Johnny Dutch, a recent Clayton High School graduate, ran the fastest times of his life during this past week's USA Junior Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis.

Dutch, who will attend the University of South Carolina this fall, finished second in the 110-meter high hurdles (13.37 seconds) and the 400 intermediate hurdles (50.07) to earn a berth on the national junior team that will compete in the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 13-29.

"I was pleased," Dutch said. "We had a great atmosphere with some professionals running [in a simultaneous meet]. It was an exciting time."

Southern Durham graduate Patience Coleman, a high jumper who will compete at the University of North Carolina, finished fourth in her event (5 feet, 8 inches) but also will get the opportunity to compete in Brazil.

Technically, only the top two finishers at the junior nationals earn official berths. But Coleman, who competed at the 2006 IAAF junior world championships in Beijing, China, last summer, got an invitation because the other competitors did not have their passports, she said. She got a call Sunday morning with the good news.

Dutch finished behind Brendan Ames of Colorado in the 110 (13.32 to 13.37) and behind William Wynne of Kennesaw, Ga., (49.7 to 50.07) in the 400.

Dutch's 400 time was the fastest ever by a North Carolina high school runner.

The junior nationals were a redemption for Dutch, who during the recent Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro was disqualified for a false start (moving before the start) in the 110 hurdles. He also fell during the 400 hurdles.

In hindsight, Dutch says he believes he protested his disqualification too vehemently.

"If I could do it over, I would do it differently," he said. "I know I would be upset again, because I didn't false start. You work for so long and to have it taken away in a moment when you didn't do anything wrong is tough to take.

"But I should have handled it better. ... I'll act better if it ever happens again."

How other area competitors fared at the junior nationals:

* Garner's Booker Nunley, sixth, 110 hurdles (13.88).

* West Johnston's Dakota Lowery, 17th, 1,500 (4:01.18).

* Southeast Raleigh's Gabby Mayo, sixth in her heat (11.66). She did not qualify for the finals.