Kaylin Whitney is being dubbed by many as the future of women's track and field, the face of USA sprinting for years to come, the next Allyson Felix. She's only 16. She's still a kid at heart; she likes joking and playing with friends and doing the usual teenage hobbies. After announcing that she will forego her junior season as a member of the East Ridge High School track and field team, the question becomes what's next for Whitney?
As reported in an earlier article by MileSplt, the IAAF World Junior triple medalist is looking at attending Florida Virtual School so that she can focus exclusively on training with Dennis and Damu Mitchell with the Star Athletics program in the morning. In addition to Whitney, one of the fastest young sprinters in the country, it also includes the fastest male in the USA, Olympian Justin Gatlin.
The good news for Whitney's high school competition across the state is that there will be a new state champion in the 100m and 200m dashes. St. Thomas Aquinas has a history of producing powerhouse sprinters and once again, the Lady Raiders will have arguably the best trio in the nation with Krystal Sparling, Diamond Spaulding, and Khalifa St. Fort. Teahna Daniels was the lone high school athlete to beat Whitney in the state of Florida, but had the former East Ridge sensation raced at the high school level, her talent is at another level than 95% of the girls.
Not running for her high school gives Kaylin the opportunity to run unattached in meets at the state level or nationally. Clermont is a hotbed of professional sprint talent with Pure Athletics (Torie Bowie, Kelly Ann-Baptiste, Samantha Henry Robinson, Shalonda Soloman, Shaunae Miller, Jessica Beard, etc.) training at the National Training Center and Joanna Atkins with Life Speed Athletics working out at nearby Lake Minneola High School. Both Star Athletics and Pure Athletics host low key professional meets during the late spring and early summer months that would give her the competition she needs. Large-scale events like the Florida Relays, Texas Relays, Penn Relays and more would give her an opportunity to compete in the open races as well as broaden her relay experience adding to the gold medal she has from the World Junior Championships in the 4x100. If she doesn't run in any meets and simply trains, will anyone question her if she is clocking times in the low 11 second range or even under?
When the news broke about the possibility of her attending a virtual school, it seems as if education takes a back seat. From speaking with her parents and Kaylin herself, school is a huge priority. Her high school coach told me that she is an exceptional student-athlete and he wouldn't rule out the possibility of her going to college when she graduates in 2016. Now going to college and running at said college are two different platforms. I personally believe she attends a local school and takes classes while pursuing professional aspirations, but what if she chose to run collegiately? Where would she go? After the 2014 Brooks PR Invitational she said she liked Oregon. Friends Ky Westbrook and Deanna Hill tried persuading her to the west coast, but to Southern Cal. The University of Florida is one of the top female programs in the country and Coach Holloway knows how to develop sprinters. The dilemma is what program would take in the nation's top female sprinter knowing that she might only be there for one year? How does a college coach keep up with the professional program she is already taking part in?
When is the best time for Whitney, if she chooses to dry the ink and sign professionally? By waiting a year and announcing in 2016, she has another season (potentially two seasons) under her belt to grow and see where she is at in the larger landscape of things. Her 11.10 at USA Juniors was the 9th fastest in the United States. Tianna Bartoletta (10.92) and Tori Bowie (10.80) were the only two Americans to break 11 seconds. Training full-time with the Star Athletics group will allow her to make her charge toward the top and drop her personal bests in both the 100 and 200. If she can make it to the Olympic Trials, qualify there, and become a high school athlete running for Team USA, on the biggest stage for the sport, her stock will skyrocket.
Nike seems like a logical fit, with Dennis Mitchell training several of their athletes, and both the coach and sneaker giant being tied in with USA Track & Field. However it plays out, shoe companies and sponsors will be foaming at the mouth to land Whitney as their coveted prize. One track and field insider told me, "She could be next year's Mone' Davis except with a billion USA eyes watching."
Her goals are simple get an education and run for Team USA at the Olympics. No matter what path she takes to get there we know her family will be there with signs of support and cowbells, teammates will be rooting her on in the same fashion she will be cheering them on from the sidelines, and the Florida running community will stand by her 100 percent, knowing we witness an Olympian at the prime of her running career.
