#5 - Jada Kenner Breaks Age Group World Record In State Run
It's not unusual for a fresh faced female athlete to make a splash on the scene. We've had plenty of Middle School Athletes making NXN, setting National Records, and winning National Titles before even hitting HS. But typically, they would be distance runners. Strong aerobic thresholds, with diminutive bodies making it easier for the engine work over long distances. But in the sprints, where muscularity is encouraged, and even required, it is almost unheard of for even a freshman to be ruling the runs.
Enter Jada Kenner, a 7th Grader from Buffalo, New York. Growing up in the Youth USATF system, she was no stranger to running when she joined the Tapestry Track Team at 12-years, 2-months old this October. At 10-years-old, she had run 25.81. A year later, that was 25.04. It made sense for the standout to move up to Varsity Track so young. But few knew her name outside the club circuit. Tapestry was a relatively new program, known for Nia Stevens, a sprinter a few years ahead of Kenner. But the 7th Grader was sure to make a splash.
Her season started in early December, opening up in 42.10 over 300m. Good, but not note-worthy at the State Level. It was back to training for most of December, as is the usual plan in the typically snowy Buffalo area. Her first breakout came from Pennsylvania, when she swept the 60m and 200m at the Kevin Dare Invite. Both marks broke the standing 7th Grade State Records. Kenner improved upon those with State Records at 55m and 300m at the New Balance Games.
Okay, she was good for a seventh grader. As we mentioned, not many sprinters come through as 7th Graders, so while it was noteworthy, the rank and file sprinters of the State weren't yet on notice. Kenner kept improving, until those heads began to turn. She got down to 40-seconds at Sectionals for 300m, then down to 39.56 on a flat track at State Quals. It was good enough to be in contention.
Our Number 5 Moment of the Year came at the Indoor State Meet. Kenner, who had not really been seen by the Sprinters of downstate, ran strong in the 300m prelims, nearly matching her personal best. It would be the fastest mark of the qualifiers, but because she tied for the finish, and lost on milliseconds, she was technically relegated to the slow heat. She would run first, and set the pace in the finals.
In the finals, the gun went off. Kenner exploded from the gun, and took off from the field. Away the 7th Grader went, opening up her stride on the second time she had ever seen a banked track. She pulled away from her heat, and crossed the line well in first, at 39.24. Now, it was a waiting game, as Kenner created a target for the seeded heat to aim for. That gun went off, and the girls went out. Pushing across the line, there was another tight finish. The #1 seed, Tatianna Martinez (Benjamin Cardozo) would cross the line first, and see the clock. 39.26, just 0.02 off of Kenner. The 7th Grader had won the State Title.
Not only that, the mark was later ratified as the Age Group World Record, Indoors or Out, for 12-year-olds over the 300m distance. It wouldn't be the last, as Kenner tied the Age Group World Record Outdoors, with a wind-legal mark of 23.72. Still 12-years-old, Kenner has about two weeks to try and improve, with competition at the USATF level going hard.
Rarely have we ever seen a sprinter of this caliber come along at such a young age. Other Age Group Record Holders in the sprints include Raven Rogers, Ajee Wilson, Tamari Davis, and Brianna Williams, all four athletes who continued to improve well into their High School years, and two of which who went Pro. Things bode well for the 7th Grader from Buffalo, with five more years of competition to go, to bring down some of New York's own State Class Records.