Woodlawn Runner Jayla Kirkland Goes Against the World’s Best In Poland

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/07/IMG_0452-e1468932456174.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1620;s:6:"height";i:1215;s:4:"file";s:35:"2016/07/IMG_0452-e1468932456174.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-768x576.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:576;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-1536x1152.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_0452-e1468932456174-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Sherrel Wheeler Stewart
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1440;s:4:"file";s:12:"IMG_0452.jpg";}s:18:"full-1468932456174";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:1820;s:6:"height";i:1365;s:4:"file";s:27:"IMG_0452-e1468932433788.jpg";}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:436796;s:14:"optimized_size";i:290511;s:7:"percent";d:33.490000000000002;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/07/IMG_0452-e1468932456174.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:436796;s:14:"optimized_size";i:290511;s:7:"percent";d:33.490000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:5:"large";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_wp_attachment_image_alt] => Array
        (
            [0] => Jayla Kirkland of Woodlawn High School warms up on the track at Hayes K-8 School before starting her training session.
        )

)
1637518538 
1468920581

As Jayla Kirkland runs around the track behind Hayes K-8 School in Birmingham, there’s no one else in sight. But this week, the 17-year-old world-class sprinter from Woodlawn High School competes in a crowded field of runners in Bydgoszcz, Poland at the International Association of Athletic Federations Championships (IAAFC). She wants to be alone there too – sprinting first across the finish line.

“I’ll be running against every junior from ages 14 to 19, competing for the gold,” she says.

Jayla’s time of 23.11 seconds in the 200 meters took first place last month at the prestigious New Balance Nationals Outdoor competition. In that same competition, she placed third in the 100-meter race. That kind of success paved her way from public housing to Poland as part of the U.S. national team.

There’s a key to getting there, Kirkland says: “I train three to four days a week. It takes a lot of hard work and consistency to get on the level that I am at, and of course, God.”

Jayla is an honor student in the Business and Finance Academy at Woodlawn. She’s hoping her sprinting propels her through college and a degree in sports management. These dreams took root back in seventh grade when a middle school coach noticed something.

“At basketball practice, my coach saw that I had speed, so he suggested I try out for the track team,” she says. “I did pretty good in my first meet and kept going with it.”

Jayla trains with coach Myra Hawkins, a teacher and former runner. As Jayla sprints around the track, Hawkins is on the sidelines giving instructions, clocking runs, and offering encouragement. Jayla, she says, is different.

“She pushes through even when she is not feeling her best,” Hawkins says. “There are a lot of students who come out here and want me to train them. They get tired and they don’t show back up.”

But Jayla is consistent, and the training will continue, Hawkins says.

“As long as she wants me to help her, I’m going to be alongside her, helping her, pushing her to make sure she reaches her goals.”

Jayla has her sights set on Olympic gold. She didn’t qualify for the 2016 games, but she’s already thinking about 2020 in Tokyo.

 

Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that

The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Are you a caregiver for an adult? How has it changed you?

Many who care for family members and loved ones at home say it can be very stressful but also rich in meaning. Share your story and insights.

MF DOOM’s music was his legend. The man himself was the myth

The late rapper's 2004 album MM..FOOD may never have the classic status of its sister release, Madvillainy. But 20 years later, it's the one to play if you want to hear the essence of his artistry.

Here’s how Trump and the GOP may try to weaken Obamacare

Republican control of the White House and Congress sets the stage for potentially seismic changes including curtailing Medicaid, weakening patient protections, and increasing premium costs for millions.

Richer countries are starting to pay poorer ones for climate change damages

With climate-related disasters getting more extreme, richer countries are piloting ways to compensate developing nations, since they bear the least responsibility for causing climate change.

More Education Coverage