Pennsylvania Freshman Getting Better With Every New Opportunity Looks Forward To Seattle Trip

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Avery Lewis isn’t afraid of a challenge. In fact, the rising sophomore from Parkesburg, Pa. who has been making headlines since elementary school when she burst onto the track and field scene gobbling up national youth age-group titles for her blazing speed and jumping ability, embraces it. 

After an impressive indoor track season where she became just the sixth female freshman ever to dip under 24 seconds in the 200-meter dash (23.91) and achieved a US#6 all-time mark in the long jump (21-2.50) to shatter the Pennsylvania indoor state record, Lewis spent the 2021 outdoor season putting together an ambitious race schedule that has allowed for growth and ample opportunity.

This Friday, she’ll face her next big challenge as she’s set to compete in the Brooks PR Invitational 100-meter dash at Renton Memorial Stadium in Renton, Wash. She’ll be the youngest competitor in the field of eight.

WATCH THE BROOKS PR INVITATIONAL LIVE ON FRIDAY 

“The plan is really just to execute my race like I have been doing,” Lewis said. “Probably just relax and focus on me not worrying about anyone else in the race, and trying to do my best and what I’m capable of.” 

The focus this outdoor season for Lewis has been all about technique and form, she said. She runs for Run U Xpress (Wake Forest, N.C.) and is coached by former Olympian Bershawn “Batman” Jackson, whose daughter is standout sprinter Shawnti Jackson, who will also run the 100 at Brooks.

Lewis’ parents, Laedoan and Terrence Lewis, who both have backgrounds in the sport, carry out the training for their daughter with Jackson's guidance. 

“I had to change a couple things about my technique, and that kind of set me up to improve,” Lewis said. “Pretty much every meet I’ve improved a little bit, and that’s been a great thing.”

Lewis has been on an upward trajectory this spring, particularly in the 100 and 200. In early May, she faced her first professional competition at the Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Meet in Florida. Lewis was, once again the youngest, but had Run UXpress teammate Shawnti Jackson and fellow Brooks 100 competitor Hannah Douglas of IMG Academy FL also racing. Lewis finished in fourth place in the 200, running a personal best time of 23.39. Jackson won it in 23.15. In the 100, Lewis ran 11.52w in the prelims and then went 11.70 to finish in 11th. 

“It was very, very fun,” Lewis said. “I was just excited to be challenged with the pros because I’ve never ran with the pros before and it was a good experience.”

Lewis jumped up to the 400 at the New York Relays on May 22, finishing in first (55.70). Most recently, Lewis clocked a personal-best 11.48w in the 100 when she won the Mark Trail Invitational in Lawrenceville, Ga. at the end of May. 

“I feel like with technique, the times automatically start to drop,” Lewis said. “I was really focused on the technique, I feel like my mechanics are really good.”

While Lewis’ times have continued to get faster, she said there is room for improvement as she heads into Brooks as she’ll toe the line against a talented field, that includes prep stars Jackson, Douglas and Southern Cal-commit Kenondra Davis of Fort Worth, Texas, who brings in state-winning times of 100 (11.27) and 200 (23.11). 

“I can definitely improve upon my start and my reaction time because I know that was a big thing during my indoor season that I've been working on,” she said. “So if I can get my start together I feel I could do something big.”

Lewis, who like many didn’t get a chance to have an outdoor season a year ago due to the pandemic, said she’s extremely grateful for the opportunities and her support system of coaches and parents, especially to make the cross-country trip to Seattle.

“I’m a big fan of Brooks and their sneakers and when I got invited it was just awesome,” Lewis said. “I’m just going to have a good time running and experiencing Seattle because I've never been there."