USATF JO Highlights: Rasul Sets 15-16 Meet Record 21.09, McQueen, Kerrison, Steele Champions

Columbus freshman Amir Rasul set a huge new personal best 21.09 in the 200 finals on Saturday to break the meet record that has stood since 1995. Going into the meet the 15-year-old's best in the event was 21.44--a mark which he set during the rain-plagued 4A State Championship, where he earned second place. Rasul was the top seed out of Thursday's semi-finals with a 21.28. Both marks had near neutral wind.

For Amir's final act of the week, he finished second place in Sunday's finals of the 100 meters with a 10.71 (+0.5 wind), which is also a new personal best by 0.01. He was the top-seed out of Friday's semis with a 10.82 into a significant headwind.

If his two middle school state championships a year ago, followed by a 4A 100m title as a freshman weren't already enough, this weekend's big performances are certainly turning heads. Early Saturday morning this writer helped legendary Track & FIeld News writer Mike Kennedy track down Rasul's birthday. And this weekend Rasul's athlete profile is the eighth most popular on all of MileSplit. Look out 2014! Florida has a new sprint phenom on their hands!

Symone Mason Sprint Prodigy

Speaking of future stars, there is another great one to look out for next spring. Symone Mason will be an immediate state champ threat from 100-400 as a freshman next spring.

The middle school star won Saturday's 13-14 national title with a 23.87. Despite running into a strong -1.7 head wind, she was just .13 off of her personal best of 23.74 from last month. On Thursday she clocked a 23.77 with a positive legal wind, the top seed out of the round. In Sunday's 100 meter finals she finished in second place with a 12.06 (-1.7).

Mason has great range; she has clocked 11.8 in the 100 and can run 55-low in the 400 meters.

More Florida Highlights

  • Darrielle McQueen (North Florida Christian) 17-18 National Champ in Triple Jump 40-11 (+0.5)
  • Stefani Kerrison - 17-18 Girls Heptathlon - 2nd Place - 4749 Points - 17-18 100m Hurdles - 1st Place - 13.56
  • Alfreda Steele - 15-16 - GIrls 100m - 1st Place - 11.86
  • Sharrika Barnett 15-16 Girls 200m 3rd place 24.42 (-0.4), 15-16 Girls 400m 3rd place 54.97
  • Twanisha Terry 13-14 Girls 200m 6th place 25.02 (-1.7), 13-14 Girls 100m 6th place 12.43 (-1.7)
  • Alex Boucher 13-14 Boys 1500m 5th place 4:19.40, 13-14 Boys 800m 3rd place 2:04.21
  • Thomas Burns 13-14 Boys 200H 2nd place 24.90 (+1.2), 13-14 Boys 100H 2nd place 13.54 (+1.8)
  • Gabby Gayles (Holy Trinity) 17-18 400m 54.65 3rd place.
  • Artise Lewis 11-12 Boys 800m 2nd Place 2:17.54
  • Rafaella Gibbons 13-14 Girls 3000m 4th place 10:28.61
  • Justin Peter 13-14 Boys Long Jump 6th place 18-9 (-0.4)
  • Phoebe Gustely 15-16 Girls 1KG Discus 6th Place 120-5
  • Sophia Gustely 13-14 Girls 1KG Discus 4th Place 122-6
  • Brittany McGee 17-18 Women Heptathlon 5th Place 4463
  • David Akins - 17-18 Mens Pole Vault - 5th Place - 15-11
  • Erica Sergeant  - 17-18 Womens Pole Vault - 4th Place - 12-01.50
  • Summer Schafers - 15-16 Girls Pole Vault - 4th Place - 11-05.75
  • Calvin Davis - 13-14 Boys 400m - 5h Place - 51.17
  • Austin Cowans - 11-12 Boys 100m - 8th Place - 12.86
  • Ja'Nai Taylor - 15-16 Girls 100m - 5th Place - 12.18 
  • Alexander Shields - 11-12 Boys 80m Hurdles - 2nd Place - 12.49
  • Jatana Folston - 11-12 Girls 400m - 6th Place - 59.67
  • Christian Philpott - 15-16 Boys 200m - 6th Place 
  • Eva Holmes - 9-10 Girls Shot Put - 7th

Did we miss anyone who finished high in the finals? There are a lot of events! So let me know!

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