Krafian Competes at USATF Region 1 Junior Olympics Championships

On Sat., July 12, Anoush Krafian competed for the Waltham Track Club at the USA Track & Field (USATF) Region 1 Junior Olympic Championships and National qualifier. The championships were held at Michael P. Richards Field at the Elliot Athletic Complex at Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, Mass.

Krafian is 14 years old, but competed in the 15-16 Girls Division due to USATF regulations. She competed in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, and long jump. Krafian qualified for Nationals in the 100-meter hurdles, with a PR of 16.94, earning her 3^rd place, after 3 competitive heats and a final. Krafian also competed in the high jump, earning her 6^th place with a jump of 4’11” just missing qualification for Nationals with 15 jumpers and an 8^th-place finish in the long jump with a jump of 14’ 11” with 15 jumpers. Krafian did not compete in the multi-event this year, as was coming off a fractured back injury sustained during the winter months. The 15-16 age group now competes in the heptathlon. Krafian chose to focus on the three open events for a transition back to the track rather than seven. She is looking forward to running for the Belmont High School Marauders this upcoming track season.

The Waltham Track Club produced 25 national qualifiers in 35 events. The club achieved 31 top 6 medals, including 8 1^st-place finishes, 6 2^nd-place finishes and 7 3^rd-place finishes. The top 5 in each event and top 2 in the multi events qualified for the National Junior Olympic Championships in Houston, Texas, from July 21-27.

Krafian is a member of the AYF Greater Boston “Nejdeh” Junior Chapter, Boston Homenetmen, an Abaka Performing Arts dance student, and a St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School alumna. Though this young middle school athlete qualified for Nationals, her heart remains at Camp Haiastan. She will forgo her sports aspirations this summer again to attend the first session of Camp Haiastan with her Armenian friends from near and far. There is plenty of time to compete in the future, and Krafian wanted to spend her summer at the happiest place on Earth. Anoush Krafian is the daughter of Ara and Heather Krafian of Belmont, Mass.