Amuru Patterson & Katia Seymour Square Off In Epic 200m Showdown At AAU National Club Championship

Amuru Patterson and Katia Seymour, two of the top class of 2017 sprinters in the state of the Florida and the United States will face off for the first time at 200m in their careers Saturday at the AAU National Club Championship. 

It's really hard to believe as both really had break out junior years and burst onto the national spotlight. Patterson, a rising senior at Haines City High School won the 100 and 200m dash at the 4A state meet while Seymour swept the sprints in 2A and ran an amazing anchor leg to guide her team to the 4x1 title as well. 

In round one of the 100m dash, Patterson bested Seymour 11.75 to 11.80 to win Flo Golden South. Three weeks later they made up a dynamic 1-2 punch at the Adidas Boost Boston Games where Patterson took round two to hoist the Adidas belt 11.59 to 11.66. Seymour has the top PR of 11.26, ranked US#2, from the Great Southwest Classic, while Patterson's 11.57w is ranked 22nd in the country. 

The pair were destined to meet at this distance but a false start in the prelims by Patterson derailed that plan. Seymour went onto run 11.76 and then 11.64 to win the prelims and semis and cement herself as the top seed headed into the finals.

That match up will take place in the 200 though as both athletes breezed through the competition, setting up a stellar final on Saturday. In the prelims, Patterson's 23.65 was a new personal best and the fastest time with Seymour's 23.81 the only other time under 24 seconds in the field.  The Haines City rising senior ran 23.74 in the semifinals with Patterson clocking the third fastest time of 24.40. The meet record of 23.52 set in 2012 by Marcquita Stalbert is definitely in jeopardy of being broken.

"I mean I know her only goal is to beat me and show everyone that's she's the best so she's going to come hard. Saturday is what it's all about." - Katia Seymour

More Coverage 

• AAU National Club Championships Meet Page (Results/Coverage)