Seventh-Grade Phenom Tamari Davis Stars At Flo Golden South


She didn't qualify for Brooks PR -- yet! -- but seventh-grade phenom Tamari Davis (#413) made an impact on Flo Golden South.

The middle schooler was a sleeper pick to win the 100m after winning her heat with the sixth-fastest time in qualifying: 11.89 (-0.1). Watch the prelim race below.


But it was in the 200m prelims that Davis had her best moment, as the Florida Middle School State Champion clocked 23.94 -- a huge drop from her prior best of 24.32. The time ranks No. 28 nationally amongst high school students and it put her in contention with Jayla Kirkland, a three-time national champion and IAAF World Youth Championships bronze medalist.

Davis and Kirkland's times were the fastest of the day in the prelims. Watch the battle below.

We spoke to Davis immediately after the race, before she realized how fast she'd just run.


Now, could she pull an upset and take home the 100m title? Watch the Brooks PR qualifying race below:




Event 17  Girls 100 Meter Dash Classic
=========================================================================
     Classic: C 11.21  2011        Octavious Freeman, Lake Wales, FL           
 National HS: # 11.14  1992        Marion Jones, Thousand Oaks, CA             
USATF Junior: $ 11.04  1999        Angela Williams, USC                        
    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals 
=========================================================================
Section  1 Finals   Wind: -0.9
  1 Patterson, Amaru          11 Unattached             11.84      11.75  
  2 Kirkland, Jayla           11 Unattached             11.82      11.75  
  3 Seymour, KaTia            11 Florida Alps           11.75      11.80  
  4 Williams, Shaniya         11 South Dade E           11.97      11.97  
  5 Fahie, L'Tsha             12 Sprint Tech            11.86      12.07  
  6 Davis, Tamari              7 Pure Athleti           11.89      12.13  
  7 Moorer, Jamesha           10 St. Pete Nit           11.84      12.17  
  8 Sanders, Keosha           12 Take Flight            12.06      12.19  
She would maintain her seed position and place sixth overall in 12.13. She entered the 200m final -- not a Brooks PR qualifier -- as the No. 2 seed.


Event 29  Girls 200 Meter Dash Classic
=========================================================================
     Classic: C 22.96  2011        Octavious Freeman, Lake Wales, FL           
 National HS: # 22.52  2003        Alyson Felix, Loas Angeles Baptist, CA      
USATF Junior: $ 22.11  2003        Allyson Felix, CA HS                        
    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals 
=========================================================================
Section  1 Finals   Wind: -0.6
  1 Patterson, Amaru          11 Unattached             23.99      23.98  
  2 Davis, Karimah            11 Fast Lane Tr           24.11      24.18  
  3 Moses, Tarika             12 Sprint Tech            24.37      24.27  
  4 Kirkland, Jayla           11 Unattached             23.75      24.47  
  5 Davis, Tamari              7 Pure Athleti           23.94      24.62  
  6 Charles, Destiny           9 E.O.T.O Elit           24.55      24.80  
  7 Williams, Shaniya         11 South Dade E           24.52      25.86  


Davis would place one spot better than the 100m Finals with a 24.62, fifth place run. We caught up with the star after her busy day which also included runs in the relay finals:


She told us that her idol is Allyson Felix. It may not be long before Davis is the next Team USA star! Keep an eye out for this young phenom in the future.


Full results and coverage from Flo Golden South