Bullis MD sophomore looks to become first to sweep 100- and 400-meter hurdles national titles in girls 15-16 division since 2007

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Leah Phillips has already been a member of several memorable relay performances during her first two years running track for Bullis High, including high school indoor records and New Balance National titles.

But the 15-year-old Phillips has an opportunity to achieve her own history Sunday at the 52nd USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships at a familiar venue for the sophomore at North Carolina A&T’s Aggie Stadium in Greensboro.

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Phillips, representing the Maryland-based Comets of Charles County, is attempting to become the first athlete in the girls 15-16 division to sweep both the 100- and 400-meter hurdles national titles in the same year since Jasmin Stowers in 2007, and only the eighth female in any age group to achieve the feat in meet history.

Stowers went on to become a seven-time All-American at LSU, along with winning the 2015 USATF Indoor title in the 60-meter hurdles.

“There are strong and fast girls in the 100 and 400 hurdles at JOs,” Phillips said. “Therefore, being in the finals at this level is an accomplishment within itself.” 

Phillips is no stranger to racing on a national stage, having demonstrated poise beyond her years competing for Bullis coach Joe Lee at both New Balance Indoor and Outdoor championships, along with the Penn Relays and Arcadia Invitational.

But Phillips’ desire to learn and motivation to improve have only expanded her versatility and helped showcase her strengths, regardless of the competition.

“I think the large meets help with my preparation when I’m running on the big stage,” Phillips said. “However, for a lack of better words, I do not take the small or local meets for granted. There are great athletes at all meets and it doesn’t matter what time you have on paper; it’s who shows up and runs well that day. My goal is to learn and work on some part of my race at every meet.”

In addition to balancing the challenge of competing at both distances in less than an hour Sunday, Phillips also remains consistent to her foundation of the four “P’s” on race day.

“I pray, I develop a plan, I trust the process and I never panic,” Phillips said. “My coaches have done a great job in training and properly preparing me for both races. We worked on endurance during indoor season and use the 55 hurdles and 200 meters for speed and technique.

“During the outdoor season, I had an opportunity to run 100 hurdles, 400 meters and the relays (4x100, 4x200 and 4x400). My coaches stressed to me that when I am properly prepared I can compete. Therefore, (Sunday) my goal is to have fun while competing.”

Phillips is one of two competitors to qualify for both 15-16 hurdles finals, along with DeSoto High’s Jalaysiya Smith, representing the North Texas Cheetahs. Smith is one of two DeSoto athletes representing the Cheetahs in the 100 hurdles final, along with defending 15-16 national champion Jayla Hollis.

Smith led all qualifiers in Saturday’s semifinals by clocking 13.96, followed by Phillips in 13.97 and Hollis in 13.98.

Phillips became only the second 15-16 competitor in meet history to run under a minute in the 400 prelims, clocking a personal-best 59.50 to elevate to the No. 17 all-time sophomore performer. She is also just the eighth 15-16 female to produce a sub-60 effort since the 400 hurdles were added to the division schedule in 1981.

“It felt great to PR during the opening round, because my goal was to run a solid time to get to the finals. To make it to the finals is a blessing and to PR is just icing on the cake,” Phillips said. “I have been training on technique and speed over the past few weeks and to know that it is paying off is awesome.

“This is another testament to trust your training. In the finals, I need to stay tall and keep my body straight during the last 120 meters when I am getting tired. It is important not to rotate my upper body when coming off the hurdle, so I must stay focused at the end of my race.”

After running 42.78 in the 300 hurdles – No. 4 this year among 10th-graders nationally – to place fourth April 7 in her debut at the Arcadia Invitational, Phillips also finished fourth on the Aggie Stadium track June 17 as the only sophomore among the top 15 at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor final, clocking 59.58. She also ran a personal-best 13.93 in the 100 hurdles prelims.

“The training was similar for the 300 and 400 hurdles; because my coach made sure I had the endurance,” Phillips said. “I knew that before Nationals, I had to get one 400 hurdles race in to build my confidence. I wanted to go to Nationals with the reassurance that I had an understanding on how to run the 400 hurdles.

“I had to adjust to not only learning how to run the race, but also learn how to run rounds in the 400 hurdles. In my opinion, there is a different stride pattern and thought process between the two races. Therefore, this year it has been great to experience them both.”

Phillips arrived at Bullis with a background in the 100 and 200 hurdles from youth track. But Christa Phillips has told her daughter since age 10 that Leah’s future was in the 300 and 400 hurdles.

Although she ran 1:03.23 in the 400 hurdles as a freshman, training the past year with Tennessee signee Masai Russell has been extremely beneficial in Phillips’ development.

“We’re literally with each other most of the time and all the time we’re dying together (in workouts),” said Russell, the national prep leader in the 300 hurdles at 40.16 and No. 2 in the country at 57.65 in the 400 hurdles.

“She’s only a 10th grader and she’s running so well. She was the youngest one in the (nationals) field, but she’s one of the youngest best runners in the country I know.”

Although Russell wasn’t able to win a USATF Junior Outdoor title in the 400 hurdles June 16 in Indiana, Phillips hopes she can produce another national championship for Bullis and build momentum into what could potentially be an incredible junior year.

“Masai was a great asset to my training during the school year. She was a great teammate who pushed me during practice and when the workouts were hard we would not allow one another to quit,” Phillips said. “Masai’s determination to do well in track pushed me to bring my ‘A’ game every day to practice and track meets. She helped me grow as a person, student and athlete at Bullis.”

That growth could result in one of the most impressive one-day hurdling performances in meet history from an athlete who is not only physically built to handle the opportunities, but mentally ready to embrace the challenge.

“I would like to thank God, my parents, coaches and my competitors,” Phillips said. “I am looking forward to running a solid and complete race in both events. If that happens and I come away with no injuries, a win and PR, my week will be complete.”