The Scoop: Upsets, Star Freshmen And The Beginning Of Indoor Championships


The True Freshmen

We've already seen the emergence of Arria Minor, who could be considered the nation's next great female sprinter.

But what if we've already seen her successor, too? 

Gainesville (FL) High freshman Tamari Davis absolutely dominated at the Dunamis Super Meet in Atlanta over the weekend, setting two freshman class records in the 60m (7.30) and 200m (23.42). 

The latter gave Davis a new US No. 1 while the former tied it with the nation's top mark -- owned by Minor. 

Minor, a junior for Denver East in Colorado, hadn't really had a proper challenger this indoor season. 

But if Davis does in fact show up at nationals along with Minor, we could see an explosive final in either race that could begin to tell us about the future of this sport. 

We also know another thing. Davis is in good company. She's coached by Gary Evans, who's previously worked with professional athletes, and she's already competed at the highest level -- racing at the Prefontaine Classic last year as an eighth grader. 

Davis also scooped up two AAU national records this past summer at the AAU Junior Olympics and owns absurd wind-legal marks in the outdoor 100m (11.48) and 200m (23.21). 

Lest not forget about Grace Ping, either. 

Injured for the tail end of her cross country season -- which unfortunately crossed her off the national finishers list -- the Minnesota teen had been building back up slowly but surely over the past few months. 

She pumped in impressive outings in the 1500m ( 4:47.56) and a US No. 3 mark in the 3000m (9:45.95) previously before pushing for a new US No. 1 in 3200m at SPIRE in 10:34.63. 

What's next Ping? She's scheduled to compete in the 5K at New Balance Nationals and looks to be on pace for a time around the 16:30s. 


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