Sophomore Kayla Davis Building On Fantastic 2019 Season

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

Sophomore sprinter Kayla Davis recently announced she had transferred from Providence Day to Hough High in suburban Charlotte, N.C.

The standout sprinter did not compete for Providence Day in 2019 but will compete for Hough and in the NCHSAA state series this outdoor season. It’s all part of the plan to make training and competing enjoyable before the high pressure meets begin later this year.

“Being 16, there is some pressure having an opportunity to compete at the Olympic Trials against seasoned athletes,” said her mother, Karina, who guides her training. “Running at the high school meets that align within the training plan allows her to prepare and continue to be race-ready since the clock is her biggest competitor."

Davis opened up her indoor campaign at the Visit Winston-Salem High Kickoff and has improved each meet, including a time of 1:12.28 at 500 meters, and a new personal best of 37.38 in the 300 meters. Both races came at the prestigious VA Showcase where she finished second behind Texas A&M signee Athing Mu of New Jersey. 

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“The battles in those races were difficult because I didn't t set my race up the way I wanted to,” Davis said. “Athing definitely pushed me to run a better time than I have trained for, and I learned that I have to execute my races better.” 

The sophomore noted that she feels good about those races considering it was so early on the calendar. Davis is preparing to compete March 13-15 at New Balance Nationals Indoor in New York. She finished fourth in the 200 meters and third in the 400 meters at the national meet last year.

“Even though it is a very hard sprint, I feel like that is my best race,” she said. “You have to be strategic running the 400 indoor, when you have to cut in and there is potential for contact. Whereas outdoor; it s just you, your lane and the clock.”

Davis hopes to take the momentum of a successful indoor season onto the outdoor oval.

She had a freshman season to remember, running primarily for her RunUXpress club team, with personal bests of 11.68 in the 100 meters, 23.08 in the 200, and a blazing US#1 51.17 in the 400. 

“My 2019 outdoor season progressed in a great way and I definitely was determined to PR in every race even if it was by a millisecond,” Davis said. “I just wanted to know that I ran faster. The outdoor season was an eye-opener that made me realize I can achieve anything at any age and it doesn't matter who you step on the line with.”

For perspective, her 51.17 perfomance was the third-fastest time for a high school girl since 2000, trailing only Sanya Richards-Ross (50.69 in 2002) and Kadecia Baird (51.04 in 2012), and surpassing names like Jessica Beard, Lynna Irby and Sydney McLaughlin.

Davis won the New Balance Nationals Outdoor title and ran to gold medals at the USATF U-20 Outdoor Championships and Pan-American U-20 Championships individually and got another at the Pan-Am meet in the 4x400 relay. 

With range from 100 meters to 500 meters, Davis’ versatility is one of her strengths.

“Kayla has learned that every event can make another event better,” Katrina Davis said. “If she had a choice between the 100 and 400, she would choose the 400. The 200 is another event she loves but hasn’t had the opportunity to run as much due to the meets she competed in last summer, where she thrived in the 400 and put all her focus and energy into improving her race.”

Another big opportunity on the horizon is the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, June 19-28, in Eugene, Ore. Davis has already met the qualifying standard in the 400. 

“It will be a great experience for me as a 16-year-old,” she said.

Could she follow in the footsteps of fellow young sprint phenoms such as Briana Williams and Tamari Davis who signed with Nike and adidas, respectively, and opted to forgo college eligibilty?

It’s an option that has been discussed within the family. However, Davis is an Honor Roll student who has an interest in becoming a dentist.

“If God and the opportunity affords her to a different path based on the timing, we will discuss it as a family then,” Katrina Davis said. “For now, it is just have fun, give it your all when you compete and be pleased with your performance once you step off the track. Nothing else matters.”