US Junior Nationals Previews - 100m Dash

USATF Junior National Outdoor T&F Championships
MileSplit Staff

Gold and silver medalists last summer in Ukraine in the 100 meter dash finals of the IAAF World Youth Championships, can Ky Westbrook and Ariana Washington celebrate together medal finishes on the World stage again and become Team USA teammates this weekend in the US qualifier for the 2014 World Junior Championships? Washington looks to be a favorite, while Westbrook is going to need her best race of the year to outperform two speedsters from Florida. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport)

Preview of the men's and women's 100 meter dash for the 2014 USATF Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, a qualifier for the IAAF World Junior Championships to be held later this month back at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Junior Women's 100m Dash (Prelims - 3:10 PM/Finals - 6:30 PM)

The high school talent dominates the college talent in this event with four of the top five entrants being current prep stars led by California state champion Ariana Washington (US #1 11.22) of Long Beach Poly and Florida state champion Kaylin Whitney (US #2 11.27) of East Ridge. Whitney has been having an outstanding post-season including wins in the 100 at the Dream 100 in the adidas Grand Prix and at the Brooks PR Invitational. Washington was also at Brooks PR, but pulled out off the race last second, so this weekend we will finally get the match-up with two of the nation's fastest that we were already looking forward to two weeks ago in Seattle. Competing on her future home track at the University of Oregon. Washington is currently ranked #12 on the US high school all-time list with her wind-legal personal best and looking to win her first of several major races over the next 5 years at Hayward Field.

(Photo by Donald Lamb)

It is often easily forgottent that Whitney is still only a sophomore, but already finds herself well inside the US top 20 all-time list and in contention this weekend to make her first of likely several future Team USA squads. A familar in-state rival for Whitney in US #3 ranked Teahna Daniels (11.31) of First Academy in Orlando will also be in the running for a spot on the World Junior team as she has earned several wins against Whitney in the past. 

(Photo by Kirby Lee/Image Of Sport)

Not to be overlooked is Ky Westbrook from Chandler High School in Arizona, who last year won gold in the 100 meter dash at the IAAF World Youth Championships with a 11.33 PR and despite her senior year not as nearly as successful as she would have liked (11.51 season best), should be coming on strong approaching this meet after being slowed early on in the spring by injury. Ariana Washington was a silver medalist in that 100 finals last summer in Ukraine to Westbrook.

Entrants:

 

Junior Men's 100m Dash (Prelims - 3:35 PM/Finals - 6:40 PM)

(Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport)

It is not really fair for the rest of the junior field this weekend or the even the rest of the World later this month at World Juniors to have to face off against a sprinter at the caliber already of Baylor University freshmen Travyon Bromell. The native of St. Petersburg, Florida is coming off a remarkable freshmen year campaign at Baylor capped off with winning the NCAA Division 1 title last month at Hayward Field in a wind-legal time of 9.97. Earlier in the season with a severe tailwind, Bromell smoked a wind-aided 9.77 clocking at the Big 12 Championships. It will probably more interesting to see what kind of gap exists between Brommel and the other top US junior sprinters in how decisive of a win that he can showcase in Eugene.

Last year's New Balance Nationals champion in Bromell will get to matchup with this year's New Balance Nationals champion in the sprints in Trentavis Friday of Cherryville High School in North Carolina. Friday won 3 national titles during his senior year (2 indoors and 1 outdoor) and would have won a fourth likely if graduation ceremonies did not interfere with running in the 100 meter dash in Greensboro from New Balance Nationals. Friday has the nation's fastest time among high schoolers with a wind-legal 10.17 clocking and will be headed to Bromell's home state to attend Florida State University.

(Photo by Jeff Adams)

The actual top high school sprinter in the country will be determined at this meet with Friday's future FSU teammate Kendal Williams also slated to compete in the 100 meter dash at US Juniors. Williams was one of the top returning sprinters in the country entering this year and he lived up to those expectations going undefeated in a very competitive state including the likes of Terry Jernigan (10.27), who will also competing for a World Juniors berth this weekend. Williams won the Dream 100 at the adidas Grand Prix as well as the Golden South Classic 200 in a 20.55 personal best clocking. 

Entrants: