Kirkland Doubles Up With Sprint Titles, Barnett Drops US #1 400
Sophomore Jayla Kirkland of Woodlawn (AL) completed a successful weekend in the short sprints at New Balance Nationals with a victory in Sunday’s 200m finals.
Kirkland, who captured the 100m crown on Saturday by just .01, had to work even harder to gut out her latest win. She edged runner-up Cassandra Hall at the finish with both timed in 23.71 (tied, US #18)
“I just wanted to run a good time, run a good race and just run better than I have done in my previous 200-meter races,” said the Birmingham native, who had to deal with a slight headwind coming down the final straightaway. “I just wanted to execute and came out with a win.”
Kirkland was third at last year’s NBN. As for Hall, her second-place finish was a little redemption for what happened during the indoor nationals this past winter where she failed to make it to the finals in her specialty.
Senior Sharrika Barnett of Oak Ridge (FL), a runner-up in the 400m at last year’s NBN, got it right this time around by winning the individual title with a best of 52.25, a time that puts her No. 4 all-time in meet history and also places her atop the national rankings.
Sophomore Symone Mason of Miami Southridge (FL), a fourth-place finisher in the 200m at the Prefontaine Classic last month, was second at 53.07 (US #5).