Sammy Watson Named SEC Freshman Of The Week, Added To Bowerman Watchlist

There have only been two races for Sammy Watson (Rush-Henrietta), but each one have brought home the accolades.  We've already discussed her debut over 1000m to an NCAA #7 All-Time.  But now, she is showing that she is not leaving her roots in the mile back in High School.  Watson anchored her school record Texas A&M DMR at the Ted Nelson Invitational in 4:42.97.  Alongside her was Jazmine Fray (Kellenberg), another NY Alum, running 3:27.21 on the 1200m leadoff leg.

"It was a pretty big job for a freshman to anchor the relay," said Watson. "Leading up to the race it put me in the right spirit, because I was just happy that I would be the one on the relay and coach trusts me enough, so far, to carry the team like that for the anchor leg."
  
"For this record we talked about doing the best that we can," stated Fray. "We knew doing the best we could at this stage of the season would break the school record, but we just had to get it done. We were really confident in ourselves."                                                                                Quotes via http://12thman.com
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The efforts brought along another honor, and another first, albeit shared.  Both Sammy Watson and fellow 2017 graduate Sydney McLaughlin become the first-ever freshman to be named to the Bowerman Watchlist, as compiled by the USTFCCCA.

On the flipside, there are rookies on the Watch List, as well. McLaughlin and Watson are now the first freshman in the history of The Bowerman to be named to the Women's Preseason Watch List. Watson is also the youngest, by age, to be named to the Watch List.


The duo set the world on fire during their pre-collegiate years, with McLaughlin earning a spot on the American Olympic track & field squad during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as the youngest to make USA's team since 1980, while Watson broke the high school and junior indoor record in the 800 meters that had stood for 43 years.                                                                                    Quotes via http://www.ustfccca.org