2017 adidas Boost Boston GamesJun 3, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
Sammy Watson Skips State Meet To Run 2:00 At Boston Games
Sammy Watson Skips State Meet To Run 2:00 At Boston Games
Sammy Watson's decision to forgo running the New York state meet in favor of competing at the adidas Boost Boston Games paid off in a big way.
Sammy Watson's decision to forgo running the New York state meet in favor of competing at the adidas Boost Boston Games paid off in a big way.
In a professional women's 800m field that included Olympic finalist Lynsey Sharp, Jamaican Olympian Natoya Goule, and 1:59 800m talent Charlene Lipsey, Watson placed second in a new personal best of 2:00.78. Watson, who finished less than a second behind Lipsey (1:59.57), ran the No. 3 mark on the high school all-time list and the No. 6 mark on the U.S. junior list. Among the best high school talents in U.S. history, her time lands behind Mary Cain (1:59.51) and Kim Gallagher (2:00.07).
The Rush-Henrietta senior could have defended her New York state title in the 800m, but instead chose to pursue faster competition in preparation for the USATF Outdoor Championships on June 23-25. Her decision was announced on Thursday in an interview with her mother, Sharon Outler who told the Democrat & Chronicle that "she is trying to keep it challenging and interesting."
With the qualifying standard, Watson will attempt to earn a spot on the U.S. team headed to the IAAF World Championships in London. Watson has committed to run for Texas A&M in the fall, where she will train with NCAA indoor record-holder Jazmine Fray.
One week earlier, Watson competed at the Prefontaine Classic where she finished third in a then-personal best of 2:01.47. The race marked her first major improvement in the 800m since breaking the indoor record with a 2:01.78 showing at the Millrose Games in February. The performance dipped under Mary Decker's national high school and American junior record of 2:01.8 set in 1974. She also shattered the 1K national high school record when she finished fourth at the USATF Indoor Championships in March.
With two personal bests in a week and USAs on the horizon, Watson is well on her way to owning the indoor and outdoor national high school records.
In a professional women's 800m field that included Olympic finalist Lynsey Sharp, Jamaican Olympian Natoya Goule, and 1:59 800m talent Charlene Lipsey, Watson placed second in a new personal best of 2:00.78. Watson, who finished less than a second behind Lipsey (1:59.57), ran the No. 3 mark on the high school all-time list and the No. 6 mark on the U.S. junior list. Among the best high school talents in U.S. history, her time lands behind Mary Cain (1:59.51) and Kim Gallagher (2:00.07).
Sammy Watson gave up running the NY state meet to come to @adidasBoostBos and compete in 800. She runs 2:00.78, No. 3 HS all-time. pic.twitter.com/kmC62vPPPb
— Mary Albl (@MaryAlbl) June 3, 2017
The Rush-Henrietta senior could have defended her New York state title in the 800m, but instead chose to pursue faster competition in preparation for the USATF Outdoor Championships on June 23-25. Her decision was announced on Thursday in an interview with her mother, Sharon Outler who told the Democrat & Chronicle that "she is trying to keep it challenging and interesting."
With the qualifying standard, Watson will attempt to earn a spot on the U.S. team headed to the IAAF World Championships in London. Watson has committed to run for Texas A&M in the fall, where she will train with NCAA indoor record-holder Jazmine Fray.
One week earlier, Watson competed at the Prefontaine Classic where she finished third in a then-personal best of 2:01.47. The race marked her first major improvement in the 800m since breaking the indoor record with a 2:01.78 showing at the Millrose Games in February. The performance dipped under Mary Decker's national high school and American junior record of 2:01.8 set in 1974. She also shattered the 1K national high school record when she finished fourth at the USATF Indoor Championships in March.
With two personal bests in a week and USAs on the horizon, Watson is well on her way to owning the indoor and outdoor national high school records.