Cali, Columbia - Sophomore Sammy Watson (Rush-Henrietta) has been nothing short of unstoppable on the track this year. In fact, besides a second place at Indoor States in the 300m, after seven rounds of running, Watson has not lost a race on the track in exactly one year. Her exploits would yield a National Record Indoors (Sophomore 1000m), a NY #7 AT in the 400m (52.69), and a NY #11 AT in the 1500m (4:25.24). And yet, the 800m would be where she would shine.
She set a personal best of 2:04.27 at the World Youth Trials to qualify for Team USA. However, she knew that going up against the likes of Ethiopia and Kenya in a Middle-Distance race would require faster in Cali. On Day 2 of the event, Sammy Watson cruised through her trials race, running a relaxed 2:06.05, the fastest of any of the heats. On Day 3, the race tactics changed. In her semi, the pace went out terribly slow, almost 70 seconds through 400m. The competition then met with Watson's 400m speed, as she kicked away to win her heat, in 2:10.89.
The final was a completely different race. Showcasing the team tactics utilized at the World Level, the Ethiopian athletes took the race out hard. So hard that at 300m, when trying to reel back in, Foziya Niguse of Ethiopia took a stumble. Unfazed, Watson moved up from last, to third place in the opening 200m. At the 400m mark, the field came through in 63.06, and the race was on. Using tactics oddly reminiscent of Sabrina Southerland's Indoor National Title race, Watson made a giant surge with 200m to go, separating from the field. The field was not expecting that, and troubled with a response. Watson would cross the line in a new personal best, and NY #2 All-Time mark of 2:03.54. Her final lap would be sub-60. And then, like any good teammate would, an hour and a half later, Watson would anchor the Mixed Gender (Two Boys and Two Girls) 4x400m in 53seconds, yielding another Gold Medal.
