High School Track And Field – Yes, There Is Phenom Jordan Hasay, Here Are The Best Preps From The Rest

It’s good to be Jordan Hasay from Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo (CA). He captured the heart of America’s running community competing as a junior at the US Olympic Trials last year, failing to make the 2008 Beijing Olympics team, but setting a national age-group record and high school by clocking 4:14.50 in a 1500-meter dash. semifinal playoff.

Hasay is a phenomenon, but there are other incredibly gifted high school track stars out there who will put their talent and skill to the test in competition this spring. Here are some of the best of the rest:

Laura Roesler of Fargo South High School in Fargo (ND). Jordan Hasay wasn’t the only high school student at the US Olympic trials. Roesler (pronounced “Race-ler”), a sophomore, was also there. She clocked 2:03.08 in an 800 meter semifinal heat.

Hasay is from California on the West Coast, the largest state in the nation with a population of 35%2B million. Roesler is from North Dakota in the Midwest, a state that has less than a million people (641,000%2B at last count). Roesler is also a phenomenon; she just hasn’t gotten as much press. In her freshman and sophomore years, Roesler won state titles in the 100, 200, 400 and 800, not bad for a day’s work.

Chalonda Goodman from Newnan High School (GA). Goodman is on the fast track to success, having cleared the 100-meter dash in 11:31 and the 200-meter dash in 23:22. She is the defending 3-time state champion in the 100 and 200 and is looking to capture the titles again during her senior year.

Donique Flemings from Saginaw High School in Fort Worth (TX). Donique is stepping out in style after his junior year, having set career bests of 13.60 in the 100 hurdles, 40.96 in the 300 hurdles and 58.66 in the 400 hurdles. Her 300 times set the Texas high school record. Flemings is on the move and will be hard to catch.

The best times of 5 400 meter sprinters include two runners from Poly High School in Long Beach (CA), Jasmine Joseph (53.15) and Akawkaw Ndipagbor (53.35) and three runners from Florida, Robin Reynolds from Miami Beach (53.10), Miami’s Ebony Eutsey (53.23) and Miami’s Lanie Whittaker (53.25). How about 4 of these girls in a 4×400 relay team?

Looking for highlights at field events? Look no further than these young athletes:

Shanay Briscoe of Cypress Christian High School in Houston (TX) in the high jump, went 6-1.25 as a sophomore and placed 10th at the World Juniors Meet in Poland last year. Shade Weygandt of Mansfield (TX) High School pole vaulted 13-10. Anna Jelmini of Shafter (CA) High School pitched 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) High School shines brightly. Greer ran 1:47.68 as a junior last year during the World Juniors 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 to Worlds. Zachary Melon of Buffalo (MN) High School ran 1:48.64. Unless you’re on the track when these guys run past, you can’t appreciate how fast they’re moving for half a mile.

Rynell Parson of Stevens High School in San Antonio (TX) ran 10.23 in the 100 meters. Randall Carroll from Cathedral High School in Los Angeles (CA) ran 200 meters in 20.91 last year. Tavaris Tate of Starkville (MS) High School ran the 400 meters in 46.39.

Wayne Davis of Southeast High School in Raleigh (NC) ran 13.65 in the 110 hurdles and Reggie Wyatt of La Sierra High School in Riverside (CA) posted 35.71 in the 300 hurdles and 50.10 in the 400 hurdles.

Connor McCullough of Chaminade High School in West Hills (CA) takes the hammer throw very seriously; You know because he shot 260-0 last year to set the national record.

Mason Finley of Buena Vista (CO) High School put up the shot 68-0 and threw the puck 222-1. Marquise Goodwin of Rowlett (TX) 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 Whitt of North High School in Norman (OK) pole vaulted 17-0.

Eric Kynard of Rogers High School in Toledo (OH) jumped high 7-3.75 and Ricky Robertson of Hernando (MS) High School punted 7-3. Harrisburg (PA)’s Justin Shirk threw the javelin 221-3 and Shawnee Mission’s Johann Swanepoel (KS) recorded a 221-2 throw.

These are just a few of the prominent prep athletes in the United States. Everyone mentioned in this article was a High School All-American last year and should return to competition this year.

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley