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Jayden Finley is without doubt a superstar. The North Richland Hills junior has brought the speed at all levels and in all age groups in track and field.
This weekend in Houston, Texas, at the FasTrak Athletix & Coach Indoor Challenge, Finley ran 6.61 in the 60m finals for a new U.S. No. 1 leading performance.
That run also ties the late Cameron Burrell (Fort Bend Ridge Point) who also ran 6.61 in 2013 as the fastest time ever from a Texas runner and the No. 4 all-time in the history of indoor high school track and field.
Finley not only made awareness with the time, but he did so in beating the third ranked runner nationally, Jelani Watkins (Humble Atascocita).
Watkins is a two-time UIL 6A state sprint champion and he has already run times of 6.73, 6.75, 6.81, and 6.84.
Finley's two runs on Sunday of 6.74 and 6.61 now put him in the upper echelon of sprinters nationally. With national championship meets a month away, this will make him a favorite.
The experience of placing third at last year's Texas UIL 5A state championships in the 100m and a 10.39 personal best from the summer's AAU Junior Olympic Games is key for a high level sprinter.
However, this performance could add another key trait for a championship level sprinter - - confidence!