The Police Athletic League of Hallandale Beach sent 18 athletes to the AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa.

With thousands of athletes from throughout the United States, PAL of Hallandale Beach won three medals. The top eight in each event earned medals.

Morgan Rhett finished fifth in the Primary Girls 800-meter run. Sebastian Sainterling was sixth in the Sub-Bantam Boys shot put, and Jordan Washington placed seventh in the Midget Boys 80 hurdles.

PAL of Hallandale Beach also celebrated personal bests from Darious Johnson, shot put and discus; Malik Moyse, 80 hurdles, 200 run and long jump; Brent Heholt, long jump; Craig Lashley, shot put and discus; Adavion McDonald, 1500 run and high jump; Jexon Perez, triple jump; Jonathan Washington, semifinalist 200 run; Darnell Jefferson, 1500 run; Sheldon Greene, 1,500 run; Eugene Sainterling, shot put and discus; Taylor McDaniel, discus; Destiny Castillo, semifinalist 100 run and 200 run; Shaina Braynen, 400 run; Alaina Thomas, shot put and discus; and Ashley James, shot put and discus.

PAL thanks its sponsors, the city of Hallandale Beach, the Hallandale Beach Police Department, parents and the coaching staff for making this possible.

TRACK

PEMBROKE PINES

Shanell Atkins of West Pembroke Pines Optimist Track & Field set a national record in shot put during the Amateur Athlete Union Junior Olympics at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Atkins was one of several athletes from the West Pembroke Pines track and field team who performed well at the national event.

The AAU JO had more than 15,000 athletes competing in various sports with a little more than 8,500 participating in track and field.

West Pembroke Pines track and field took nine athletes, including some Junior Olympic first-timers. They brought home seven medals.

The AAU Junior Olympics awards medals to the top eight finishers in each event. Although all members of the team did not receive medals, they performed very well, establishing personal bests in several events.

West Pembroke Pines is coached by Lucian Reyes, Denise Reyes and Marvil Tatham. The new season begins in January. Interested athletes can visit eteamz.com/wppotrack.

WPPO results: Girls: Sub-Midget: Shanell Atkins, first in shot put with a national record of 38 feet 10 inches, breaking the mark of 37-5. She won gold for the fourth consecutive year in shot put. She also took fourth in pentathlon and in discus.

Boys: Sub-Bantam: Garrett Ricardo, in his AAU JO debut, sixth in 1500 meters. Sub-Youth: Rasheed Tatham, fourth in pentathlon, fifth in 200-meter hurdles and seventh in 100-meter hurdles.

First-timers Ashyra Martin, 200 meters; Dominique Edwards, shot put and discus; Sarah Wollaston, 400 and 800 meters; and Tyler Muraido, 1500 and 3000 meters, set personal bests, as did Ibrahim Dodo, 100-meter hurdles and long jump, and Cole Moxie, pentathlon.

BASKETBALL

COOPER CITY

Samantha Worley helped the Gators win a championship in Bronze of Cooper City Optimist basketball at Cooper City High School. The following day, she competed for runner-up Maryland in Freshmen of the Girls Basketball League of Southwest Broward at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie.

BRONZE DIVISION: Gators 9, Duke 5: Gators: Natalie Werbelow, Skylar Kahn, Emily Shaffer, Miah White, Kendall Gracie, Samantha Worley, Hannah Eubanks and Paige Septien all-around play. Coach: Mike Kahn.