Star Hurdler Cory Poole Ran a US#1 State Record at VA Showcase


Interview with Cory Poole after his state record run, interview by Brandon Miles.

On Saturday during the VA Showcase in Lynchburg, Virginia star hurdler Cory Poole ran to a major US#1, and state record of 7.13 in the 55 meter hurdles. With that performance he also joins the top ten all-time in US high school history for the event. 

New Jersey's previous best involved a 60 meter hurdle en route performance and hand times. Reggie Blackshear of Metuchen and Renaldo Nehamiah of Scotch Plains-Fanwood posted 6.9 hand times in 1973 and 1977 at state championship meets, if converted with a hand time penalty they would come out to 7.14. The fastest F.A.T. time recorded before this was a 7.18 en route performance by Sultan Tucker of Delsea Regional set in 1997. 

So far this season Poole holds the national lead by .23 over US#2 ranked Kurt Powdar of Oscar Smith high school (VA) who placed second in this very race with a 7.36. Looking at Poole's other events this season he's also posted a 49.36 US#13 in the 400 meter dash and a 1:04.75 US#6 over 500 meters. The East Orange Campus senior has already signed with the University of Florida to continue his education and track career.

Boys 55 Meter Hurdle Finals Results

1Cory Poole12East Orange Campus7.13
2Kurt Powdar10Oscar Smith High School7.36
3Garry Williams12Western Branch High School7.43
4Coby Bailey12Grassfield7.45
5Tre'Juan Cash12Heritage (Lynchburg)7.50
6Micaiah Harris12Western Branch High School7.54

Watch Here

You can watch his race here, don't give any mind to the announcers who had the call wrong as Poole is located in lane five, wearing grey with his signature red headband, and noticeably leaves the rest of the field behind. 

East Orange Campus had other competitors at this meet as well. Such as the boys 4x400 meter team who won the event with a time of 3:18.58, which would have ranked US#3 if they weren't already listed as the second best team in the nation at 3:17.45.

Akeem Lindo who was on that 4x400 meter team also placed sixth in the 55 meter dash running 6.48. He currently already leads the state with a 6.43 from the Hall of Fame Invite back in December. 

East Orange Campus Team Performances

GIRLSATHLETEPLACESECTIONRESULTS
55 METER DASH
7.41Mellica Gordon2ndFinals H11Girls 55m Dash Prelims
7.62Brittany Francis3rdFinals H7Girls 55m Dash Prelims
4X200 METER RELAY
1:48.34SBRelay Team2ndFinals H4Girls 4x200m Relay
BOYSATHLETEPLACESECTIONRESULTS
55 METER DASH
6.48Akeem Lindo6thFinals H1Boys 55m Dash Final
6.52Akeem Lindo1stPrelims H25Boys 55m Dash Prelims
55 METER HURDLES
7.13SBCory Poole1stFinals H1Boys 55m Hurdles Final
7.64Al-Tariq Dunson2ndFinals H16Boys 55m Hurdles Prelims
4X400 METER RELAY
3:18.58Relay Team1stFinals H1Boys 4x400m Relay