Adriana Shockley is driven with purpose in 2018.
A year ago, the Western Branch sophomore barely missed the cut for Team USA and the Pan American Junior Championships in the 400mH, where she finished third at the USA Junior Championships in 58.67 seconds.
But you can bet she's holding on to that motivation throughout her junior year.
Shockley remains determined to return to the USA Junior Championships in June to qualify for the World Junior Championships in Finland, and this year her first foray into the race proved a good introduction into the season.
Shockley had just one race at the 400mH in 2017 before hitting USA Juniors last year -- at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. And yet, with more of a focus at the distance, she raced at the Conn Madden Relays on Saturday.
Shockley set the national bar high, going 61.99 seconds to win and earn new US No. 1 mark in the event.
That time also was dominant, with the junior finishing four seconds ahead of the next closest competitor.
Conn Madden Relays 400mH
| PLACE | ATHLETE | TEAM | RESULT | WIND | H# | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adriana Shockley | 11 | Western Branch High School | 1:01.99 | 4 | |||
| 2 | Shardonnay Nichols | 11 | Western Branch High School | 1:05.15 | 1 | |||
| 3 | Danyetta Ruffin | 12 | Menchville | 1:06.06 | 4 | |||
| 4 | Na'Taja Ballard | 9 | Western Branch High School | 1:07.94 | 2 | |||
| 5 | Jada Harris | 12 | Western Branch High School | 1:09.26 | 4 | |||
| 6 | Shadajah Ballard | 11 | Western Branch High School | 1:11.15 | 1 | |||
| 7 | Imani Gaston | 11 | Western Branch High School | 1:11.48 | 2 | |||
| 8 | Keishayla Warren | 11 | Western Branch High School | 1:13.04 | 4 | |||