McMinnville High School graduate Alyssa Hasslen proved she is among the best in the nation over the weekend, placing fifth in the junior women’s discus at the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held at Eugene’s Hayward Field. Hasslen’s best mark in the competition was 155 feet, 8 inches. Future teammate Taylor Freeman of Arizona took fourth. Winner Anastasia Jelmini, who recorded an impressive throw of 174-10, will attend Arizona State.

Hasslen was among a field of 17, including many young women who have already completed a season at Division I schools, such as Kansas State, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Nebraska and USC.

The top two finishers in each event at the meet earned a spot on the Pan Am Junior Championship team and will represent the United States at Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on July 31 and Aug. 1-2.