GIRLS SPRINTS & RELAYS
Despite all the talk about our Jamaican guests' first appearance here, we may especially treasure a young lady from Georgia who is leading the nation in both the 100 (11.30) and 200 (23.05): Candace Hill. This young lady is only a sophomore (!) and has handled the pressure well. Her only serious challenger may be Louisiana's Janie O'Connor (11.52).
The most stacked girls running event will be the 400, where no less than five gifted young ladies have a shot at both the bold medal and a meet record. Sharrika Barnett (52.67) should put a few meters between herself and Florida teammate Lenysse Dyer (53.15), but Colorado's Nicole Montgomery (52.95) and Becca Schulte (53.64) should make the state tandem rivalry intense. Illinois sends a capable darkhorse in Brittny Ellis (53.49).
The girls' hurdles are headlined by Ashley Miller of East Ridge, the Florida 4A State Champion for 100m and 300m hurdles, who recently announced she will bypass her senior year to sign early with the University of Texas. She ranks U.S. No. 5 in both events with a best of 13.48 in the 100m hurdles and a best of 41.56 in the 300m hurdles.
No informed sprint enthusiast in the world can deny that Jamaica has dominated the world of women's sprinting for more than a decade. It has always been one of the world's leading sprint nations, and its next generation of emerging talent will be on full display Saturday evening. Britney Hew, Shanta Deer, Shashalee Forbes, and Kerryann Scott have run 45.29 in the 4 x 100 for their Holmwood Tech High, a time which is just outside the American high school 2015 best. The quartet also zipped a fine 1:37.5 4 x 200 last month.
The anticipated battles among Jamaica, Texas, and Florida sprinters in all these individual and relays could make this year's GSwC sprint events the best evening of high school sprinting entertainment that our country has seen in many years.
2015 Great Southwest Classic Previews:
- Boys Distance
- Girls Distance
- Boys Sprints & Relays
- Girls Sprints & Relays
- Boys Field Events
- Girls Field Events
- Multi-Events
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