Prep Standouts Get First Taste Of Olympic Trials Racing At Hayward Field

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Tim Healy for TrackTown USA

Five years ago, the list of high school wunderkids who made it to the Olympic Trials included Sydney McLaughlin, Noah Lyles and Michael Norman. 

On Thursday, five of the seven athletes who competed in high school track this spring and also qualified for the Trials, got their big chance to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. 

Hobbs Kessler, who swept the 800 and 1,600 earlier this month at the Michigan state meet, decided to skip college and turned professional this week, signed with adidas, and competed in the first round of the 1,500 meters. 

Kessler ran confidently and within himself and easily advanced to the semifinals, which are Friday afternoon. 

"The final 100 (meters) everyone was still there and I didn't want to leave anything to chance," he said. 

Kessler, who has been encamped in Eugene with retired Michigan coach Ron Warhurst and older training partners Nick Willis and Mason Ferlic, won the first heat in 3:45.63. 

Kessler said he would rest for the semifinals by playing Mario Kart on the Wii that he brought to Oregon with him. 

In the women's 800 meters, Juliette Whittaker, Roisin Willis and Sophia Gorriaran, none of whom have graduated yet, took turns running in first-round heats. 

All three finished in the top half of the 42 who competed. Whittaker, of Mount de Sales MD, and Willis of Stevens Point WI, both advanced on time to the semifinals. 

Gorriaran, just coming out of her sophomore year at Moses Brown RI, surpassed Mary Decker's 1974 sophomore class national record with 2:02.26 but was one of the first ones out. 

Whittaker ran 2:01.21 for a new personal best and finished third in her heat behind Chanelle Price of the Nike Oregon Elite Track Club, and Sage Hurta of On Athletics Club. 

"It was pretty awesome," Whittaker said. "Really I was just going for the experience because I'm so young, so hopefully I'll have many more chances to do this again."

Willis ran 2:01.27 for fourth place in her heat. 

"The last 300 meters was kind of a chase," Willis said. "It's definitely one of the most competitive races I've ever been in."

Gorriaran was chasing a bit late in her race as well, placing fourth. 

"I was on the outside of the other people most of the time in Lane 2, which made it tough," she said. "I didn't have it at the end."

In the women's pole vault, Paige Sommers of Westlake CA got her first taste of the Trials, but was unable to make the opening height in the qualifying round (14-1.25/4.30m). She was one of eight who no-heighted. 

The sixth and seventh prep athletes in the Trials, Jaylen Slade of IMG Academy and Gavin Schurr of Fairview CO, are entered in Friday's first round of the 200 meters, as is Erriyon Knighton, a high schooler who has already turned professional with adidas and did not compete for his school this spring.

Slade was in last week's 100 meters but suffered an injury. Schurr, if not for the Trials, would be competing at this weekend's Colorado state championships.