May 8, 2009

Stuart Kantor
Special to Rivals High

There are figures in every sport who, by that rare mix of grace and dedication, transcend their respective endeavors and become the face of it - the icon whom all regard as the next great one.

Jordan Hasay, with her trademark long blonde, shaggy ponytail, tongue wagging like Michael Jordan and blue eyes perched atop a petite 5-foot-5 frame, appears the epitome of a Beach Boys song. Yet study her track-length list of accomplishments and talk with her for just a few minutes, and you'll understand how the 17-year-old is the current face of middle distance running in America.

Quite simply, Hasay exceeds the hype on all fronts: classroom, community and most notably, the track or cross country course. Hasay simply loves running ? and why not? She has already created a lifetime's worth of memories in just six years.

While Americans celebrated July 4, 2008 with the traditional BBQ and backyard badminton battle, Hasay, a junior at San Luis Obispo's Mission College Preparatory High School, competed for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in the 1,500 meters. To do this, she rescheduled a flight to Poland to compete in the world junior championships.

But all's well that ends well. Not only did she break the national high school record in the 1,500 meters in the semifinals (4:14.50), allowing her to advance to the final, but she also made the trip to Poland and finished fourth at 4:19.02.

During her Olympic Trials semifinals romp, where she raced past a bevy of participants, she inspired one of the more creative group recruiting efforts in NCAA history ? 22,000 strong at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., chanted, "Come to Oregon! Come to Oregon!"

"I was honored and excited," Hasay said. "The Hayward crowd was amazing. It was definitely the best track meet I've ever been to."

And seven months later, the Eugene crowd got its wish; Hasay committed to Oregon.

"Oregon was my third visit, and it felt right," Hasay said. "The team and the coaches, especially Coach [Vin] Lananna and his history of developing Olympians. I went to a team dinner, and I fit right in. The community in Eugene supports track and field even if you're not running well. Eugene's a positive pressure, so my decision was easy."

In fourth grade, a decision this tantamount to one's future couldn't realistically be foreshadowed, but in hindsight, there was something special about Hasay even then.

"In PE class, I was beating all the boys in races, so I joined the junior high track team," Hasay said. "And then in seventh grade, I won my first national championship."

In fact, she set the USATF Junior Olympics Youth record in the 1,500 in 2004 with a time of 4:34.02 and then re-set it in 2005 with a time of 4:28.61. She accomplished the same feat in the 3,000 with a time of 9:48.77 (2004) and 9:35.12 (2005).

And then came high school.

While most freshmen awkwardly bumbled around hallways, Hasay set the stage for one of the truly magnificent high school track careers in American history. When she competes in the 3,200 at the California state championships this spring, she'll make a run at history.

"Hopefully I'll be the first girl to win four cross country titles and four outdoors 3,200 titles in California history," she said.

For most young athletes, this pressure would prove unbearable. Her maturity, however, has become her greatest asset.

"I love running so I try not to let the pressure and expectations faze me," Hasay said. "Coach [Armando] Siqueiros has taught me patience and confidence along with being a smart racer. I've learned how to pace myself, but I've really matured mentally as a runner over the last couple of years, and it's helped a great deal."

Hasay's maturity extends beyond the track or cross country course. With an eye on majoring in Human Physiology "to stay involved in the sport after I turn pro," she's in the running for Valedictorian with a schedule that includes AP Calculus, AP Physics and AP Literature.

"I really enjoyed The Life of Pi and The Road by Cormac McCarthy, although it was different," Hasay said. "I also enjoy doing calculus problems and writing essays."

She also lends her time to St. Patrick's Church Outreach Ministry.

The daughter of excellent athletes in their own right ? her father, Joe, totaled 2,065 career points as a high school basketball player in Pennsylvania, while her mother, Teresa, was a competitive swimmer ? she's never been pressured to continue nurturing her incredible talents.

"They've never pressured me," Hasay said. "If I want to quit, they wouldn't mind, but they would think I'm crazy."

No worries. Hasay "has a plan and I'm sticking with it," advice she dispenses to fellow American high school middle distance phenom Chelsey Sveinsson of Dallas.

"We've talked a few times," Hasay said. "I understand the pressure she's under, especially since she's just a sophomore. She needs to have fun, stay relaxed and calm and know she has many years of running left. She needs to have patience and confidence and not overwork."

Where many high school middle distance runners make their mistake is overworking, training excessively and piling on nearly 80-90 miles per week. Hasay, similar to Sveinsson, limits her mileage (50 per week) and supplements workouts with swimming and a conscious effort toward excellent nutrition.

Hasay capped off her brilliant 2008 season by earning Girls High School Athlete of the Year honors by the voting panel at Track & Field News, while becoming only the ninth high school athlete to grace the cover of Track & Field News magazine (March 2009). As a senior, she's joined Sara Hall as the second athlete in California state history to win four straight state cross country titles, and she became the first athlete in Foot Locker Nationals history to win a regional title four times. At Nike Indoors ? her first indoor race ? she won the 2-mile run with a time of 10:10.89, the sixth-fastest all-time high school performance.

With the immense pressure of college recruiting firmly behind her, she can concentrate on her fourth consecutive 3,200 outdoor title and then summer break.

"I'm going to compete at the U.S. Nationals in Eugene and then get ready for college ? pick out furniture for my apartment and hang out," Hasay said. "In September, the [Oregon] Cross Country team heads to training camp in Sun River, Ore., so I'm excited about that."

As Hasay transitions to the next level, there's no doubt about the legacy she's leaving behind as one of America's greatest high school track athletes ever.

The Jordan Hasay File
Grade	Event	Description	Time
12	College Decision	Signed with University of Oregon	-
12	3,200m	2009 Nike Indoor Nationals	10:10.89
12	5K	Foot Locker Cross Country Championships	17:22
12	XC	Foot Locker West Regional Champion	Fourth consecutive
12	XC	California Division V Champion	Fourth consecutive
11	Awards	Track and Field News Girls Athlete of the Year	-
11	Awards	USA Track and Field's Youth Athlete of the Year	-
11	1,500m	IAAF World Juniors (Poland)	4:19:02 (4th place)
11	1,500m	Olympic Trials semifinals	4:14.50 (high school record)
11	3,200m	California High School Championships	9:52.13 (second fastest ever)
11	6K	USATF XC Junior Women's Champion	20:32
10	Awards	Track & Field News top high school miler and two-miler	-
10	1,500m	IAAF World Youth Championships (Czech Republic)	4:15.47 (second)
10	1,500m	USATF Champion	4:16.98 (record)
10	1,600m	Golden West Invitational	4:43.34
10	3,200m	California High School Championship	10:06.76
10	3,200m	Sophomore class record set	10:04.52
10	6K	USATF Junior Cross Country Championship	21:44
9	1,500m	USATF Junior Olympics	4:28.61 (record)
9	3,000m	USATF Junior Olympics	9:35.12 (record)
9	5K	Foot Locker Cross Country Champions	17:05
9	3,200m	California High School Championships	10:13.55
9	1,600m	Golden West Invitaional	4:42.21
9	3,000m	USATF Junior Champion	9:50.66
8	3,000m	USATF Junior Olympics	9:48.77 (record)
8	1,500m	USATF Junior Olympics	4:34.02 (record)