Collatz second at World Youth event

SUDTIROL, Italy -- Stockdale's Alex Collatz was second in the girls discus in May at the Central Section track and field championships and second last month at the CIF state meet.

Now she's second in the world.

Collatz tossed her second throw 50.09 meters (164 feet, 4 inches) Saturday in the girls discus finals at the IAAF World Youth Championships. That was good for a silver medal, nearly a full meter better than third-place Shanice Craft of Germany.

China's Shanshan Li won the gold medal with a 51.65-meter (169-5). Collatz has one throw better than that in her career, a 177-0 at the state meet in Clovis.

Li threw her 51.65 on her first attempt, then added four other throws above 50 meters. Collatz's next-best attempt was a 49.41 (162-1) on her fifth attempt. She fouled on her sixth and final throw.

Collatz was second at both the section and state meets to Shafter's Anna Jelmini, who holds the national high school record in the event. Jelmini, 18, is too old to compete in the youth championships; competitors must turn 16 or 17 during 2009.

Alex Collatz makes Team USA roster for the World Youth Championships

Team USA roster for the World Youth Championships
World Youth Championships: July 8-12 in Bressanone, Italy

The mark listed next to each event below is what an athlete likely needs to achieve in order to place in the finals of the World Youth Championships. Each athlete’s listed IAAF mark is the best-known performance by the athlete that meets IAAF standards and was achieved between Jan. 1, 2008 and June 22, 2009.

Discus (144-05)
1. Alex Collatz (Stockdale, Bakersfield, Ca.) 152-0.
IAAF: 177-0 (State Prel., Clovis 6-5-09)

Discus
Top 12 Qualify for Final

Alex Collatz (Stockdale, Bakersfield, Ca.) bettered the automatic qualifying standard of 154-2 on her first attempt with a throw of 163-9 to advance to the final. Also advancing to the final on their first throw were Shanshan Li of China at 161-3, Shanice Croft of Germany at 158-10, Lena Urbaniak of Germany, the winner of the shot put, at 157-6, Viktoriya Klochko of Ukraine and Leesa Lealaisalanoa of New Zealand at 154-5. Erica Brand (Northwest, Shawnee Mission, Ks.) threw 144-8 to finish in 14th place. It took 149-11 to make the final.

Collatz claims national discus gold medal

Anna Jelmini's not the only one around here who can throw her way into world competition.

Stockdale High's Alex Collatz and Shafter's Lacie Rasley each won a throwing event at the USA Track & Field Youth Championships this week and advance to compete at the IAAF World Youth Championships next week in Bressanone, Italy.

The events are for 16- and 17-year olds. Both Collatz and Rasley were sophomores last year.

Collatz threw 152 feet in the discus Tuesday at the USATF event in Ypsilanti, Mich., not close to her personal best of 177-0 but enough to out-distance her nearest competition by more than five feet.

Then on Wednesday, Rasley put the shot 43-9.25 to beat Sarah Howard of Dublin, Ga., by 12.25 inches. Rasley's personal best is 44-0.25.

The top two finishers in each event were up for consideration to attend the world youth games, and USATF selected Collatz and Rasley.

Shafter High's Jelmini competed in the discus in Poland last year as part of the USATF World Junior Championships team, one age group up from Youth.

Collatz claims national discus gold medal

Stockdale's Alex Collatz added to her incredible sophomore year by winning the discus throw at the Nike Outdoor Nationals on Saturday at Greensboro, N.C.

Awards Video HERE.

Collatz tossed 162 feet, 6 inches, one of her best marks ever and better by a foot over Erin Pendleton of Lindsey, Ohio.

Collatz, who was second in the discus at the CIF State Championships to Shafter's national-record holder, Anna Jelmini, had four throws of more than 160 feet Saturday.

-- Californian staff report

2nd Place in the State Discus: Alex Collatz Stockdale/ce 163-01

Alex Collatz

Stockdale | sophomore

Threw a national sophomore record 177-0 in the state preliminaries, then took second place in the finals to Anna Jelmini. Sixth in shot put even though didn't pick it up until this season. Triple area champion, taking home titles in both throwing events and triple jump (best mark 37-11.5).

CIF State Track and Field Championships - 6/5/2009 to 6/6/2009
Presented by Farmers
Buchanan High School - Clovis

Event 26 Girls Discus Throw
=================================================================================
Name Year School Finals Points
=================================================================================
Finals
1 Anna Jelmini Shafter/ce 186-09 56.92m 10
186-09 177-11 FOUL 171-05 179-04 179-04
2 Alex Collatz Stockdale/ce 163-01 49.70m 8
144-07 147-03 163-01 159-08 FOUL 155-04
3 Rebecca Hammar 10 Buch. Col/sj 140-02 42.72m 6
140-02 136-09 134-03 139-06 139-02 115-06
4 Lindsay Machado 12 El Dorado/sj 137-02 41.80m 4
118-07 133-09 135-08 137-02 121-03 FOUL
5 Kayla Kovar 12 Burr(Rid)/ss 136-10 41.70m 2
130-09 127-11 136-10 126-01 130-01 132-06
6 Shaylynn Fisher 12 Great Oak 135-03 41.22m 1
135-03 93-04 119-11 131-03 116-07 119-10
7 Janelle Prothro 10 Logan J/Nc 133-06 40.69m
116-10 122-04 123-00 125-04 129-01 133-06
8 Brianna French 10 Vacaville/sj 127-04 38.81m
121-00 115-02 FOUL 117-11 127-04 FOUL
-- Maddie Casanova 12 Alemany/ss FOUL
FOUL FOUL FOUL
=================================================================================
Women - Team Rankings - 8 Events Scored
=================================================================================
1) Poly (LB) /ss SS 25 2) Shafter /ce CE 20
3) Serra /ss SS 18 4) Logan James /nc NC 12
5) Claremont /ss SS 10 5) Academy of OLP /sd SD 10
5) Rio Mesa /ss SS 10 8) Stockdale /ce CE 9
9) Moreau Cath. /nc NC 8 9) Leland /cc CC 8
9) Highland /ss SS 8 9) Etiwanda /ss SS 8
9) Redondo /ss SS 8 9) St. Mary's /sj SJ 8
15) Buchach Colony /sj 6 15) Burrough(Rid) /ss SS 6
15) Deer Valley /nc NC 6 15) North Torrance/ss SS 6
15) Rancho Bernrdo/sd SD 6 15) Lutheran (Orange) /ss 6
15) Diamond Ranch /ss SS 6 15) St. Mary's Academy/ss 6
23) Casa Grande /nc NC 4 23) El Dorado /sj SJ 4
23) St. Mary's /nc NC 4 23) Pinewood /cc CC 4
23) Rancho Verde /ss SS 4 28) Torrey Pines /sd SD 3
29) Silverado /ss SS 2 29) St. Joseph-Sm /ss SS 2
29) Bullard /ce CE 2 29) Vallejo /sj SJ 2
29) Carter /ss 2 34) Clovis /ce CE 1
34) Great Oak/ss 1 34) Pinole Valley/nc NC 1
34) Oakmont /sj SJ 1 34) Paraclete /ss SS 1