The Sunshine State showed out on day one of the USATF Junior National Championships. Kaylin Whitney posts a new world junior leading 11.10, while the boys go 1-2 with Bromell and Williams earning a spot on Team USA. Teahna Daniels and Terry Jernigan impressive runs should propel them to relay berths.
Only a sophomore, Kaylin Whitney cemented her name in high school sprinting history on Friday night on historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Whitney ran a US#10 all-time mark of 11.17 in the prelims and followed that up by blowing away the field with a World Junior leading mark of 11.10, the fastest all-time ever by a high schooler. The mark was a one tenth better than the 11.11 Angela Williams of Chino, California ran in 1998. She will rock the red, white and blue and represent Team U.S.A on the exact same track at the IAAF World Junior Championships in two weeks. See what she had to say after the race.
The First Academy rising senior Teahna Daniels told me before the race she felt a little snubbed after finishing second at the Dream 100 and not being invited to any other postseason races. She took the race off, but used it to train for the USA Junior Championships. Daniels finished third behind Arianna Washington (11.30) in one of her best times of the year, 11.31, putting herself in a great position to make a relay squad.
After watching the girls shine, Sunshine State boys showed why Florida is the fastest state in the country. FSU signee Trentavis Friday, came into the finals with a 10 second prelim, a new high school national record, but false started in the finals. This caused the field to be cautious in their approach, but opened the door for another spot on the team which fellow FSU signee Kendal Williams took advantage of. NCAA 100m champion Trayvon Bromell rocking his signature head band, came in with the fastest time in 2014, a 9.97, cruised to the win in 10.07. Williams was second in 10.27. Terry Jernigan was third in 10.30 and like Daniels has a great opportunity to be on the 4x100m relay.
Bethune Cookman University freshman Kenneth Fisher, a Georgia native, was second in the long jump clearing 7.84m (25-08.75 ft. on his third and final attempt. According to a press release by BCU Athletics Fisher is " the first Bethune-Cookman track athlete to represent Team USA in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Junior Championships."
More fireworks are definitely on tap for Saturday with the 200 meter dash and several Floridians competing in various events with a shot to advance to the world stage!