Jason Griffin competed in the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md., last week. The recent Gallatin graduate participated in the 400-meter hurdles and the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays.

Griffin ran as a member of the Nashville Illusionists track team. He ran a 57.73 in the preliminaries of the 400-meter hurdles — the 28th-best time of 46 runners. The top eight times qualified for the finals (54.7 was eighth best). Desmond Palmer of the Pacesetters Track Club went on to win the 400-meter hurdles (51.59).

The 3,200-meter relay team ran an 8:34.20 to finish 19th. Glenarden Track Club won the event with a 7:46.97.

Griffin's 1,600-meter relay posted the 19th-best time in the prelims. The foursome ran a 3:20.44 and were 5.32 seconds off the eighth-place time. Track Express Track Club went on to win the 1,600-meter finals (3:07.64).

Griffin's two relay teams improved on their times that advanced them out of the USATF Region 6 Championships at MTSU in early July and on to the Junior Olympics. The 1,600 team qualified with a 3:20.77 and the 3,200 team advanced with an 8:43.74. Griffin ran a 57.64 at in the 400-meter hurdles at MTSU to qualify.

Twenty national records were broken over the two days of finals on Saturday and Sunday.

Griffin will continue his track career as a member of Tennessee State University's team.

— From Staff Reports