VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- In the most anticipated race of the weekend, Sophia Gorriaran, Shawnti Jackson, Michelle Smith and Akala Garrett faced each other at the VA Showcase in the Invitational 500m on Friday at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.
This was one of the most loaded races of the weekend as World U20 finalists, all-time performers and a CARIFTA Games champion faced off.
Getting out aggressively, Jackson took control of the race and powered through to the front of the pack early in the race. After the first 200m, Gorriaran was sitting in fourth and eventually started to gradually chip away at the competition. With 100m left to go, Gorriaran took the lead in the middle of the last curve.
She stopped the clock at 1:11.35 and just edged out Jackson, the World U20 bronze medalist in the 100m, with a 1:11.94.
From the first heat, Isis Symone Grant of Sandy Creek (GA) and Ka'Myya Haywood of Bishop Kenny (FL) clocked a 1:12.41 and 1:12.87, respectively, to finish third and fourth overall. Smith was fifth overall with a 1:13.48 and Garrett, the World U20 champion in the 400mH, clocked a 1:13.51 for sixth.
GIRLS 500 METER DASH FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT H# 1 Sophia Gorriaran 12 Moses Brown School 1:11.35 2 2 Shawnti Jackson 12 South Granville 1:11.94 2 3 Isis Symone Grant 12 Sandy Creek 1:12.41 1 4 Ka'Myya Haywood 12 Bishop Kenny HS 1:12.87 1 5 Michelle Smith 11 Montverde Academy 1:13.48 2 6 Akala Garrett 12 Albemarle 1:13.51 2 7 Sage Hinton 12 Bullis School 1:15.16 1 8 Lauren Leath 12 Bullis School 1:16.65 1
Related Links: