Full-Speed Ahead: Gators sprinter Kyra Jefferson Charges Into NCAA Finals
Thursday, June 11, 2015 | Track and Field, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mike Holloway never had a doubt.
None. Nil. Zip. Zilch.
Soon after sprinter Kyra Jefferson arrived on campus to start her college career, Holloway began to imagine lofty goals for the soft-spoken Detroit native.
“After about six or seven weeks of training, I realized she was a very, very special talent,'' Holloway said. “She had all the tools to get it done.”
Holloway can say that about many of the athletes in his program, which has produced five national championships (three men's indoor, two men's outdoor) since 2010. Still, while it's the men claiming those titles, the women have gained ground thanks to performers such as Jefferson.
Jefferson won the 200-meter national indoor title March 14 in a school-record 22.63 seconds, edging favorite Jenna Prandini of Oregon. In the three months since the outdoor season opened, Jefferson has moved to the top of the national rankings.
She cruised to a berth in Saturday's finals by winning her semifinal heat Thursday night in 22.26 seconds, matching her school-record time. Based on her peformance Thursday and what Jefferson did two weeks ago at the regional meet in Jacksonville -- turning heads with her first 22.26 in the 200 -- the rest of the field might have trouble keeping up.
“This is the season where everything has fallen into place,'' said Jefferson, a junior who also runs the 400 meters and competes on Florida's 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. "I didn't expect to run as fast as I've been running.”
While Jefferson knew nothing about Florida or Holloway until very late on the recruiting trail, Holloway knew about her.
Thomas Jefferson, her father, was a world-class sprinter who won bronze in the 200 at the Los Angles Olympics in 1984. Her mother, Michele Watkins – she was known as Michele Morris in college – ran track at LSU and was a seven-time All-American and member of two national champion relay teams in 1985.
Jefferson had plans to follow in her mother's footsteps and attend LSU until meeting future UF teammates Robin Reynolds and Gino Hall at a World Youth Team event in South Florida. They turned her on to the Gators, a change of direction that was fine with Watkins.
“I didn't go on any of her recruiting trips because the decision had to be hers,'' Watkins said Thursday from Eugene, Ore., site of this week's NCAA Championships. “She had to make the decision because she had to be able to interact and have a relationship with the coach. It ended up being a good decision for her to go to Florida.”
During her career at LSU, Watkins was part of a team that kick-started an unprecedented era of dominance in women's collegiate sports. The LSU women won 11 consecutive NCAA outdoor titles from 1987-97.
When Kyra was growing up, she had more success in swimming than track at first. However, by the time she finished her prep career at Cass Technical High, Watkins saw the same potential Holloway did.
“We're twins. I see a lot of myself in her,'' Watkins said. “I don't miss a meet. I'm her No. 1 cheerleader from day one.”
Prior to this season, Jefferson focused on running the 100- and 200-meter dashes along with her relay duties.
The 400 was Michele's best event in college, and while she tried to get Kyra to run it in high school, she opted to focus on the shorter events. However, Jefferson focused on the 200 and 400 this season and it has paid off.
The past two seasons she missed the NCAA Outdoor Championships due to injuries.
“The 400 helps with my finish [in the 200],'' Jefferson said, who is not running the 400 at nationals. “I've learned to deal with certain aches and pains differently than I used to. My body feels more recovered.”
Staying healthy throughout the outdoor season has set the stage for a possible 200 sweep. In her victory over Prandini at the indoor championships, Jefferson celebrated in her own way.
If you didn't notice, she's OK with that.
“Going in I was ranked second. A lot of people counted me out,” she said. “I just didn't want to be too emotional. I was on Cloud 9 in my mind but not on the outside.”
Like much of her athletic ability, she gets her humble attitude from Michele. Jefferson said if she wins an outdoor title, she might celebrate more, probably with a few tears.
“Even with the crying it will be so quick you won't even notice it,'' her mom said. “I'm really excited for her. I want to just to go out and relax and run her race. Do what she knows how to do. This is what I say all the time: 'one race, one day at a time.' ”
If Jefferson does win the 200, Holloway won't be surprised in the least. It took a while, but Jefferson is in fine form entering the NCAA track season's biggest event.
“At this point last year we were all disappointed because she showed flashes of this brilliance,'' he said. “After the season we talked and the staff said, 'we have to find a way to keep her healthy, because if she is healthy, she is one of the best ever. We need to make sure she is right when it counts the most.' ”
Jefferson is finally at that point. The finish line is 200 meters ahead.
