EXALUS RUNS 46.50, LEADS TEXAS AND IS US. NO 1
Three PRs at a district meet solidify her position
Three weeks ago Nyhla Exalus hadn't't cracked 50 seconds in the 300 meter hurdles. On Apr 23 that changed in a major way, when the Katy Nelson 8th grader ran 46.50. She also clocked PRs of 14.91 in the 100 meter hurdles and jumped 34-8.5 in the triple jump. She not only leads Texan middle schoolers in the long hurdles, she leads the nation among 8th graders.
The athlete sitting second in Texas, Ceattle Cooper of Victory Christian Academy, ran 53.72 in the 300mH in 2024. Last spring she won the TXPS Middle School Track and Field Championship in 49.28. This April she ran 47.20 at the Lena Nelson MS Relays - a PR, and already 2.08 seconds faster than the mark that won her a title a year ago. Cooper also ran 16.06 in the 100mH at the same meet. She sits third nationally.
Sydnie Ellis of Luella MS in Georgia ran 47.08 in March and sits between the two Texans in second. Sydney Daniel of Georgia ran 47.21 at the Georgia Middle School State meet for fourth. Milly Cartwright of Oklahoma is fifth at 47.47.
Behind Exalus and Cooper on the Texas board, Danica Okobi of Shaw MS is third at 47.89. Brindley Reese of Tidwell MS has held fourth since February at 48.33 - the oldest mark in the top eight. Gemma Webb of Azle Christian School ran 48.68 for fifth. Jea'lissa Brooks of Brooks Wester MS is sixth at 48.71. Emma Gibson of Keller MS ran 48.75 for seventh. Ma'kiah Hodges of Elgin MS rounds out the top eight at 48.80.
Exalus ran 50 seconds a month ago. Cooper won a state title last spring and is two seconds faster now. Both are 8th graders, let's see what happens next.
EXALUS RUNS 46.50, LEADS TEXAS AND IS US. NO 1
Three PRs at a district meet solidify her position
Three weeks ago Nyhla Exalus hadn't't cracked 50 seconds in the 300 meter hurdles. On Apr 23 that changed in a major way, when the Katy Nelson 8th grader ran 46.50. She also clocked PRs of 14.91 in the 100 meter hurdles and jumped 34-8.5 in the triple jump. She not only leads Texan middle schoolers in the long hurdles, she leads the nation among 8th graders.
The athlete sitting second in Texas, Ceattle Cooper of Victory Christian Academy, ran 53.72 in the 300mH in 2024. Last spring she won the TXPS Middle School Track and Field Championship in 49.28. This April she ran 47.20 at the Lena Nelson MS Relays - a PR, and already 2.08 seconds faster than the mark that won her a title a year ago. Cooper also ran 16.06 in the 100mH at the same meet. She sits third nationally.
Sydnie Ellis of Luella MS in Georgia ran 47.08 in March and sits between the two Texans in second. Sydney Daniel of Georgia ran 47.21 at the Georgia Middle School State meet for fourth. Milly Cartwright of Oklahoma is fifth at 47.47.
