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 Girls High School Track and Field Records and Best 2009 Performances:
100 – 11.11 – 11.30 by Chalonda Goodman of Newnan (GA) High School.
200 – 22.11 – 22.94 by Chalonda Goodman of of Newnan (GA) HS.
400 – 50.69 – 52.07 by Ebony Eutsey of Southridge HS in Miami (FL).
Other elite prep sprinters include Tasha Allen, Michelle Brown, Jessica Davis, Octavious Freeman, Akawkaw Ndipagbor, Briana Nelson, Ashton Purvis and Robin Reynolds.
800 – 2:00.07 – 2:04.67 by Jillian Smith of Southern Ocean HS in Manahawkin (NJ).
1500 – 4:14.50 – 4:16.80 by Jordan Hasay of Mission Prep High School in San Luis Obispo (CA). Hasay Set the USA High School Record last year.
1600 – 4:35.24 – 4:44.97 by Amanda Winslow of Collins Hills HS in Suwanee (GA).
Mile – 4:35.24 – 4:37.34 by Jordan Hasay of Mission Prep HS in San Luis Obispo (CA).
3000 – 9:08.60 – 9:27.29 by Chelsey Sveinsson of Greenhill HS in Addison (TX).
3200 – No Recognized Record – 10:05.29 by Jordan Hasay of Mission Prep HS in San Luis Obispo (CA).
2 Mile – 10:01.08 – 10:04.85 by Chelsey Sveinsson of Greenhill HS in Addison (TX).
Other elite prep distance runners include Claudia Francis, Shelby Greany, Megan Goethals, Charlene Lipsey, Stephanie Morgan and Laura Roesler.
2000 Steeplechase – 6:35.63 – 6:33.70 by Shelby Greany of Suffern (NY) HS. New USA High School Record.
3000 Steeplechase – 10:15.26 – 10:55.51 by Aylssa Allison of Festus (MO) HS.
5000 – 15:52.88 – 16.34.36 by Emily Sisson of Parkway Central HS in Chesterfield (MO).
100 Hurdles – 12.95 – 13.59 by Kori Carter of Claremont (CA) HS.
300 Hurdles – 39.98 – 41.09 by Kori Carter of Claremont (CA) HS.
400 Hurdles – 55.20 – 57.93 by Turquoise Thompson of Serra HS in Gardena (CA).
Other elite prep hurdlers include Amber Allen, Lauren Blackburn, Ugonna Ndu, Leah Nugent, Bridgette Owens-Mitchell, Jasmin Stowers, Taylor Wheaton and Trinity Wilson.
4×100 Relay – 44.50 – 45.24 by Eleanor Roosevelt HS in Greenbelt (MD).
4×200 Relay – 1:33.87 – 1:36.54 by Eleanor Roosevelt HS in Greenbelt (MD).
4×400 Relay – 3:35.49 – 3:39.96 by Benjamin Cardozo HS in Oakland Gardens (NY).
4×800 Relay – 8:43.12 – 8:52.80 by Southern Regional HS in Manahawkin (NJ).
4×1 Mile Relay – 19:56.75 – 20:28.14 by Newton South HS in Newton Centre (MA).
800 Sprint Medley Relay – 1:38.73 – 1:41.73 by Withrow HS in Cincinnati (OH).
1600 Sprint Medley Relay – 3:51.90 – 3:55.58 by Miami Northwestern of Florida.
4000 Distance Medley Relay – 11:33.42 – 11:41.05 by Southern Regional HS in Manahawkin (NJ).
High Jump – 6-04 – 6-04 by Toni Young of Del City HS in Oklahoma City (OK). New USA High School Record.
Pole Vault – 14-01.25 – 14-0 by Shade Weygandt of Mansfield (TX) HS.
Long Jump – 22-03 – 20-07.25 by Brittany Porter of Towers HS in Decatur (GA).
Triple Jump – 44-11.75 – 43-04.25 by Ciarra Brewer of James Logan HS in Union City (CA).
Other elite prep jumpers include Alitta Boyd, Shanay Briscoe, Jennifer Clayton, Karynn Dunn, Andrea Geubelle and Ellie McCardwell.
Shot Put – 54-10.75 – 54-04.75 by Anna Jelmini of Shafter (CA) HS.
Discus – 188-04 – 190-03 by Anna Jelmini of Shafter (CA) HS. New USA High School Record.
Javelin – 176-05 – 162-08 by Heather Bergmann of Concordia (KS) HS.
Hammer – 201-07 – 201-06 by Lauren Chambers of Kell HS in Marietta (GA).
Other elite prep throwers include Daniella Bunch, Alex Collatz, Ashlynn Halvorson, Alyssa Hasslen, Casey Kraychir, Fawn Miller and Erin Pendleton.
Heptathlon – 5,533 – 4,963 by Shaye Maurer of Cedar City (UT) HS.
Performance results in track and field are easy to understand through time zones and cultures around the world. Unlike words and their pronunciation in different languages, numbers need no explanation to understand. It also helps that the metric system of measurement for distances is dominant worldwide. Track and field competitors around the world are interested in comparing their performances with the performances of athletes in other countries.
(This is Part 2 of a 2-Part Series.)
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley