 11 inches earning him the gold medal and setting the National record in the process for his age, as the previous record was set back in 2010 at a mark of 142 feet and 1 inch. Caudle won the competition by over 26 feet and beat out over 60 other competitors. 

The top flight performances for Northeast Kansas at the National competition didn't stop with Jack as Elijah Smith of Blue Rapids brought home the bronze medal in the men's triple jump at the 17-18 age group, after posting a leap of 47'01.50 competing against over 50 other athletes. 

Axtell native, Mariah Deters competed in three events at Nationals with her best showing coming in the girl's 15-16 years old high jump, registering a mark of 5'05 to bring home a bronze medal, competing against 46 other competitors. She also tied for 13th place in the girl's 15-16 years old triple jump after registering mark of 35'04.50, beating out several other competitors as over 70 other girls were in action in the competition. Deters also competed in the girls long jump and posted a mark of 14'10.50 finishing 58th; over 80 competitors were set to compete in the event. 

Shelby Vermetten of Waterville had three Top 20 finishes at Nationals competing in the age group of 15-16 years old and placed 13th in girl's discus, 14th in javelin and tied for 17th in the shot put. A toss of 108'06 earned Vermetten 13th place in the discus, a competition that featured over 75 competitors, while a throw of 97'11 gave Shelby 14th place in the javelin against over 65 other throwers. A mark of 33'06.50 was good to tie for 17th in the shot put for the Waterville native as she competed against over 70 competitors in the shot put. 

Elizabeth Kettler and Alexis Garcia of Hiawatha and Holton, respectively both were also in action at the National AAU track competition. Kettler raced to a time of 11:59.71 in the 3000 meter race at 14 years old level finishing 21st out of over 40 competitors listed, while Garcia notched a time of 9:48.99 in the 2000 meter steeplechase at the 15-16 years old level finishing 23rd out of 30 competitors.