BARBE'S KENNEDI BURKS CRUISES TO A WIN IN LAST YEAR'S REGION 1-5A MEET!
While Barbe's Kennedi Burks may have come into this year as one of Louisiana's best in the 400m, she has made short work of removing the "one of" from that statement after running a 53.64 at the District 3-5A Meet last week.
The time ranks No. 9 in the nation.
Kamaria Brown holds the all-time best time in Louisiana of 52.99. She ran that on August 7 in 2010 at the AAU Junior Olympics in Norfolk, VA. This was before Brown's senior year after transferring from Baton Rouge Magnet. Brown would go on to Texas A&M where she was an NCAA champion in the 200m in 2014.
Burks believed that she was capable of running the time, but she thought it would come at the LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor Meet.
"The weird thing about track to me, is no matter how many times I run the 400, it feels the same," Burks said when asked if her Louisiana No. 1 400m felt any different. "I never really have an idea of what time I'm running until I cross the line."
As far as being one of the best in the nation (she is ranked No. 2 in the nation in the junior class), she is proud of her accomplishments.
"It is a great feeling and I'm very blessed," Burks said. "I've worked really hard to be where I am and I'm happy that work is starting to show."
It will show again on Wednesday at the Region 1-5A Meet in Natchitoches, where Burks looks to take the next step in defending her LHSAA Class 5A state championship. Last year, Burks won state with a 55.21.
The 400m performance wasn't the only personal record for Burks. She also had a personal record in the 200m where she won with a time of 24.74.
Besides Burks, Barbe had the only other double winner in individual events at the District 3-5A Meet. Sophomore Aniyah Lavan beat Lafayette's Destiny Hooper with fewer misses in the girls high jump. Both cleared 5-4.
Lavan also won the long jump with a leap of 18-0.5, just a half inch short of personal record from earlier this year.
Despite the 40 points from Burks and Lavan in the individual events, Barbe was not able to win the District championship. Lafayette won 197 to Barbe's 171.
Winners for Lafayette included Khia Williams in the 100m (12.11), Keelei Dorsey in the 800m (2:22.40), Lillian Girior in the 3200m (12:51), Hooper in the 100m hurdles (16.87), and Scarlett Petticrew in the pole vault (11-9).
In the District 3-5A Boys' division, Acadiana, led by Omari Dupas, came out on top scoring 119 points. Barbe was the runner-up with 94.5 points.
Dupas won the 100m (10.85) and the 200m (22.21). He also led the Rams' 4x100 (42.03) and 4x200 (1:27.75) sprint relays to victory.
Other Rams to win individual events included Damon Lewis (6-10) in the high jump. Lewis leads the state with a season best of 6-11 last month. Nationally, Lewis is tied with six other jumpers for No. 5 in the nation.