HERALD, CA (MPG) - During the last week of July, Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, hosted the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships. Golden State Throwers (GST), a local throwing team coached by Mike Curry and centered just south of Elk Grove in Herald, dominated as a team taking home eight medals and All-American awards.

In the 17/18 womens’ division for the Hammer Throw, Golden State Throwers athletes placed second and fourth. Amanda Javellana of Rancho Cordova (Pleasant Grove High School) finished second with a personal best of 177 ft. 5 in.  This is Javellana’s fifth All-American award in the hammer throw. Javellana will be throwing on scholarship for California State University, Long Beach next year. Thea Jeffress of Brentwood (Clayton Valley Charter High School) finished fourth with a throw of 151 ft. 4 in. Jeffress will be throwing on scholarship for California State University, Fresno next year.

In the 17/18 men division for the Hammer Throw, Zane Commins of Elk Grove (Pleasant Grove High School) finished third with a throw of 206 ft. 1 in.  Commins will be throwing on scholarship at Weber State (Utah).  Junio, Avery Mitchell of Elk Grove (Elk Grove High School), finished eighth with a throw of 185 ft. 5 in.

In the 15/16 girls division in the Hammer Throw, Elizabeth Ojukwu of Rancho Cordova (Pleasant Grove High School) was crowned national champion, throwing a first-place toss of 159 ft. even. Madeline Hess of Folsom (Vista Del Lago High School) finished third with a throw of 147 ft. 2 in. Both athletes won their second consecutive All-American awards in the event.

 

Pictured are Golden State Throwers Pleasant Grove athletes Zane Commins, Nike National Champion; Elizabeth Ojukwu, USATF National Champion; and Amanda Javellana, five-time time All-American. Courtesy photo

In the 15/16 boys division for the Hammer Throw, Alex Edwards of Tracy (Merrill West High School) finished eighth with a throw of 148 ft. 10 in.

Finally, in the 17/18 mens’ division for Shot Put, Joseph Garcia of Elk Grove (Cosumnes Oaks High School) finished fifth with a throw of 56 ft. 11.5 in.  This marks Garcia’s second All-American award. Garcia will be throwing on scholarship at Boise State (Idaho) next year.

Earlier this summer, three of the Golden State Throwers athletes made the medal stand in the Hammer Throw at the Nike Outdoor Nationals (Championship classification) in June in Eugene, Oregon.  Zane Commins took home the championship, on the last throw, with a gold medal toss of 197 ft. even.  Amanda Javellana earned a third-place medal with a throw of 174 ft. 7 in.  Logan Remington of Clayton (Clayton Valley Charter High School) finished seventh with a throw of 181 ft. 4 in. All three of these athletes earned All-American awards from the Nike outing.

With two national champions and 11 All-American awards in total, Golden State Throwers finished its successful season. There is great pride in this team that worked hard all year long to reach such an accomplishment. You can check out Golden State Throwers at goldenstatethrowers.org or on Instagram at @golden_state_throwers.