Jordin Andrade takes fifth at African Championships 400 hurdles final...

In Durban, South Africa, Boise State alum Jordin Andrade (above/photo courtesy Mt. SAC Relays), a graduate of Bonney Lake HS, who will represent Cape Verde at this summer’s Olympics in Rio, finished fifth in Friday night’s finals of the 400 hurdles at the African Championships.

Andrade ran 49.62, as Kenya’s Boniface Mucheru took the victory in 49.20.

According to a tweet from his representatives at World Express Management, Andrade hit hurdle #9, stumbled but did not fall, but that mishap was enough to throw off his timing approaching the final hurdle.



The Seattle-based Brooks Beasts announced the signing of recent collegians Shaquille Walker from BYU and Brannon Kidder from Penn State Friday.

Walker, who is a familiar face to track fans attending meets at the Dempsey Indoor, was third in the 800 at the recent NCAA track & field championships in Eugene.  Walker, who comes to the Beasts with a 1:44.99 personal best, was also third at this year’s NCAA indoor champs.

Kidder is a versatile runner with personal bests of 1:45.58 in the 800, 2:18.26 at 1000m, and 3:57.13 in the mile. He won the Big Ten title indoors in the mile, and outdoors in the 1500, and finished seventh indoors at 800 meters at the NCAAs, and was fourth in the 1500 outdoors in Eugene a few weeks ago.

Both will make their debuts as members of the Beasts at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene.

At the USA junior championships in Clovis, California, Camas native Alexa Efraimson, the current American junior record holder in the 1500 meters, easily qualified for the finals in that event, running 4:31.49.

Efraimson expressed confidence after her race, telling USA Track & Field media relations, “No U.S. girl has ever medaled in the 1500 at World Juniors, so I think I have a good opportunity.”  

Efraimson finished just out of the podium at the world juniors in Eugene two years ago.

Shorecrest HS grad Wurrie Njadoe, who will attend Kansas State this fall, was seventh in the 100 meters in 11.63.

In the finals of the men’s pole vault, University of Washington rising sophomore Chase Smith finished eighth with a clearance of 16-2.75 (4.95m), while incoming Husky freshman Zach Shugart, who recently graduated from Blanchet HS, was 11th, also clearing 16-2.75.

The men’s javelin saw Idaho freshman Austin Beyer from Kennewick finish 14th with a best throw of 171-3 (52.20m).

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