Even though she's just 11, Daesha Rogers has been at it for years already. In past years she has etched her name on the national youth record book in the Primary 400m (1:07.21), Primary 800m (2:34.82), Sub-Bantam 1500m (5:08.05), and Bantam 1500m 4:54.59. This year has been no different.
Rogers started her week at AAU Junior Olympics in Virginia with a bang! She wasted no time knocking out another national 1500m record. Now a year older and competing in her new AAU age group, Sub-Midget, she blasted the old national record by nearly 7 seconds with a huge new PR of 4:45.65.
That time converts to a 5:06.6 for 1600 meters and would put her in elite company on the high school scene TODAY... and she is still three years away from breaking into her freshman year! Earlier this season, Rogers competed in the flrunners.com Middle School State Championship and finished second in both the 800m and 1500m to varsity star Emily Edwards of Ft. Myers Canterbury School. Rogers ran 4:59.86 and 2:24.87 at that meet... so in a matter of two months she's drastically cut that time down to size.
Rogers followed her 1500 meter record on Tuesday with a second place finish in the 400 meters with a time of 59.18. Though it's the first she has tasted silver in that event this season, it's still the fastest she's ever run in that event and second fastest in the nation in her age bracket this season. Lauren Williams of California, daughter of "TrackMom", beat her out with a new national leading time of 57.93.
Wednesday saw some redemption and another national title for Daesha. She ran just .28 off of another national record in her 2:19.55 victory in the Sub-Midget 800 Meter Run. That is the second fast time she's clocked in that event.
The future is certainly bright for this young lady from Miami!
AAU Junior Olympics On-Site Coverage...
