Jordan Hasay (USA) (© Kirby Lee)
Jordan Hasay knows her time will come someday both on and off the track.
The 15-year-old American distance runner hopes to be selected to compete internationally for the first time at the 5th IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic (11-15 July).
Last June, Hasay won the 3000m in the USA Track & Field Junior Nationals in Indianapolis at age 14 but was unable to compete in the IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing because she was too young.
Successful spring
In February, the Mission College Prep sophomore was victorious at the USATF Junior Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colo .to earn a berth on the U.S. team for the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa but pulled out after the US Embassy issued a terrorist warning.
Since then Hasay, who lives in San Luis Obispo, a coastal town about 300km north of Los Angeles, has channelled her energies to track. She has run 4:39.13 for 1,600m, a U.S. best for a high school only competition, and a national sophomore record 10:04.07 for 3,200m. She hopes to challenge the national record 3,200m record of 9:48.59 set in 1996.
At a recent competition where Hasay set the national 3200m sophomore record, she had an opportunity to meet with Jeff Nelson and Kim Mortensen, the U.S. national record two-mile high school record-holders.
It was the first time that Mortensen, now a high school coach in Southern California, had an opportunity to see the 1.55m, 45kg Hasay run in person. Mortensen was most impressed with Hasay’s sportsmanship after she requested each of her competitors to autograph the bottom of her trophy to commemorate the performance.
“The most inspiring was that she was a wonderful person,” Mortensen said. “That is an amazing attribute to have such talent and be an incredible person as well.’’
Waiting for a chance
Although Hasay was initially disappointed with not being able to compete in Beijing (2006 World Juniors), she believes that waiting to compete internationally will be beneficial in the long term. “I was really upset but I do understand and I think (age) 14 would be too young,” Hasay said. “There will be plenty of opportunities to compete internationally. The girls are very fast and this year, I will be able to compete a lot better.’’
Athletic family heritage
Hasay’s hails from an athletic family. Her mother, Teresa, was a former national class swimmer in England and her father Joe scored more than 2000 points as a high school basketball player in Pennsylvania.
Hasay was a competitive freestyle swimmer from ages 9-12 before focusing on running. She still swims up to three hours a week as to complement her running.
Comparisons to Slaney
The diminutive Hasay with her customary long blonde ponytail has drawn comparisons to Mary Slaney for her success at a young age and aggressive front-running tactics.
Hasay has been nicknamed “Air Jordan” for her tongue wagging expressions similar to basketball player Michael Jordan.
In the seventh grade, Hasay was competing against college runners more than twice her age. As an eighth grader, Hasay ran 4:51.46 for a mile to break Slaney’s age 13 record by nearly four seconds. She also holds the 5,000m national records for both 12- and 13-year olds.
As a freshman, Hasay won the 2005 Foot Locker national cross country title to become only the second ninth grader to win the event in its nearly three-decade history.
“I look up to older runners, but sometimes there is a lot of pressure but I am used to it and more experienced,” Hasay said. “When I sure start internationally, I am sure I will be intimidated until I get comfortable.’’
Kirby Lee for the IAAF
