Junior Olympics: Royal, Wicker qualify for 1,500 finals

Oak Harbor’s Adrianna Royal and Christina Wicker put in solid performances Friday, July 30, in the preliminaries of the 1,500 meters to qualify for the finals in the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic national championships in Sacramento.

By Jim Waller • July 31, 2010 10:33 am

Oak Harbor’s Adrianna Royal and Christina Wicker put in solid performances Friday, July 30, in the preliminaries of the 1,500 meters to qualify for the finals in the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic national championships in Sacramento.

Later today, July 31, three other local athletes from the Whidbey Island Running Club will compete in the finals of the 3,000.

Laura Rodeheffer will compete in the midget girls division (11 to 12 year-olds), John Rodeheffer in the youth boys (13-14) and Olivia Meyer in the intermediate girls (15-16).

Royal, from the Federal Way Track Club, and Wicker, from the WIRC, participate in the 1,500 finals Sunday. The top 12 qualifiers from the preliminary heats advanced to the finals.

Royal (young women’s division, 17-18) won her preliminary heat in 4:49.33; the fourth fastest time heading into the finals. The clocking was a personal best by seven seconds. Katherine Delaney, running unattached, posted to top time of 4:41.69.

Wicker (intermediate girls, 15-16) placed sixth in her heat in 5:01.33, good for 10th best overall. Gina Hauptman of Peak Distance led all qualifiers with a 4:52.66.