It’s a good thing I’m Jordan Hasay of Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo (CA). Capturing the heart of America’s running community by competing as a junior in the US Olympic Trials last year, she not only qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics team but set a national age group and high school record by clocking 4:14.50 in the 1500m semi-final.
Hasay is a phenomenon, but there are other incredibly talented high school stars out there who will put their talent and skills to the test in competition this spring. Here are some of the best leftovers:
Laura Rossler of Fargo South High School in Fargo (ND). Jordan Hasay wasn’t the only high school senior at the US Olympic Trials. There was also Rösler (pronounced “Race-ler”), a sophomore. She ran 2:03.08 in the 800m semi-final heat.
Hasay is from California on the west coast, the largest state in the country with a population of 35% 2 billion million. Roesler is from North Dakota in the Midwest, a state that doesn’t even have a population of 1 million (641,000% 2B at last count). Roessler is also a phenomenon. It just hasn’t received much press. In her junior and senior years, Roesler won state titles in the 100, 200, 400 and 800, which isn’t bad for a day job.
Chalonda Goodman from Newnan High School. Goodman is on the fast track to success, having broken through the 100-meter dash in 11.31 and the 200-meter dash in 23.22. She is a 3-time defending state champion in both the 100 and 200 and is looking forward to capturing titles again during her senior year.
Donic Flemings from Saginaw High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Donek came out in style after her junior year, posting career best scores of 13.60 in the 100 hurdles, 40.96 in the 300 hurdles, and 58.66 in the 400 hurdles. She set her 300 time Texas high school record. The Fleming flies and will be hard to catch.
The best times of 5 400-meter sprinters include two runners from Poly High School in Long Beach (California), Yasmine Joseph (53.15) and Akawoko Ndibagpour (53.35) and three runners from Florida, Robin Reynolds from Miami Beach (53.10), Ebony Yotsei from Miami (53.23) and Lani Whitaker from Miami (53.25). How about any 4 of these girls on the 4×400 relay team?
Are you looking for field event winners? Look no further, try these math girls:
Shani Briscoe of Cypress Christian High School in Houston (Texas) is a high jumper, and went 6-1.25 as a sophomore while placing 10th at the World Youth Meet in Poland last year. Shade Weygandt of Mansfield (TX) high school pole vaulter is 13-10. Anna Gelmini of Shafter (California) High School threw the disc 183-11. Lauren Chambers of Kell High School in Marietta (GA) threw the hammer 184-9. Hannah Carson of Dobson High School in Mesa (AZ) threw the javelin 173-7.
Elijah Greer from Lake Oswego (OR) Bright High School. Greer ran 1:47.68 as a junior last year during the Junior World Championships in Poland. He won the Oregon 1500 title in 3:57.76 as a sophomore and the 800 title in 1:50.60 as a junior before going global. Zachary Melon of Buffalo (MN) High School ran a 1:48.64. Unless you’re on the track when these guys are running, you can’t estimate how fast they’re moving for 800 metres.
Rynell Parson from Stevens High School in San Antonio (Texas) ran 10.23 in the 100 meters. Randall Carroll of Cathedral High School in Los Angeles (California) covered the 200m in 20.91m last year. Tavaris Tate of Starkville (MS) High School ran the 400m in 46.39.
Wayne Davis of Southeast High School in Raleigh (NC) ran 13.65 in the 110 hurdles and Reggie White of La Sierra High School in Riverside (California) ran 35.71 in the 300 hurdles and 50.10 in the 400 hurdles.
Conor McCullough of Chaminade High School in West Hills (California) is very serious about the hammer throw; You know because he threw 260-0 last year to set the national record.
Mason Finley of Buena Vista High School (CO) put the shot 68-0 and threw the pinch 222-1. Marquis Goodwin of Roulette High School jumped 25-4.75 in the long jump. Bryce Lamb of Chandler (AZ) High School jumped 52-2 in the triple jump. Jack Witt of North High School in Norman (OK) vaulted the pole 17-0.
Eric Kennard of Rogers High School in Toledo (Ohio) jumped high 7-3.75 and Ricky Robertson of Hernando High School (MS) 7-3. Justin Shirk of Harrisburg (Penn) threw the javelin 221-3 and Johan Swanepoel of Shawnee Mission (Kansas) threw 221-2.
These are just some of the elite athletes in preparations in the United States. Every one mentioned in this article was from All-American High School last year and is supposed to be back in competition this year.
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley