Jan. 13--Clermont East Ridge junior Kaylin Whitney, who broke girls world under-18 records in both the 100- and 200-meter dash last July, has decided not to compete in high school track this spring.
The two-time state champion in both events instead will focus on her training with an eye on the 2016 Olympics.
"I'm definitely buckling down and getting serious about what I'm trying to do. It's 2015 already," Whitney said Monday night.
She trains alongside professionals in Lake County with the Star Athletics club, which is directed by former Olympic relay gold medalist Dennis Mitchell.
Whitney, who turns 17 in March, ran the 100 in 11.10 seconds against a field that included collegiate runners to win the USA Track Field Junior Championship (19-and-under) and break a 16-year-old high-school national record. One day later, she won the 200 in 22.49, which ranks second all-time for high-schoolers behind a 22.11 that reigning Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix clocked as a California senior in 2003.
Whitney said she very much enjoyed her two seasons of high-school track, which culminated with Class 3A 100 and 200 titles as a ninth-grader and a sweep of the 4A sprints as a sophomore.
"Was high school fun? Yes, it was the most fun I've ever had in interscholastic sports in my life," Whitney said. "I enjoyed cheering my friends on and seeing them do well in their events. I know that to make that next jump in what I want to do with my life, I need to really focus on what matters most."
Buddy Collings is a senior sports writer covering high schools for the Orlando Sentinel. You can reach him at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
