June 27, 2011

ATHENS, Ohio - Three Ohio distance runners, Juli Accurso, Emily Pifer and Nicholas Hissrich, took part in the 2011 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Accurso (Casstown, Ohio) set a new school record in the prelims of the 1500 meters with a time of 4:28.39. She followed that up with a 4:30.21 time in the finals, finishing ninth overall. She placed second among all collegiate athletes in the event with Cory McGee of Florida winning the event with a time of 4:21.91.

Pifer (Canal Winchester, Ohio) set a personal best with a time of 17:27.14 in the 5000 meters. She finished ninth overall in the 5K, sixth among collegiate runners.

Hissrich (Pickerington, Ohio) finished 11th in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 9:31.25, eighth among college athletes. 

The USA Junior Championships serve as the selection meet for the 2011 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, July 22-24, in Miramar, Fla. The top two finishers in each event in Eugene were invited to compete as members of Team USA.

Watch Ohio's Emily Pifer achieve a PR in the 5K Final

Watch Ohio's Nicholas Hissrich in the 3000 Steeplechase Final

Watch Ohio's Juli Accurso set a school record in the 1500 Prelims

Watch Ohio's Juli Accurso in the 1500 Final