Jahvid Best - Salesian HS (Richmond) - Classic TC (Oakland)
One of the great stories out of the 2005 Junior Olympics in Indianapolis, Indiana in late July was the amazing intermediate level sprinting of Jahvid Best (Salesian HS of Richmond and Classic TC of Oakland). Best roared to a 21.41 200m qualifying contest early in the meet, then rocketed a 21.18 (-0.3 wind) to win the Finals, a mark that placed him among the top dozen high school athletes in the entire nation for the season and the top soph in the country for the 2005 outdoor season!! He came back in the 100 with a 10.73 qualifier and 10.67 (+0.1) in the Finals with a start there affected by a spill described below at the end of the 200 finals previously. Jahvid is the nation's fourth fastest soph this past spring over 100m, with Indy rival Anthony Sales (North Carolina) at 10.64 marginally ahead on the watch there as the country's top tenth grader in the short dash! Whew! What an end to a super summer of racing for the Bay area star David!!
(Below videos from JO's contain Youth and Intermediate contests - Interm Boys is the 4th race shown
Link to Finals Video JO's Interm 100 - Link to Finals Video JO's Interm 200 (shows the end of 200 spill described below by Coach Newman)
Jahvid had a fine regular season for his Salesian of Richmond high school team, with 10.84 (10.70w) and 22.17 (21.90w) bests during the regular season, but nothing that prepared one for the near one second 200m improvement in the summer that moved him from a very fine local sprinter to near the top the national class.
We appreciate Classic TC club coach Greg Newman who took the time to answer some questions below and for Keith Conning, who meticulously plotted Best's season below. Jahvid is a fine footballer, but his performances this summer that ended in Indianapolis with the success there showed he has as much potential as any track and field sprinter to roll down the pipe in California over the last decade.
Stay healthy in the Fall, we are looking forward to some big things next year in the spring and summer!! With athletes back such as Jemere Holland, Devin Mays, Isaiah Green, Bryshon Nellum, and Jahvid, it should be another super spring!!
Thanks to Coach Newman for the following answers and to Keith Conning for his efforts on the research!!
1) What is your background as a coach and where is your club located?
1. I began coaching at the age-group level in 1994 with Oakland P.A.L. Club. Then the Westside Kickers 96-99 and presently Hampton-Phillips Classic since 2000. I was the sprint coach at McClymonds High in 97, head coach at Oakland Tech 99-01, assistant coach at Pinole Valley High 03-04 and presently at Oakland High beginning in 04. Classic T.C. is located in Oakland.
2) After a good high school season Jahvid moved on to the elite prep level nationally with his performances during the summer, culminating in the National USATF JO's--at the start of the summer how fast did you think he could run?
2. I was looking at 10.50's & 21.50. He had some high spirited practices (trash talking) against Wopamo Osaisai & Demondre Ward. I believe the 10.50 was a no brainer in the 100 final but he moved his arms away from his body in the block because he couldn't handle the pain from the 2nd degree burn in his palms from the slide in the 200 final. The move caused him to stand straight-up so therefore he couldn't express force to complete his drive, acceleration and transition phases.
3) What basic parts of his sprinting did you work on during the summer period or what do you think were some of the reasons for his huge improvement?
3. I gave him a complete overhaul. Arm carriage, proper foot strike, new block setting, drills to quicken his feet, specific intervals to overcome inertia of the body, specific intervals to meet the demands of the body's energy system for the 100 & 200. It burnt me out but I am very happy.
4) What are his strengths as a sprinter, and what areas does he need to continue to work on?
4. His greatest strength is simply what I deem every sprinter has to have. Reaction to the gun and patience running through his phases. He needs to master his arm carriage which won't happen overnight but his work ethic has got me juiced.
5) Jahvid appears to be quite a football player also, where do his athletic interests appear to lie in the future (not too many big-time footballers as he appears to be take the time for summer age-group track action)?
5. After the JO's he's in the questioning mode between both sports.
6) Where can Jahvid go from here as a track and field athlete? (What do you see in his future)
6. Jahvid's success will come accordingly with his motivation. He has the tools to eventually run internationally. I just hope the sharks won't blame me for possibly popping his football bubble. I only put forth the answer because you asked. I never considered it.
Keith Conning's plotting of Best's 04-05 school year
Jahvid Best missed the national IB 200 record set by Obea Moore in 1995 by .08!
National IB Record: 21.10 7/29/1995 William Obea Moore
Jahvid Best only had the 16th best time in the State Meet prelims.
Jahvid Best improved one second from 5/28 NCS MOC to 7/30 NJO -- 22.18 to 21.18.!
Jahvid Best's 200m progression:
Time Wind Position Meet Site Date
22.17 nwi 1 Fred Faucett Inv., Vallejo 4/23
22.09 nwi 1h2 BSAL, Piedmont 5/12
21.90 nwi 1 BSAL, Piedmont 5/14
21.94 nwi 1 NCS Bay Shore Area, Union City 5/21
22.25 -0.7 1h2 NCS MOC, Berkeley 5/27
22.18 +0.4 2 NCS MOC, Berkeley 5/28
22.24 +0.5 5h1 State 6/3 (16th best time in preliminaries)
22.16 +2.4 1h6 IB PA JO 6/25
22.02 +1.4 1 IB PA JO 6/26
22.00 +0.6 1 IB JO R14, Livermore 7/10
21.41 -0.7 1h1 IB NJO, Indianapolis, IN 7/28
21.18 -0.3 1 IB NJO, Indianapolis, IN 7/30
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Best is also an excellent football player.
Sacred Heart Prep 42, Salesian 41
Nov. 13, 2004
MENLO PARK -- Pat Coffey hit Thomas Donahoe with an 85-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining, and the Gators made a two- point conversion to earn a non-league win over Salesian.
Salesian sophomore running back Jahvid Best ran for 288 yards and three touchdowns, all in the second half.
2005 Track Results
Fred Faucett Inv.
Vallejo
April 23, 2005
Boys 200 Meter Dash VARSITY
1, Best, Jahvid, Salesian HS, 22.17. 2, Aguiniga, Luis, Napa High School,
22.36. 3, Childs, Micha, Fairfield High S, 23.05. 4, Fant, Antonio, St.
Patrick - St, 23.36. 5, Dawson, Brandon, Fairfield High S, 23.53. 6, Swanson,
Rashad, Deer Valley High, 23.64.
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CIF State Track and Field Championships - 6/3/2005 to 6/4/2005
Hughes Stadium, Sacramento
Event 16 Boys 200 Meter Dash
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National H.S: 20.13 5/11/1985 Roy Martin (Roosevelt, Dallas
State Meet: 20.80 6/3/1977 James Sanford (Pasadena)
Name Year School Prelims
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Heat 1 Wind: 0.5
1 Wes Williams 12 Esperanza/ss 21.29Q
2 Dax Danns 11 Helix/sd 21.42q
3 Bobby Guillory 11 J. Bethel /sj 21.61q
4 Elijah Wells 12 Taft/la 21.76q
5 Jahvid Best 10 Salesian/nc 22.24
Preliminaries
1 Jamere Holland 11 Taft/la 20.92Q 1.7 3
2 Wes Williams 12 Esperanza/ss 21.29Q 0.5 1
3 Bryshon Nellum 10 Poly (Lb)/Ss 21.30Q 0.6 2
4 Devin Mays 11 Lincoln, Stoc/sj 21.36q 1.7 3
5 Dax Danns 11 Helix/sd 21.42q 0.5 1
6 Joe Turner 12 Edison/ce 21.45q 0.6 2
7 Bobby Guillory 11 J. Bethel /sj 21.61q 0.5 1
8 Zach Chandy 11 Sage Hill /ss 21.63q 1.7 3
16 Jahvid Best 10 Salesian/nc 22.24 0.5 1
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Pacific Association USATF Junior Olympic Championships
Granada High School, Livermore
June 25, 2005
Boys 200 Meter Dash Intermediate
Heat 6 Preliminaries Wind: 2.4
1 Best, Jahvid Hampton-Phil 21.90 22.16q
2 White, Avery Tracy Flyers 23.10 23.43q
3 Issacc, Jurelle Deer Valley 24.25 24.99
4 Kumar, Kelvin Unattached 25.00 26.15
5 Gray, Michael Deer Valley 26.05 27.17
6 Patton, Chester Full Stride 27.35
June 26, 2005
Boys 200 Meter Dash Intermediate
Section 1 Finals Wind: 1.4
1 Best, Jahvid Hampton-Phil 22.16 22.02
2 William, Aric Unattached 23.16 22.57
3 Fant, Antonio V-Town TC 23.38 22.94
4 Powell, Quentin Hampton-Phil 23.42 23.02
5 Ward, Demondre Hampton-Phil 22.99 23.13
6 Wethington, Keagan Mission Valley TC 23.02 23.31
7 Banks, Gavin Miller TC 23.34 23.34
8 Gix, Kianti Orig. Richmo 23.10 23.37
9 White, Avery Tracy Flyers 23.43 23.38
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USATF JO Region 14
Granada High School, Livermore
200 Meter Dash Intermediate Boys
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National: N 21.10 7/29/1995 William Obea Moore
Name Year Team Finals Wind Points
=================================================
1 Jahvid Best Classic Track 22.00 0.6
2 Aric Williams Classic Track 22.74 0.6
3 Jason Ward Bakersfield Gray 22.85 0.6
4 Brandon Owens Bakersfield Gray 22.91 0.6
5 Antonio Fant V-Town 22.98 0.6
6 Keagan Wethington Mission Valley 23.06 0.6
7 Quentin Powell Classic Track 23.37 0.6
8 Christopher Smith Bakersfield Gray 24.87 0.6
9 Tharreas Williams UNA 24.92 0.6
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2005 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships
Indianapolis, Indiana
Thursday, July 28, 2005
200 Meter Dash Intermediate Boys
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Name Year Team Prelims
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Heat 1 Wind: -0.7
1 Jahvid Best H-P Classic 21.41Q
2 Devin Hill 15-Team Hurricane 22.28q
3 Brijesh Lawrence N Omaha Bengals 22.43
4 Devin Hill 04-Metro Dade 22.48
5 Isaiah Green SoCal Cougars 22.49
6 Nicholas Johnson 13-Hilltop Striders 22.83
7 Imani Carey IL Stealth Bmber 23.42
8 Evan McCray 09-KCSE-DPA 23.73
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Name Year Team Prelims Wind H#
=======================================================================
Preliminaries
1 Jahvid Best H-P Classic 21.41Q -0.7 1
2 Bryshon Nellum SoCal Cougars 21.73Q -1.5 3
3 Antonio Sales G'boro Champs 21.80Q -0.7 2
4 Keith Johnson 06-Road Runners TC 21.98Q -0.2 5
5 Donald Monroe C.L. Athl Stars 22.02Q -0.8 4
6 Devin Pipkin 16-Indiana Storm TC 22.05q -0.2 5
7 Devin Hill 15-Team Hurricane 22.28q -0.7 1
8 Michael Davis Wildcats AA 22.29q -1.5 3
Note: Best had the fastest qualifying time of the five heats.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
200 Meter Dash Intermediate Boys
Finals
1 Jahvid Best H-P Classic 21.18 -0.3
2 Antonio Sales G'boro Champs 21.20 -0.3
3 Bryshon Nellum SoCal Cougars 21.54 -0.3
4 Keith Johnson 06-Road Runners TC 21.72 -0.3
5 Donald Monroe C.L. Athl Stars 21.77 -0.3
6 Devin Pipkin 16-Indiana Storm TC 21.80 -0.3
-- Devin Hill 15-Team Hurricane DQ
-- Michael Davis Wildcats AA DQ -0.3
Keith Conning
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