(Photos by Travis Miller)
IAAF World Junior Youth Championship qualifier Symone Mason jump started 2016 with a pair of US#2 performances at the Texas A&M High School Classic in College Station, but she wasn't the only South Dade Express sprinter who saw success this weekend.
After posting US#2 marks in both her events in the prelims, Mason opted to focus solely on the 200 meter final. Teammate Kayla Johnson took advantage of the opportunity and finished behind Bailey Lear of Texas (55.01) in 55.03 the top two times in the country in a race that went wire to wire! Both Lear and Johnson's times broke the previous meet record of 55.19 set by Jarra Owens in 2014.
WATCH: Kayla Johnson Runs US#2 55.01
Next up, was Mason who owned the US#3 time now from her performance in the 400 the night before. Rested and refreshed, the junior improved on her 24.31 blazing a time of 23.98, the second fastest in the country for 2016. The meet was the earliest opener for the IAAF World Youth Qualifier.
WATCH: Symone Mason Improves US#2 Time To 23.98
Friday Highlights
Mason started off the weekend by winning her heat of the 400m dash (prelim), the same event she made it to Cali, Colombia for, in 56.41, the second fastest of the day behind JaEra Griffin's 55.79. Kayla Johnson also of Southridge High School and South Dade Express also won her heat, crossing the line in 57.15.
WATCH: Mason Runs US#2 56.41 (Heat 40 Prelims)
WATCH: Johnson Wins Heat 31 In US#6 57.16 Qualifies For Finals
Mason wasn't finished though. The speedster blasted a US#2 winning her heat of the 200 in 24.31, besting the meet record of Veronica Jones set in 2010 (24.40). Danyel White of Texas' US#1 time of 23.90 was the fastest qualifier of the day.
WATCH: Symone Mason Double Trouble: Second US#2 Of Day (24.31 200m)
Both Mason and Johnson will compete in the finals Saturday afternoon.
More Coverage
- Symone's Athlete Profile
- Kayla's Athlete Profile
- 2015 Texas A&M High School Indoor Classic Meet Coverage (MileSplit TX)
- Complete Results (Flash Results)