Jordan Hasay - Youth Girls Distance Star of 2004 USATF JO's

Blond-tressed star purrs along to another record!

Supportive Crowd Cheers the California star around the final turn and on into the finish!

As the 2004 USATF JO National Championships headed towards a close, Central California coastal star, twelve year old Jordan Hasay, racing in the Youth Girls Division in the 1500 and 3000 meter distance events, has been taken to heart by the thousands in attendance. Her efforts thus far have included the wholesale destruction of some good fields and respected national records at both distances, with the 1500 record taking place in a qualifying heat in a near 100 meter win! As the tanned Californian with the flowing blond hair sails along far in front of the pack, her racing efforts are supported by spontaneous clapping from the families and supporters of the 5000 athletes in attendance who fill the Hayward Field stands each day. Jordan's early pacing separates her from the field, with her ability to maintain momentum far out in front earning the respect of all followers of the sport, with applause following her efforts around the oval for the final few laps of her races. For the record, Rebecca Mitchell of Illinois had her very respected 1500m mark of 4:36.90 from 1996 taken down by Hasay's 4:34.02 solo heat run on Friday, 7/30, with Deresa Walter of New York's ancient 9:57.16 3000 from 1987 falling to Jordan's 9:48.77 Sat 8/1 run. Jordan was thirteen seconds ahead in her 1500m heat win, with a thirty second win in the 3000m Final on Saturday! The Golden State star's quick start in the 1500 had a 70 second first 400, with the 72 second opening lap in the 3000m event leaving good Youth Girl level fields far behind right at the start.

A bubbly personality, we caught up with Jordan soon after her 3000m win, and our question about whether she felt good enough to answer any questions met with a quick, "Sure!" Jordan is going into the eighth grade at St. Patrick's School in Arroyo Grande, California this coming fall. This Central Coastal area of California, just south of San Luis Obispo, has ideal weather and terrain for endurance training, with the cool Pacific Ocean breezes keeping the temperatures mild and consistent year-round, with the local area a combination of beaches, rolling hills, and some wide open spaces. Jordan is also involved in swimming, both of the ocean and pool variety, but she is quick to point out, "I like running the most, and the swimming complements my running nicely." She indicated that each week she swims about four times, and runs about five times. When she runs she stated that the longest of her days is about five to six miles total, and she does a combination of some days long runs and some days interval training. She did qualify for the National JO competition with impressive Regional clockings, coming in at 4:39.96 for the 1500m distance and 9:51.76 3000m. When asked her goal for the 3000m event in the Championships this day, she replied, "I wanted to run a sub-9:50!" Asked if she had a goal in pacing during the event, with maybe a 1600m split planned, she stated precisely, "I wanted to run 74-2:32-3:52 and 5:12 for the first four laps." When asked about the 5:06 pace she actually set this day, she said, "When I heard the 5:06 I felt good and decided to really go for it." Asked about some long-term goals in the sport, she indicated, "I would like to make it to the Olympics, and be the first female sub-4 minute miler." With the 1500m Final scheduled for Sunday, asked for a goal there, she said, "I felt good in the heat win, and want to run a sub-4:30 in the Finals."

We are looking forward to her effort in the 1500 Final on Sunday, with the others who have become supportive fans of this Youth Girls Division star certainly spreading the word to others in the crowd of 10,000 who will be in attendance the big final day of the meet. It is very fitting that at Hayward Field, home of the great distance running tradition spawned by Steve Prefontaine and others, the 2004 Junior Olympic National Finals should find a new distance hero at this developmental level. Check back for the Final Day's 1500m Championship result, with the third consecutive day of distance running by Jordan probably once again producing some impressive results. She seems to be a very special person in addition to her super running, with this week's "coming out" at a national level already of a very huge variety!