Gero-Holt elevates to No. 4 all-time prep competitor with 5,552 points to capture first U.S. national title; Balazs, Durrant, Gorriaran, Jackson, Jones, Mann, Matsatsa, Meeks, Miller, Moore, Muhammad, Napoleon, Reed, Sirmon, Stephens, Stiff, Ryan Allen and Seth Allen also victorious

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

EUGENE, Ore. – Those who have watched the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series, “Ted Lasso”, understand what it means to, “be a goldfish”.

To put it into context, the star of the show, Ted Lasso played by Jason Sudeikis, simply explained that a goldfish has a 10-second memory, referring to the fact it moves on in life so quickly, making it one of the happiest animals on the planet.

In an event like the heptathlon, the “goldfish” mindset is needed through two days of rigorous competition.

JaiCieonna Gero-Holt has learned early on in her athletic career thar she just has to move on when something unexpected happens, and it’s improved her mental toughness over the years that has contributed to her success over the past two years as a high school multi-event standout.

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Situations, such as the USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field, were moments where Gero-Holt struggled early on, but still managed to find a way to pick up some ground, resulting in her first U.S. national title.

Behind three personal-best efforts, including an impressive clearance of 6 feet, 1.50 inches (1.87m) in the high jump Friday, Gero-Holt put together a combined 5,552 points, besting her own sophomore class national record to punch her ticket to the Pan American U20 Championships, scheduled for Aug. 4-6 in Puerto Rico. 

After racing 15.07 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles to collect 832 points, Gero-Holt knew a bounce back was in the making and found an extra bolt of energy going into high jump with confidence she was going to PR.

“After a slow hurdle race, I was still fresh; I was springy,” Gero-Holt said. “I kind of knew I was going to go out there and do it…I just saw myself so many times making that 6-1.50, and it was so exhilarating.”

Another 1,067 points were collected from high jump, followed by 743 in shot put (43-5.25/13.24m) and 793 in the 200 (26.05) to wrap up day one at 3,435.

Gero-Holt gained 715 points Saturday with a mark of 18-2.50 (5.55m) in the long jump to start off, then proceeded to close tough in the javelin and 800.

In the javelin, she threw a three-foot personal best on her first throw, hitting 142-5 (43.42m) to secure 733 crucial points.

“That’s the one thing that’s a little hard about the heptathlon is you have to go now or not get it,” Gero-Holt said. “After one foul, or one that’s not so good and you only have one more left, the pressure starts to come on. Even though my next throw wasn’t that great, I was able to get that PR right there.”

A lifetime best in the 800 was needed for Gero-Holt to surpass her previous personal-best combined score. Fortunately, she managed to run 2:31.94, executing well enough to surpass her 5,481 points that secured a Nike Outdoor National title.

“I pushed myself a lot harder than I thought I was going to,” Gero-Holt said. “There’s still a lot of improvement that needs to happen in the 800…I am happy that I PR’d by two seconds.”

Gero-Holt rises to No. 4 on the all-time U.S. prep list, behind Emma Fitzgerald by 25 points and Kendell Williams by 26 points. Anna Hall remains atop the list with 5,829 points.

Abby Elmore of Texas Ultimate Athletes finished second with 5,271 points, including a win in the 100 hurdles in 14.31 seconds. Catherine Littlewood, third at Nike Outdoor Nationals, scored 5,269 points, with a win in the 800, running 2:19.03.

Tinoda Matsatsa of St. Andrew’s Episcopal High in Maryland held off Simeon Birnbaum’s late charge in the men’s 800 to capture the national title in a time of 1:47.76 to Birnbaum’s 1:47.96. Daniel Watcke of Hinsdale Central High in Illinois ran his second sub-1:48 effort in as many weeks to place third in 1:47.99. Andrew Regnier from Waunakee High in Wisconsin ran 1:48.56 for fourth.

NCAA Division 1 runner-up Alyssa Jones of Stanford won the women’s long jump competition with a meet-record 22-0.75 (6.72m). Avery Lewis from Friends’ Central in Pennsylvania, the New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion, finished second in a mark of 20-8 (6.30m).

San Jose State’s Elias Ajamu Reed won the men’s long jump competition with a leap of 25-2 (7.67m), with Juriad Hughes Jr. of Track Minnesota Elite and Irondale High in second at 24-11 (7.59).

Gatorade Girls Track and Field National Player of the Year Angelina Napoleon from Allegany-Limestone High in New York dominated the women’s 3,000 steeplechase field with a run of 10:15.09 to ascend to the No. 4 all-time prep competitor in her debut in the event.

Oregon’s Benjamin Balazs held off Michigan’s Caleb Jarema and Notre Dame’s CJ Singleton for the men’s steeplechase title, with Balazs outkicking the two and finishing in 8:49.64.

Sophia Gorriaran of Moses Brown School in Rhode Island led from start to finish in the women’s 800, capturing the national title in a time of 2:04.33 over Ali Ince from Normal Community High in Illinois in 2:05.22.

St. John Striders’ Christian Miller ran a wind-legal 10.06 to win the men’s 100 in a close race with Wind Speed Athletics Tyler Azcano in 10.09.

Georgia’s Kalia Jackson won the women’s 100 final in 11.15. 

Villanova freshman Ryan Allen from Shore Athletic Club made it back-to-back national titles in the men’s 10,000-meter race walk in 46:17.65. Heather Durrant from Elgin Sharks Track Club won the women’s race in a U.S. No. 2 all-time prep effort of 48:40.85.

Nebraska’s Dash Sirmon added another national title to the Cornhuskers’ javelin group, throwing 232-6 (70.87m) to win the men’s competition. Iowa’s Mark Stein threw 215-11 (65.81m), earning second.

Jack Mann of Texas A&M cleared 17-4.50 (5.30m) to win the men’s pole vault over Cody Johnston of Hobart High in Indiana at 17-0.75 (5.20m).

San Jose Track Club’s Jathiyah Muhammad achieved a 13-9.25 (4.20m) clearance, claiming the women’s national title in pole vault over Northwest Pole Vault Club’s Ella McRitchie, who also cleared 13-9.25.

Louisville’s Brion Stephens and Heritage High’s Grant Campbell from Tennessee went back and forth in the men’s high jump competition, with Stephens collecting first-place honors on fewer missed attempts with a clearance of 7-0.50 (2.15m).

Vanderbilt’s Giavonna Meeks threw 199-2 (60.70m) two times in the women’s hammer to solidify her national title win, with Skylar Soli of Retrain Track and Field in Georgia throwing 182-9 (55.71m) for second.

Gary Moore from Baylor claimed the men’s shot put title with a throw of 65-0.75 (19.83), beating out UCLA’s Michael Pinckney at 63-0.25 (19.21m).

U.S. high school leader Mensi Stiff from Brentwood Academy in Tennessee threw 52 feet (15.85m), winning the women’s shot put over Iowa’s Wisdom Williams in 50-6 (15.39m).

Purdue’s Seth Allen prevailed against JSerra’s Brendon See in men’s discus, throwing 197-11 (60.32m) to 192-6 (58.68m).