Freshmen Focus: Deja Huckaby & Dynasty McClennon

"There is no substitute for speed" is a common adage attributed to every coach from Paul "Bear" Bryant to Jimmy Johnson and inherently understood by every track coach in the world. When a track coach has freshmen blessed with speed, it bodes well for the future of his or her program. Two freshmen who won't be under the radar for much longer are Deja Huckaby of Chisholm Trail High School and Dynasty McClennon of Summer Creek High School.

Let's start with Huckaby. Also a basketball player at Chisholm Trail, she posted impressive times at the Timber Creek Falcon Fast Invitational, her first-ever high school meet: 24.86 (200) and 56.85 (400). She placed first in both events. {picture from Chisholm Trail basketball webpage.}

Now to McClennon. In 2016, McClennon ran a 24.75 200 at the AAU Region 17 Qualifier for first place, then followed with a 24.98 at the USATF Region 12 JO Championships for second place. In the Pasadena Brown Relays, her first outdoor meet (she participated at the Carl Lewis Invitational), she ran a 24.57 200 in the prelims and then won the event in a time of 24.64. In the 400, she blazed a time of 56.82 to win the prelims and then DNS the finals.

Let's put Huckaby's and McClennon's times into perspective:

Texas 200: McClennon's 24.57 ranks #3, while Huckaby's 24.86 ranks #10 (#s 9 & 19 nationally).

Texas 400: McClennon's 56.82 ranks #3, while Huckaby's 56.85 ranks #4 (#s 15 & 17 nationally).

Add in more freshman speed like Dallas Skyline's Danielle Pringle and Trimble Tech's Kenondra Davis, and the girls of Texas have a bright future.