Joe Kindred of Saint Augustine’s College earned status as one of the world’s top junior high jumpers by finishing 8th in the high jump on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at the  IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing, China.

Kindred, the 2006 National Junior High Jump Champion, leaped 2.15 meters in the final round after jumping a personal best 2.18 meters on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 in the qualifying round. Kindred, of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, tied for first in his qualifying group this past Tuesday to advance to the finals.

A rising sophomore at Saint Augustine’s College, Kindred was the only American who competed in the final round.