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DyeStat 2008
National
Track and Field
Preview


Compiled by SteveU

Stats from John Sullivan (DyeStat Elite) and Jack Shepard (High School Track)

Girls Sprints

(third in a series)



 
(from left) Victoria Jordan TX, Chalonda Goodman GA, and Ashton Purvis CA all figure to be major forces in the girls sprint wars this year.  Photos Vic Sailer and Kirby Lee.


Returning Outdoor Leaders

100
200
400
Victoria Jordan TX --- 11.36
Ashton Purvis CA --- 11.40
Brittany Long GA --- 11.44 (11.31w)
Dominique Duncan TX --- 11.52
Breanna Hubbard GA --- 11.53
Chalonda Goodman GA --- 11.54
Candyce McGrone IN -- 11.54 (11.29w)
English Gardner NJ --- 11.61
Grecia Bolton TX --- 11.63
Alishea Usery MO --- 11.69 (11.57w)
Victoria Jordan TX --- 23.24 (22.84w)
Chalonda Goodman GA --- 23.42 (23.30w)
Brittany Long GA --- 23.44 (23.02w)
Ashley Collier TX -- 23.49
Ashton Purvis CA --- 23.50 (23.24w)
Jessica Davis CA --- 23.64
Aareon Payne OH --- 23.65
Dominique Duncan TX --- 23.76 (23.38w)
Alishea Usery MO --- 23.78
Candyce McGrone IN --- 23.83 (23.24w)
Meshawn Graham OH --- 52.51
Ebony Eutsey FL --- 52.67
Robin Reynolds FL --- 53.10
Jasmine Joseph CA --- 53.15
Erica Alexander TX --- 53.29
Alisha Usery MO --- 53.47
Shaniqua McGinnis OH --- 53.61
Turquoise Thompson CA --- 53.62
Akawkaw Ndipagbor CA --- 53.73
Brianna Nelson SC --- 53.74

Returning Indoor Leaders

60
200
400
Victoria Jordan TX --- 7.24
Erica Alexander TX --- 7.40
Breanna Hubbard GA --- 7.46
Britanny Long GA --- 7.46
Lauren Drayton MI --- 7.49
Ashton Purvis CA --- 7.49
Alishea Usery MO --- 7.54
Takeia Pinckney GA --- 7.57
Dominique Duncan TX --- 7.59
Aaeron Payne OH --- 7.61
Ashton Purvis CA --- 23.55
Erica Alexander TX --- 23.93
Victoria Jordan TX --- 24.26
Aareon Payne TX --- 24.27
Jackie Coward TN --- 24.44
LaKeshia Williams AL --- 24.63
Breanna Hubbard GA --- 24.64
Christie Verdier NY --- 24.64
LaKeidra Stewart TX --- 24.65
Brianna Atkins CA --- 24.73
Turquoise Thompson CA --- 53.78
Dalilah Muhammad NY --- 54.07
Chanelle Price PA --- 54.37
Natalie Stewart UT --- 54.92
Jasmine Joseph CA --- 54.94
Tasha Stanley MD --- 55.36
Elan Hilaire MD --- 55.37
Thandi Stewart CA --- 55.43
Akawkaw Ndipagbor CA --- 55.69
Zoey Russell NY --- 55.69

55
300
500
600
Victoria Jordan TX --- 6.84+
Erica Alexander TX --- 6.89+
Brittany Long GA --- 6.97
Breanna Hubbard GA --- 6.98
Ashton Purvis CA --- 6.99+
Christie Verdier NY --- 38.77
Elizabeth Mott NY --- 38.9
Nadonnia Rodriques NY --- 39.05
Dalilah Muhammad NY --- 39.35
Elan Hilaire MD --- 39.67
Dominique Jordan VA -- 1:15.45
Breanda Crump NY --- 1:15.54
Leslie Morrison MD --- 1:16.26
Cierra McGee VA --- 1:16.27
Bethany Hyter VA --- 1:16.38
Phyllis Francis NY --- 1:30.28
Dalilah Muhammad NY -- 1:31.11
Shaniel Chambers PA -- 1:33.56
Meg Looney MA --- 1:33.95
Nadonnia Rodriques NY -- 1:34.35


Returning National Meet Placers

NIN 60
NIN 200
NIN 400
1. Victoria Jordan TX 7.33
6. LaKeidra Stewart TX 7.78 (7.67 sf)
(sf) Ashley Bethune NC 7.73
(sf) Dionna Hayes MD 7.74
(sf) Kristen Arnold PA 7.77
(sf) Jameice DeCoster MD 7.79
1. Victoria Jordan TX 24.26
7. LaKeidra Stewart TX 25.12 (24.65h)
(h) Lola Adetu MD 25.22
(h) Jameice DeCoster MD 25.34
(h) Shanae Bailey PA 25.35
(h) Doris Anyanwu MD 25.38
2. Thandi Stewart CA 55.43
6. Elizabeth Mott NY 56.92
7. Keshia Rudolph VA 57.28 (57.07h)
(h) Dominique Jordan VA 57.15
(h) Dynasty McGee MI 57.27
(h) Ijeoma Iheoma PA 57.42

NSIC 60H
NSIC 200
NSIC 400
5. Erica Alexander TX 7.40
6. Ashton Purvis CA 7.50 (7.49sf)
8. Breanna Hubbard GA 7.55 (7.50sf)
(sf) Takeia Pinckney GA 7.66
(sf) Turquoise Thompson CA 7.67
(sf) Jasmine Joseph CA 7.69
2. Ashton Purvis CA 23.55
3. Erica Alexander TX 23.93
7. Kimberly Hyacinthe QC 24.50
10. Breanna Hubbard GA 24.72 (24.64h)
11. Zoey Russell NY 24.79 (24.76h)
(h) Akawkaw Ndipagbor CA 25.08
1. Dalilah Muhammad NY 54.23
2. Turquoise Thompson CA 54.42
3. Jasmine Joseph CA 54.94
7. Zoey Russell NY 55.69
7. Akawkaw Ndipagbor CA 55.69
(h) Janet Mellor NY 57.10

NON 100
NON 200
NON 400
1. Chalonda Goodman GA 11.56
3. Brittany Long GA 11.63
5. Nyosha Bryant NC 11.81 (11.79h)
7. Breanna Hubbard GA 11.89
(h) English Gardner NJ 11.94
(h) Aareon Payne OH 11.98
1. Chalonda Goodman GA 23.42
2. Brittany Long GA 23.44
4. Aareon Payne OH 23.94
5. Nyosha Bryant NC 23.95
7. Erika Schmidt OH 24.19
(h) Aunye Boone MD 24.47
2. Brianna Nelson SC 53.74
3. English Gardner NJ 54.00
7. Ijeoma Iheoma PA 55.15
9. Nadonnia Rodriques NY 55.46
10. Kellie Christian MD 55.51
11. Janet Mellor NY 555.59

USATF Jr 100 - 4. Candyce McGrone IN 11.54, 6. Ashton Purvis CA 11.61
USATF Jr 200 - 4. Candyce McGrone IN 23.24w, 5. Ashton Purvis CA 23.27w
USATF Jr 400 - 4. Alishea Usery MO 53.55, 6. Brittany Pringley FL 54.56, 8. Dynasty McGee MI 55.75 (55.53h)
World Youth 100 - 7. Ashton Purvis 12.04 (11.81 sf), dq Erica Alexander TX (11.84 sf)
World Youth 200 - 2. Chalonda Goodman 23.54, 5. Ashton Purvis CA 23.89 (23.66 sf)
World Youth 400 - 6. Meshawn Graham OH 55.18 (54.96 sf)
USATF JOs 100 - 1. (YW) Victoria Jordan TX 11.36, 1. (IG) Breanna Hubbard 11.53, 2. (YW) Chalonda Goodman GA 11.54
USATF JOs 200 - 1. (YW) Victoria Jordan TX 22.84w, 2. (YW) Chalonda Goodman GA 23.30w, 3. (YW) Dominique Duncan TX 23.38w
USATF JOs 400 - 1. (YW) Erica Alexander TX 53.62, 1. (YG) Akawkaw Ndipagbor 53.73, 1. (IG) Angelica Weaver CA 54.36


Analysis - In the world of girls sprinting at this time last year, all eyes were on an amazing “Big Three” of Gabby Mayo NC, Bianca Knight MS, and Jessica Beard OH.  All had had fantastic junior-year campaigns.  What would they do as an encore as seniors?

Well, as we all learn, year after year, progression is not always linear and great junior years don’t necessarily translate into great senior years.  Mayo struggled with injury all year, and didn’t really come close to her 11.16/22.88 100/200 PRs from 2006.  Knight had her ups and downs; she set the 200 HSR indoors and won the USATF Jr. 200 outdoors, but otherwise didn’t exceed her past accomplishments.  Beard dominated the 400 again and set a PR, but didn’t hit her hoped-for times at season’s end.

And did everyone think Chalonda Goodman GA, Victoria Jordan TX, and Tiffany Townsend TX would come in and run the times, win the titles, and grab the headlines like they did?

Now coming into 2008, there’s no “Big Three,” or “big” anything.  What there is, however, is a relatively wide-open sprint landscape with a tremendous variety of exciting, young athletes ready to vie for this year’s championships and fastest time.

So, who do you like?  Well, that might depend where you’re from.

If you’re a Texan, then you’ll probably cast your votes for the likes of Jordan, Erica Alexander, LeKedria Stewart, Dominique Jordan, or Ashley Collier.  Who can forget Victoria leaping in the air after stunning Bianca Knight at the LSU Indoor 60?  That practically set the tone for a season where the old favorites would struggle to hold off the new guard.  Jordan went on to an indoor campaign with her Dallas Gold club that would see her run 7.24 for the 60 and easily take the NIN 60-200 double.

Outdoors, though, she didn’t compete in the high school season for Fort Worth Dunbar, leaving those outside of Texas to temporarily forget about her.  But she stormed back at USATF JO’s for crushing victories in the YW 100/200 of 11.36/22.84w.  Victoria is the top returnee, time-wise in the indoor 60 and outdoor 100/200.  Alexander has range from the 55 to the 400 – note that she’s the #2 55 returnee (6.89), #2 indoor 200 returnee (23.93), and #5 outdoor 400 returnee (53.29) – the latter being actually perhaps her best event.

But if you’re from Georgia, you’re likely rooting for athletes like Chalonda Goodman, Brittany Long, and Breanna Hubbard.  Few national pundits were looking at Goodman on that unseasonably cool weekend in Greensboro, but the statuesque Newnan GA soph stunned everyone with a double win over the likes of Mayo and Townsend.  Further boosting Georgia’s profile was Long, was impressed in 3rd (100) and 2nd (200), as well as anchoring two winning relays.  Goodman would go on to silver in the World Youth 200.

On the other hand, if you’re California type of person, you’re probably vouching for the talents of such as Ashton Purvis, Turquoise Thompson, Jasmine Joseph, Jessica Davis, and others.  Purvis was the freshman sensation of the country last year, with her accomplishments including three age/class records, a 2nd in the NSIC 200, 6th/5th in the USATF Jr 100/200 (against athletes up to 5 years older), and a 7th/5th in the World Youth 100/200.

Thompson “merely” ran history’s 10th best indoor 400 (and best of year) before taking 2nd in the NSIC race.  Injuries would plague her outdoors, but Joseph hit 53.15, which is the #4 returnee.

Now if you think the list of national title contenders is exhausted at this point, guess again.  We haven’t even mentioned Meshawn Graham OH (#1 outdoor 400 returnee at 52.51, World Youth 6th), Candyce McGrone IN (4th both USATF Jr. 100/200; 11.54/23.24w), Alishea Usery MO (53.55/23.87/11.69; USATF Jr. 400 4th), or Dalilah Muhammad NY – who is best known for her 400H exploits, but is also the #2 indoor returnee at 400/600 and the defending NSIC 400 champ.

Perhaps most exciting of all is the youth movement in these events, which extends far beyond Purvis.  The wealth of talent in this year’s 10th-, 9th-, and even 8th-graders is phenomenal.  Consider:
  • Sophomores like Purvis, Ebony Eutsey FL (#2 400 returnee with 52.67 from USATF Youth), Brianna Nelson SC and English Gardner NJ (2nd and 3rd in NON 400 out of 2nd heat!), and Phyllis Francis NY, who is probably more of a middle-distance runner, but owns a 1:30.28 for 600;
  • Freshmen like Akawkaw Ndipagbor CA (53.73), Kamaria Brown LA (53.97/24.13), and Dynasty McGee MI (8th USATF Jr. 400, 9th NIN 400);
  • And 8th-graders like Robin Reynolds FL, who boggled minds with her 53.10 400 at the USATF Youth Champs.

No, 2008 will not dawn with established mega-favorites like Mayo, Knight, and Beard, but it will be a year with a ton of talent and at least a dozen athletes that could really become all-time greats this year.
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