It’s good to be Jordan Hasay of Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo (CA). She captured the heart of America’s running community by competing as a junior in the U. S. Olympic Trials last year, not qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics team but setting a national age-group and high school record by clocking 4:14.50 in a 1500-meter semifinal heat.

Hasay is a phenom, but there are other incredibly gifted high school track and field stars who will test their talent and skill in competition this spring. Here are some of the best of the rest:

Laura Roesler of Fargo South High School in Fargo (ND). Jordan Hasay wasn’t the only high schooler at the U. S. Olympic Trials. Roesler (pronounced “Race-ler”), a sophomore, was there as well. She clocked 2:03.08 in an 800-meter semifinal heat.

Hasay is from California on the West Coast, the nation’s largest state with a population of 35%2B million. Roesler is from North Dakota in the Midwest, a state with not even a million population (641,000%2B at last count). Roesler is a phenom too; she just has not received as much press. In her freshman and sophomore years, Roesler won state titles in the 100, 200, 400 and 800, not bad for a day’s work.

Chalonda Goodman of Newnan (GA) High School. Goodman is on fast track to success, having ripped through the 100-meter dash in 11.31 and the 200-meter in 23.22. She is the 3-time defending state champion in both the 100 and 200 and is looking to capture the titles again during her senior year.

Donique Flemings of Saginaw High School in Fort Worth (TX). Donique is stepping out in style after her junior year, having set career best marks of 13.60 in the 100 hurdles, 40.96 in the 300 hurdles and 58.66 in the 400 hurdles. Her 300 time set the Texas high school record. Flemings is on the fly and will be tough to catch.

Top times of 5 fast 400-meter runners include two runners from Poly High School in Long Beach (CA), Jasmine Joseph (53.15) and Akawkaw Ndipagbor (53.35) and three runners from Florida, Robin Reynolds of Miami Beach (53.10), Ebony Eutsey of Miami (53.23) and Lanie Whittaker of Miami (53.25). How about any 4 of these gals on a 4×400 relay team?

Looking for stick-outs in the field events? Look no further, try these young women athletes:

Shanay Briscoe of Cypress Christian High School in Houston (TX) in the high jump, she went 6-1.25 as a sophomore while placing 10th in the World Juniors Meet in Poland last year. Shade Weygandt of Mansfield (TX) High School pole vaulted 13-10. Anna Jelmini of Shafter (CA) High School threw discus 183-11. Lauren Chambers of Kell High School in Marietta (GA) threw the hammer 184-9. Hannah Carson of Dobson High School in Mesa (AZ) threw the javelin 173-7.

Elijah Greer of Lake Oswego (OR) High School shines bright. Greer ran 1:47.68 as a junior last year during the World Juniors in Poland. He won the Oregon 1500 title in 3:57.76 as a sophomore and the 800 title in 1:50.60 as a junior before going to the Worlds. Zachary Melon of Buffalo (MN) High School ran 1:48.64. Unless you are down on the track when these guys run by, you cannot appreciate how fast they are moving for 800 meters.

Rynell Parson of Stevens High School in San Antonio (TX) ran 10.23 in the 100 meter. Randall Carroll of Cathedral High School in Los Angeles (CA) covered 200 meters in 20.91 last year. Tavaris Tate of Starkville (MS) High School toured 400 meters in 46.39.

Wayne Davis of Southeast High School in Raleigh (NC) ran 13.65 in the 110 hurdles and Reggie Wyatt of La Sierra High School in Riverside (CA) clocked 35.71 in the 300 hurdles and 50.10 in the 400 hurdles.

Connor McCullough of Chaminade High School in West Hills (CA) is dead serious about the hammer throw; you know because he cranked a 260-0 throw last year to set the national record.

Mason Finley of Buena Vista (CO) High School put the shot 68-0 and threw the discus 222-1. Marquise Goodwin of Rowlett (TX) High School jumped 25-4.75 in the long jump. Bryce Lamb of Chandler (AZ) High School jumped 52-2 in the triple jump. Jack Whitt of North High School in Norman (OK) pole vaulted 17-0.

Eric Kynard of Rogers High School in Toledo (OH) high jumped 7-3.75 and Ricky Robertson of Hernando (MS) High School cleared 7-3. Justin Shirk of Harrisburg (PA) threw the javelin 221-3 and Johann Swanepoel of Shawnee Mission (KS) recorded a 221-2 throw.

These are just some of the outstanding prep athletes in the United States. Every one mentioned in this article was a High School All-American last year and should be returning to competition this year.

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley