She didn't qualify for Brooks PR -- yet! -- but seventh-grade phenom Tamari Davis (#413) made an impact on Flo Golden South.
The middle schooler was a sleeper pick to win the 100m after winning her heat with the sixth-fastest time in qualifying: 11.89 (-0.1). Watch the prelim race below.
But it was in the 200m prelims that Davis had her best moment, as the Florida Middle School State Champion clocked 23.94 -- a huge drop from her prior best of 24.32. The time ranks No. 28 nationally amongst high school students and it put her in contention with Jayla Kirkland, a three-time national champion and IAAF World Youth Championships bronze medalist.
Davis and Kirkland's times were the fastest of the day in the prelims. Watch the battle below.
We spoke to Davis immediately after the race, before she realized how fast she'd just run.
Now, could she pull an upset and take home the 100m title? Watch the Brooks PR qualifying race below:
Event 17 Girls 100 Meter Dash Classic
=========================================================================
Classic: C 11.21 2011 Octavious Freeman, Lake Wales, FL
National HS: # 11.14 1992 Marion Jones, Thousand Oaks, CA
USATF Junior: $ 11.04 1999 Angela Williams, USC
Name Year School Prelims Finals
=========================================================================
Section 1 Finals Wind: -0.9
1 Patterson, Amaru 11 Unattached 11.84 11.75
2 Kirkland, Jayla 11 Unattached 11.82 11.75
3 Seymour, KaTia 11 Florida Alps 11.75 11.80
4 Williams, Shaniya 11 South Dade E 11.97 11.97
5 Fahie, L'Tsha 12 Sprint Tech 11.86 12.07
6 Davis, Tamari 7 Pure Athleti 11.89 12.13
7 Moorer, Jamesha 10 St. Pete Nit 11.84 12.17
8 Sanders, Keosha 12 Take Flight 12.06 12.19 She would maintain her seed position and place sixth overall in 12.13. She entered the 200m final -- not a Brooks PR qualifier -- as the No. 2 seed.
Event 29 Girls 200 Meter Dash Classic
=========================================================================
Classic: C 22.96 2011 Octavious Freeman, Lake Wales, FL
National HS: # 22.52 2003 Alyson Felix, Loas Angeles Baptist, CA
USATF Junior: $ 22.11 2003 Allyson Felix, CA HS
Name Year School Prelims Finals
=========================================================================
Section 1 Finals Wind: -0.6
1 Patterson, Amaru 11 Unattached 23.99 23.98
2 Davis, Karimah 11 Fast Lane Tr 24.11 24.18
3 Moses, Tarika 12 Sprint Tech 24.37 24.27
4 Kirkland, Jayla 11 Unattached 23.75 24.47
5 Davis, Tamari 7 Pure Athleti 23.94 24.62
6 Charles, Destiny 9 E.O.T.O Elit 24.55 24.80
7 Williams, Shaniya 11 South Dade E 24.52 25.86 Davis would place one spot better than the 100m Finals with a 24.62, fifth place run. We caught up with the star after her busy day which also included runs in the relay finals:
She told us that her idol is Allyson Felix. It may not be long before Davis is the next Team USA star! Keep an eye out for this young phenom in the future.
