JUNIOR OLYMPICS : Wilmington Gets Sweep of Hurdles

Three weeks after finishing a disappointing third in both the 110- and 400-meter hurdles at the Junior Nationals, Derras Wilmington of Missouri City, Tex., wanted to end his summer track season on a good note.

In his last meet before beginning college football practice at Rice, Wilmington won the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and finished second in the 110-meter high hurdle races in the young men’s division Sunday on the final day of the National Junior Olympics at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

“I was really down mentally after finishing third at the junior nationals,” said Wilmington, who will play wide receiver and run track at Rice. “My goal was to run in the World Junior Championships, but they only take the top two places. I came into this meet not knowing what to expect, but I wanted to break my slump before the season ended.”

Wilmington, who also ran a leg on the Houston Wings Track Club’s winning 1,600-meter relay team, ran 51.99 seconds in the 400 hurdles and a wind-aided 13.92 in the 110.