Ten new records were set this season when the automatic timers finally stopped and the best 2009 USA high school track and field competitive performances were in the books.
The only double record-setter was not an individual, but the Track East Carolina relay team made up of New Bern High School sprinters from Raleigh (NC). Their 3:19.58 effort in the 1,600 sprint medley relay swept away the old mark of 3:21.1 with Fuquawn Greene's 21.5 and Miles Sparks' 21.8 in the 200, Andrew Hendrix's 46.6 in the 400 and brother Anthony Hendrix's 1:49.7 in the 800.
Track East Carolina also set the 800 sprint medley relay record with a 1:28.20 clocking that erased the old mark of 1:28.43. The absolute dominance of the Track East Carolina team was shown as they also ran the nation's fastest times in the 4x200 relay and the 4x400 relay.
Albemarle High School's 4x800 relay team also got into the act by setting a new standard of 7:30.67, wiping out the old mark of 7:32.89. Albemarle's 800 runners were fast and deep-Garrett Bradley went 1:55.43, Zach Vrhovac 1:50.57, Luke Noble 1:55.34 and Anthony Kostelac 1:49.33.
The other 7 new USA high school records were set by Reggie Wyatt in the 300 hurdles (35.02), Marquise Goodwin in the long jump (26-10), Mason Finley in the discus (236-06), Curtis Beach in the decathlon (7,466), Shelby Greany in the 2,000 steeplechase (6:33.7), Toni Young in the high jump (6-04), and Anna Jelmini in the discus (190-03).
Last year the two dominant athletes were German Fernandez and Jordan Hasay. Fernandez set new records in the 3,000 and 3,200 and led all comers in the 1,500, 1,600 and mile. Hasay set a new record in the 1,500 and led all comers in the 3,000, 3,200 and 2 mile.
This year college recruiters saw more quality athletes emerge. Among of the boys were Andrew Springer who led everyone in the 1,500, 1,600 and mile; Trevor Dunbar who was first in the 3,000 and 2 mile; Lucas Verzbickas, a freshman who led the 3,200 and 2 mile; and Marquise Goodwin in the long jump.
Among the girls were Chelsey Sveinsson, a sophomore who led the nation in the 3,000 and 2 mile; Kori Carter who swept the 100 and 300 hurdles; and Ciarra Brewer, a sophomore in the triple jump.
Two of last year's outstanding graduates-German Fernandez and Christine Babcock-continued to perform at a national caliber level as college freshmen. Fernandez went to Oklahoma State and promptly became the NCAA Division 1 champion in the 1,500, running 3:39.00 compared to his high school best of 3:44.8.
Babcock went to the University of Washington and, combined with incoming freshman and Canadian junior national cross-country champion Kendra Schaaf, led the Huskies to their first ever NCAA Division 1 Cross-Country Championship. Babcock finished 5th in 20:02 in team competition at the 2008 NCAA Championship meet and Schaaf finished 9th.
Babcock ran 4:33.82 last year to set the new national high school record for the 1600-meter run and clocked 4:35.41 in the mile, the 2nd best high school time ever (the national record is 4:35.24).
Here are the current United States high school track and field records through 2008 followed by the best performances by high school competitors during 2009:
USA Boys High School Track and Field Records and Best 2009 Performances:
100 Meters: - 10.01 - 10.30 by Randall Carroll of Cathedral High School in Los Angeles (CA).
200 - 20.13 - 20.58 by Dentarius Locke of Chamberlain HS in Tampa (FL).
400 - 44.69 - 45.48 by Tavaris Tate of Starkville (MS) HS.
Other elite prep sprinters include Andre Carter, Kenneth Gilstrap, Prezel Hardy, Blake Heriot, Qunicy McDuffie, Ryan Milus and Clayton Parros.
800 - 1:46.45 - 1:48.66 by Robby Andrews of Manalapan (NJ) HS.
1,500 - 3:38.26 - 3:45.46 by Andrew Springer of Westerly (RI) HS.
1,600 - 3:53.43 - 4:01.06 by Andrew Springer of Westerly (RI) HS.
Mile - 3:53.43 - 4:02.70 by Andrew Springer of Westerly (RI) HS.
3,000 - 7:59.83 - 8:14.11 by Trevor Dunbar of Kodiak (AK) HS.
3,200 - 8:36.30 - 8:50.70 by Lucas Verzbickas of Lincoln-Way Central HS in New Lenox (IL).
2 Mile - 8:34.40 - 8:49.79 by Trevor Dunbar of Kodiak (AK) HS.
Other elite prep distance runners include Mac Fleet, Elijah Greer, Patrick McGregor, Zachary Mellon, Chris Stogsdill and Zachary Wills.
2,000 Steeplechase - 5:43.90 - 5:53.13 by Alex Dier of Honeoye Falls (NY) HS.
3,000 Steeplechase - 8:50.01 - 9:09.97 by Joe Whelen of Hamburg (NY) HS.
5,000 - 13:37.91 - 14:18.42 by Lucas Verzbickas of Lincoln-Way Central HS in New Lenox (IL).
10,000 - 28:32.7 - 31:18.13 by Parker Stinson of Cedar Park (TX) HS.
110 Hurdles - 13.30 - 13.31 by Wayne Davis of Southeast HS in Raleigh (NC).
300 Hurdles - 35.28 - 35.02 by Reggie Wyatt of La Sierra HS in Riverside (CA). New USA High School Record.
400 Hurdles - 49.38 - 49.78 by Reggie Wyatt of La Sierra HS in Riverside (CA).
Other elite prep hurdlers include Kelby Dias, Kendall Hayes, Camern LaCour, Dale Morgan, Cody Riggs, Jordan Rispress, Tyler Stephenson and Neamen Wise.
4x100 Relay - 39.76 - 40.54 by Monsignor Pace HS in Miami (FL).
4x200 Relay - 1:23.31 - 1:24.80 by Track East Carolina of New Bern (NC) HS.
4x400 Relay - 3:07.40 - 3:08.05 by Track East Carolina of New Bern (NC) HS.
4x800 Relay - 7:32.89 - 7:30.67 by Albemarle HS of Charlottesville (VA). New USA High School Record.
4x1 Mile Relay - 17:06.06 - 17:17.21 by The Woodlands (TX) HS.
800 Sprint Medley Relay - 1:28.43 - 1:28.20 by Track East Carolina of New Bern (NC) HS. New USA High School Record.
1,600 Sprint Medley Relay - 3:21.10 - 3:19.58 by Track East Carolina of New Bern (NC) HS. New USA High School Record.
4,000 Distance Medley Relay - 9:49.78 - 9:55.17 by The Woodlands (TX) HS.
High Jump - 7-07 - 7-05.75 by James White of Grandview (MO) HS.
Pole Vault - 18-03 - 18-00.25 by Jack Whitt of Norman North HS in Norman (OK).
Long Jump - 26-09.25 - 26-10 by Marquise Goodwin of Rowlett (TX) HS. New USA High School Record.
Triple Jump - 54-10.25 - 52-06.25 by Bryce Lamb of Chandler (AZ) HS.
Other elite prep jumpers include Chase Cooper, Damar Forbes, Ricardo Jaquite, Erik Kynard, Ricky Robertson and Hammed Suleman.
Shot Put - 81-03.50 - 72-08 by Nick Vena of Morristown (NJ) HS.
Discus - 234-03 - 236-06 by Mason Finley of Buena Vista (CO) HS. New USA High School Record.
Javelin - 241-11 - 239-00 by Sam Crouser of Gresham (OR) HS.
Hammer - 260-00 - 256-09 by Conor McCullough of Chaminade HS in West Hills (CA).
Other elite prep throwers include Hayden Baillio, Devin Bogert, Matt Kosecki, Stephen Saenz, Justin Shirk and Cameron Tabor.
Decathlon - 7,359 - 7,466 by Curtis Beach of Academy HS in Albuquerque (NM). New USA High School Record Using International Implements and Hurdles.
(This is Part 1 of a 2-Part Series.)
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley
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