The future of track and field is very bright, and the youngsters on the high school scene proved just that this past season.
We saw record breaking performances all across the board from some of the best teams and athletes in the country, while also getting a preview of the next wave of talent that is set to take over the sport in the coming years.
Duncanville High School’s boy’s 4x100m relay squad ran the fastest time in the country in the event with their time of 39.98 at the Texas state championship meet back in May. Colin Sahman, who’s now a member of the NAU cross country and track and field team broke the high school record in the 3200m with his time of 8:33.32. Wings Track Club of Texas ran the fastest 4×400 relay in the country with their time of 3:09.00 at the AAU Junior Olympic Games last summer.
On the girls side, Juliette Whittaker broke the high school 800m record at the 2022 USATF Outdoor National Championship with her time of 1:59.04. Mia Brahe-Pedersen of the Inner Circle Track Club in Oregon had the fastest times in the 100m and 200m this season (11.25, 22.98).
Shawnti Jackson, who recently committed to Arkansas and is the daughter of track and field legend Bershawn “Batman” Jackson showed why she’s viewed as the top sprinter in 2024, had top five times in the nation in the 100m, 200m and 400m this past season.
As fast as the times were and as impressive as the performances in the field events were, could this be the start of greatness that lies ahead?
Matthew Parker, coach of Wings Track Club as well as host of MJPTV believes that the performances that we will see in track and field in 2023 will go down in the history books as one of the best seasons ever.
“I’m telling you right now, 2023 is going to be one of the fastest years of all time,” he said. “And we thought 2022 was fast? I’m telling you, across the board, from high school, to college, to pro, expect ridiculousness. It’s going to be insane this season.”
Matthew and I discuss our favorite moments from the high school track and field season, and why 2023 could be a year to remember in the sport on this episode of Track Talk.
Track Talk: Best moments of the high school track and field season
