DES MOINES, IOWA — Four young St. John the Baptist Parish track and field athletes qualified through regional events and ranked nationally against fierce competition at the 2018 AAU Junior Olympic Games last week in Des Moines, Iowa.

Representing the St. John Legends Track Team, Zha’Nell Francois of Reserve ranked first in the nation in the high jump with a height of 4’9.” Of more than 40 competitors, the eight who trailed most closely behind her all achieved 4’7” jumps.

Aja Creecy, 12, and Za’Nya White, 11, both of LaPlace, also represented the St. John Legends.

Aja placed 12th in the shot put with a distance of 29’4” and 12th in the discus with a distance of 73’1”.

Za’Nya placed ninth in the 11-year-old girls high jump, clearing 4’3.25”.

Representing the River Parish Hornets, Elijah Davis, 13, of LaPlace, came in eighth in the long jump with a distance of 18’7,” 10th in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.07 seconds and 12th in the 200 meter dash with a time of 55.89 seconds.