Lopez wins National Junior Olymipc Age 13-14 title

12/14/2019
 
December 14, 2019
Madison, Wisconsin
 
After runner-up placings at the New England and Region 1 meet, Nathan Lopez (New England Elite) broke the finish tape to win the Boys 13-14 Division race at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships in Madison Wisconsin on December 14.   Qualifiers from across the country filled 10 races in divisions from age 8 and under to 15-18 on a wet and challenging course.
 
The St.John's Prep (MA) freshman earned gold by less than 1 second in the field of 381 runners, the largest of any division on the day.  In the girls race in the age division, Carmen Luisi of Holliston MA capped a successful season with the bronze medal among 316 finishers.  
 
The 15-16 division had two medalists, both from Wild Endurance of Vermont; Abigail Broadley was second in the girls results and teammate Brogan Giffin won bronze in the boys race - one place ahead of another Vermonter, Ev Thornton Sherman of Green Mountain AA.
 
Stongest New England team presence was in the boys 13-14 competition, where all five associations were in the top half of the scoring.  Waltham Track Club was second team with Sentinel Striders, NC Surge, and Nashua PAL 10th-11th-12th and NE Elite 16th among 33 scorers.  
New England Elite (11-2) and Waltham TC (13-14), both 5th, had the top girls team rankings. 
 
Other top 7 individual finishers from the association were Zia Fadil (Clcf Panthers, 8/U, 4)
Kely Mungeam (Sentinal Striders, 17-18, 6), Ela Budzinski (NE Elite, 9-10, 5). 
New England club placings and a link to full results are found at the event webpage.
(Photo courtesy of New England Elite)