Terika Henry runs past the record book

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Sports

May 15, 2014 - 12:00 AM

 

Terika Henry is one the fastest women in Kansas, at least when it comes to the outdoor 200-meter dash. Henry and members of the Allen Community College track team are in Mesa, Ariz., for the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, which open today.

Henry, sophomore, qualified for the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes and has a simple goal.

“My goal is to win,” Henry said.

Coach Vince DeGrado thinks she will.

“I think she’ll win the 100 meters and 200 meters,” DeGrado said. “She let one get away from her indoors for the 200 meters. I know coach Davis was disappointed and she was disappointed getting runner-up, but I see the work that she put in.”

For the indoor season, Henry finished second in the 200 at nationals with a mark of 24.19 seconds. 


HENRY HAS shaved a full second off that mark now that she’s running outdoors.

In the Region VI tournament earlier this month, Henry placed herself in prestigious company in the 200. She won the race in 23.16 seconds, beating a mark held by seven-time Olympic medalist, Jamaican superstar Veronica Campbell-Brown. 

Campbell-Brown had set the old Region VI mark at 23.18 while attending Barton in 2002.

DeGrado said Henry has meshed well with ACC assistant coach Tony Davis, who works with ACC’s sprinters and hurdlers.

“If she gets somebody like Coach Davis (next season), and she keeps progressing, you’ll see her in 2016,” DeGrado said about Henry’s Olympic chances. “I guarantee if she keeps progressing you’ll at least see her at the trials.”

Henry qualified for the 100 by finishing second in Region VI with a time of 11.70 seconds. For the season, Henry has finished either first or second in all of her outdoor meets. 

“My season has been great,” Henry said. “Coming here, I didn’t know what to expect last year, so it’s good to break records and stuff like  being able to qualify to go to nationals.”


HENRY WILL continue her track career at the University of Central Florida next season.

“It’s home,” Henry said. “It’s like 25 minutes away from where I live so it’s great to run for my city. I’m from Orlando, and that’s where the school is.”

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