ARCHIVES

ARCHIVES

Track & Field: Hasay’s record run is the nation’s best

By Kenny Cress/Sports Writer

Jordan Hasay’s year just keeps getting better.

Her run for a record at the U.S. Olympic Trials earned the award for the nation’s best track and field performance of the year among 32 entries. The voting took place on Dyestatcal.com, and the website announced the result earlier this week.

Hasay earned the Top Performance award for her 4:14.50 in the semi-finals of the women’s 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials on the Hayward Field campus at the University of Oregon on July 4.

The Arroyo Grande resident and Mission Prep senior-to-be took down Christine Babcock’s old record of 4:16.42. Babcock, who had just graduated from Irvine Woodbridge, ran that time as she won at Mount San Antonio College on June 15.

Hasay said in a phone interview Saturday that this award came as a surprise to her.

“I was really surprised, actually,” said Hasay, who hasn’t been home long after becoming the highest-placing U.S. girl ever in a 1,500 at the IAAF World Junior Championships. She finished fourth in 4:19.02 there with her run in Bydgoszcz, Poland last Sunday. Hasay flew there the day after finishing 10th in the finals of the Olympic Trials July 6.

“I really thought German (Fernandez) would get the (top high school performance) award for what he did in the state meet,” said Hasay. “He had an awesome double.”

The grateful Hasay said, “I’d definitely very happy to get the award.”

Fernandez just graduated from Riverbank High School. At the CIF State Track and Field Meet at Cerritos College in Norwalk on May 31, he capped off the best U.S. high school distance double in history with a winning 8:34.23 in the 3,200. He ran away from the field in the 1,600 earlier also, winning in 4:00.29.

Hasay was pretty impressive herself that day. She won the girls 3,200 in a state meet record 9:52.13. That’s second all-time among prep girls in the U.S.

Hasay made the 30-runner field for the women’s 1,500 at the Olympic Trials thanks to late scratches. She had been 31st on the entry list for several days.

She took advantage of her opportunity, gaining valuable experience along the way. Hasay hopes to make the 2012 Olympics and, “I learned a lot,” Hasay said. “I got a lot of good experience in running rounds.”

Hasay ran 4:18.39 in a Thursday heat. Then came the 4:14.50 in the semis that gave her the national record, an interview on national television and “Come .... to .... Oregon!” chants from the appreciative crowd. Hasay ran 4:17.36 in the final two days later.

She will turn her attention to choosing a university later. For now colleges “Haven’t really bugged me that much,” Hasay said.

Hasay will now gear up for a much-anticipated senior year. “I just got back into my training routine,” after all those flying miles, she said. “I took a break for a little while after I got back, just did some easy running.”

Hasay has had a calendar year like no other U.S. prep female distance runner in history. Besides her big Olympic Trials and World Juniors results, in 2008 she has won a national championship in cross country, another one in track and field ( both USATF meets), not to mention winning her third consecutive state track and field meet championship.

And it’s only July.

kcress@theadobepress.com