Jayla Kirkland is back from Cali

If you were asked to name the top Alabama sprinter of the past decade, the first name on most lists would be Jayla Kirkland. The Woodlawn High School sophomore has consistently topped the 100m and 200m lists in the state since 2013.

Cali Bound!

Fresh from the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Columbia, Kirkland gives us a bit of insight into her experience representing the USA. It didn't take long for Jayla to realize she was in a country that appreciated track and field. When asked for details about her arrival, Kirkland immediately laughed, "We stepped off the plane and all these camera flashes are going off.... we couldn't see it was so bright. We felt like royalty."

"Everything was so different there" states Kirkland. "I walked in to a McDonalds and they have rice, beans, and chicken." That wasn't the only thing out of the ordinary for the Birmingham, AL sprinter. "They don't have lanes in their roads...they just drive wherever and on whatever side they need to. It's kinda crazy." Overall Kirkland gave the city a 10 out of 10 though. “They really went out of their way to impress us while we were there.” City officials felt the athletes needed to sight-see a bit and took them to the “Parque El Gato De Tejada” -- a park famous for its cat sculptures -- among other sites in the city and surrounding area.


OMG, I’m at the World Youths!

Sight-seeing aside, Jayla Kirkland was in Cali to compete. The girl from Birmingham, AL definitely felt the butterflies. “I walked out on the track for prelims and I think to myself, I’m 16….Im only going to be a junior in high school…..and I’m here COMPETING in the World Youths.” Kirkland won her heat of prelims in 11.54. She would later take 3rd overall in the 100m dash in the finals running 11.41.

What’s Next?

Jayla is taking a few weeks off and then starting preparation for the Indoor Track & Field season. The girl who was encouraged by her 7th grade basketball coach to go out for the track team no longer plays basketball. Kirkland will spend her remaining years in high school focused solely on track & field. Only 1/100 off the A-Standard in the 100m dash, she has plans to compete in the US Olympic trials next summer.