Hometown Hero Hannah Waller DQed, Makes Relay Pool
The USATF Jr. Nationals made their home at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Calif. this weekend -- the alma mater of one of the top competitors in the junior women's 400m, Hannah Waller.
The Oregon recruit took second at the CIF State Finals behind Kaelin Roberts --who scratched this event-- and won the Brooks PR Invitational last weekend, a trajectory that saw her as a likely candidate for Poland.
And, at first, it appeared she had made it, as she followed event champion Lynna Irby of Indiana across the line, with a new PR of 52.86 to Irby's 52.51.
Shortly after the finish, officials disqualified Waller for a lane violation. The disqualification would stand, but it was later revealed that Waller would be included in the 4x400m relay bound for the World Juniors in Bydgoszcz.