Six Team Evolution athletes qualify for Junior Olympic National Championships

By Ryan Sparks • July 9, 2018 1:30 am
Team Evolution’s Jabron Brooks heaves a shot put nearly 38 feet to place fourth in the event in the Boys 13-14 division, qualifying him for a spot in the Junior Olympic championships July 23-29. (Photo by Sarah Navarre)
Team Evolution’s Jabron Brooks heaves a shot put nearly 38 feet to place fourth in the event in the Boys 13-14 division, qualifying him for a spot in the Junior Olympic championships July 23-29. (Photo by Sarah Navarre)

BEND, Ore. — Team Evolution, a local youth track and field throwing club, qualified six athletes or the upcoming national championships after an unprecedented weekend at the United State Track and Field Association Region 13 Junior Olympic Championships this past weekend at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon.

Leading the way for Team Evolution was Karlee Freeman, who qualified on Saturday with a gold-medal victories in both the discus (156 feet, nine inches) and shot put (45-10) to add two girls 17-18 regional titles to her ever-growing trophy case.

Second-place finishers on day one included Tyara Straka (Girls 13-14 shot put, 44-02) and Nate Ivey (Boys 13-14 shot put, 43-01).

Ivey also qualified in the Boys 13-14 discus with a fifth-place mark of 108-11.

Rylee Brooks placed third in the Girls 9-10 shot put with a throw of 22-00.75.

Jabron Brooks placed fourth in the Boys 13-14 shot put with a mark of 37-10.75.

Day two for Team Evolution belonged McKenzie Salazar. Competing in the Girls 15-16 shot put, Salazar recorded a toss of 41-09.75 to win the event and earn the local club its third regional title.

Salazar also qualified for the Girls 15-16 discus national championships by placing fourth (distance not available at the time of this writing).

Straka was the only other qualifier for Team Evolution on day two, squeaking in the Girls 13-14 discus championships with a throw of 93-00 to place fifth.

“Overall, it was a record setting weekend for Team Evolution by qualifying a staggering six kids,” wrote Team Evolution head coach Shaun Straka in a Facebook post. “(It’s) the most kids we’ve ever had (qualify).”

The team is hoping to raise funds to send its athletes to the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Championships July 23-29 at North Carolina A&T University.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/123565827669226/ or call 360-591-9715.

Team Evolution’s Nathan Ivey qualified for the USATF Junior Olympics National Championships in both the discus and shot put (seen here). (Photo by Sarah Navarre)

Team Evolution’s Nathan Ivey qualified for the USATF Junior Olympics National Championships in both the discus and shot put (seen here). (Photo by Sarah Navarre)