WATCH Race Replays: FHSAA 3A District 15
American Heritage senior Kenya Thompson has been great at the 400 meters for a while including dating back to 2018 when she ran 54.34 in her opening freshmen season outdoor race in the 400-meter prelims at Louie Bing Classic.
However, it took until April 16, 2021 at the FHSAA 3A District 15 in a matchup with another sub 54 second performer and US #6 ranked Pebbles Scott for Thompson to finally best that performance from the 2018 Louie Bing Classic.
Thompson was virtually even with Scott coming off the final turn with 100 meters to go but used her strength which she credits to running the 4x800 and open 800 this spring to pulling away and hitting a near full second lifetime best of 53.36 to win over Scott.
She will not have to wait too long to race Scott again as well as the state leader and reigning 3A state champion from 2019 in Miami Northwestern junior Aaliyah Butler as all three are slated to face off at the 3A Region 4 Meet on Saturday, May 1st at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami.
It will not be the last showdown amongst the trio as they will go at it again in Jacksonville on May 7 for the FHSAA 3A State Finals. Got to believe that a 52-second performance will be required of the winner with the level of competition.
Parents of Jamaican descent, Thompson has represented her parent's home nation at the junior level including in Mexico back in 2019 for the NACAC U19 Championships. She hopes to represent them again one day with some normalcy to return for international travel in a post-Covid world.
The college decision is coming up for her as well as hopes to make a decision prior to the state meet as the interest and calls have been growing ever since her 53-second performance at the district meet two weeks ago.