Zaya Akins - 400/4x400 Raytown South HS Jr.,
Kansas City, MO. Palestine Prowlers TC
Fellow Kansas City area native Zaya Akins will also compete in the red, white, and blue. The Raytown South High School junior sprinter is concluding a historic season in Colombia. Akins won the NSAF Nike Indoor Nationals 400-meter title in New York in March 53.26-seconds. Then started her assault on the Missouri school season record book. Akins clocked 53.06 in April to break the outdoor state record. A 23.18 converted hand-timed 200-meter dash performance put her on top of the Missouri High School All-Season's performance list.
At the state meet, in her final event of day 1, Akins pulled up lame in the 200-meter dash prelims, keeping Akins' and coach Thomas Stueve's Cardinals from contending for a trophy. However, Akins returned to the track on day two with force. Akins stormed victory in 11.32-seconds for the 100-meter dash. The performance came with too much wind behind Akins for record purposes at 2.5 m/s, but is the fastest in the MileSplit state database. The time surpassed friend, mentor, and one of her club coaches Muna Lee's mark as the fastest recorded time in state history, but Lee's mark of 11.39 stands as the state record. Lee clocked that in winning the 2000 NSAF Foot Locker Outdoor Track and Field Championships in North Carolina, while also breaking the meet record.
After a short break, Akins returned to the track in her signature event. In the Class 4 400-meter final, Akins blasted a 53.41-second single lap to break the Class 4 and overall state meet record. A week later, Akins swept the 100, 200, and 400-meter dashes for Team Missouri at The Great Southwest Track Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A week later, Akins ran to her 2nd national title. At the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, Akins claimed the 400-meter crown at Franklin Field in Philadelphia in 52.88-seconds, to better her state record.
A week later at Hayward Field, in Eugene, Oregon, Akins lined up for the USA Under-20 Championships 400-meters. Akins' club coach, CB Cadenhead of the Palestine Prowlers, said this had been the goal for all season, a top-2 finish and spot on Team USA at the World U20 Championships.
In the prelims, Akins cruised to a 53.25-second finish, taking 2nd in her heat and 3rd overall to advance to the finals. In the final, Akins blasted around the curve and down the backstretch in the lead. University of Coastal Carolina's Mekenze Kelley, an NCAA qualifier in the 400 as a freshman who has a 51.98 PR, made up ground on Akins on the last turn and moved into the lead. While Akins pace slowed, she held strong thru the tape to take 2nd. Kelley won in 52.10 with Akins holding off Kaylyn Brown for the final Team USA spot, 52.90 to 53.11.
In Cali, Akins will race the 400-meters 1st round on day 2, Tuesday morning. Akins runs in lane #8 in heat #4 of 5, with the first four of each heat and the next fastest four athletes advancing to the semifinals. The semifinals are on Wednesday, day 3, at 5:00 p.m. CT with the finals on day 4, Thursday at 5:40 p.m. CT.
There are 40 athletes in the women's 400-meters, hailing from 29 different countries. Akins season and personal best of 52.88 gives her the 12th fastest PR and 10th fastest time of the season among the competitors.
The 4x400 qualification round is on day 5, Friday, at 10:40 a.m. with the finals on the 6th and final day, Saturday at 5:20 p.m. While Akins and Team USA should contend for medal in the 4x400, Akins will likely need another PR to make the 400 final and probably need to run low-52-seconds to contend for a medal.
However things play out for Akins in Colombia, her junior year has been one of the best ever for a Missouri sprinter, no matter the age or competition level. The fact that she'll be back for one final year of high school is hard to believe and causes the mind to wonder what could come next year for the superstar.
When she returns home,
the college recruitment of Akins will hit overdrive as Akins is one of the most
sought-after recruits ever from The Show-Me State. If she needs any help wading the recruitment waters, she's got Muna Lee to look to for guidance. After her career at Kansas City Central High School, Lee went on to compile one of the best resumes ever for a collegiate sprinter, before moving to the professional ranks and two Olympic berths.