Preps shine, go 7 for 7 in Olympic Trials prelims

By Doug Binder, DyeStat

High school athletes went a perfect 7-for-7 on Thursday in qualifying at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Thursday.

Competing alongside their idols in some cases, the preps showed up with poise and determination.

Noah Lyles and Michael Norman both won heats of the men's 200 meters and posted the fastest two times in qualifying for Friday's semifinals. Lyles ran 20.04 (3.3w) and Norman ran 20.06 (2.8w) to become the second-and third-fastest high school sprinters of all-time under all conditions.

Lyles and Norman were both aiming to shake off the disappointments of first round exits last weekend -- Lyles in the 100, Norman in the 400.

"I felt like I could do better," Lyles said. "So I put that in my head -- 'You can do better, you can do better.'"

For a few days without a coach, brother Josephus stepped in and conducted Noah's workouts. 

"He's a phenomenal coach," Noah said. "Don't be surprised if he gets into coach after he breaks the world record in the 400."

Norman, likewise, said he spent a few days getting re-focused.

"After the 400 I was really bummed," Norman said. "Coming into the 200 I had a whole new mentality and was just getting ready for the race."

Norman blew the doors off a field that included Olympians Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon. While the older runners knew how to advance with minimal effort, Norman pressed until the final 15 meters when he eased up.

Chanel Brissett, coming out of her sophomore year at Cheltenham PA, ran 12.95 seconds in the 100 hurdles and was in shock to find out that she had qualified for the semifinals. That time ties for No. 3 all-time and matches Pennsylvania's long-standing record held by Candy Young.

"My goal was to come here, run a fast time, and then go home," Brissett said. "I'm just so happy I didn't get last."

Brissett was 14th out of the 30 women in the first round. She lined up next to Keni Harrison, the second fastest hurdler of all-time. 

"I tried not to be star struck until after the race," Brissett said.

Brissett said she was ready to end her earlier but that her coach and father persuaded her to keep going and come to the Olympic Trials. 

"I didn't want to come (here) at all," she said. "But I'm glad I did. The experience is so great. I've just loved it."

Sydney McLaughlin of Union Catholic NJ and Providence Day NC graduate Anna Cockrell ran in the same prelim of the 400 hurdles. McLaughlin pulled away and won it in 55.46, a time that held up as the second-fastest of the round.

McLaughlin said the feelings of nervousness before the race were some of the worst she has ever felt. On the track, she showed no signs of it. She ran in front of 21,000 people in a light rain and executed with poise.

"It was very nerve-wracking" she said. "I'm only 16 and I didn't think I'd be here, but I am, I'm just glad I'm getting the experience."

Cockrell was bemused to be in the same race as McLaughlin for the third meet in a row, especially when she was faster than anyone in Heat 1.

"I just thought it was hilarious that out of five heats, Sydney and I would be together," she said."Being here is great. There is so much energy out here."

In the women's 1,500 meters, the first round only eliminated a couple of runners. But Billings Senior MT grad Christina Aragon and Lake Braddock VA's Kate Murphy ran the third-and fourth-fastest times of the entire field. Murphy and Aragon both had to navigate a pile-up with 400 meters to go. Aragon ran 4:14.06, Murphy 4:14.11. 

Aragon said it was comforting to have both Murphy and Alexa Efraimson (world junior teammates) in the same prelim.

"It was especially nice to talk to (Muprhy)," Aragon said. "It makes you feel like you're in this together. When you can wish them luck and everything it makes you feel better. They're in the same position I am."

Murphy dashed past several women in the final 75 meters to secure an auto berth and was a few hundredths of a second behind Aragon.

"In races like this, I feel more comfortable in the back," Murphy said. "I like having people to kick down at the end."