Centennial's speedy Caldwell sets her sights on state track meet

True to her talents as a sprinter, Centennial sophomore Jedah Caldwell is making a rapid ascent toward elite status.

She stood on the podium after an eighth-place finish in the 200-meter dash at the Class 2A state meet last June. During the summer she ran a leg of the Track Minnesota Elite 400-meter relay team that took first at the AAU Junior Olympics National Games in Michigan.

At the Hamline Elite Meet in April, she took first place in the 200 and third in the 100. Last week at the Northwest Suburban Conference meet, she won the 100 and 200 and was the anchor leg of the winning 4x200 relay.

Her quest for additional greatness at the state meet resumes Wednesday in the Section 5 meet, where she hopes for a return trip to Hamline in June.

Caldwell spoke to Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about her higher expectations for her sophomore season and the goal to qualify for state in three events.

Q: How did your successes in high school and AAU track last year elevate your expectations for this season?

A: It made me want to set personal bests sooner. Last summer I ran 24.70 seconds in the 200-meter dash, and I'm hoping to get a faster time than that at state this year. This summer I want to get in the 23s so I'm setting higher expectations for myself.

A Yes, I was more confident in myself. I have more goals than I did last year because I'm trying to be on the top of the pack. Last year I didn't feel I put as much effort in as I have this year. I'm training a lot more this year.

Q: What did you feel about your performance at the Hamline Elite Meet? You took first and third against a lot of the state's best sprinters.

A: I felt confident that my efforts from training have been paying off. But I feel like I need to do more to try and be the state champion in the 200 this year.

Q: You and fellow sophomores Maddie Gourley of Eagan and Brieasha Hunter of Cretin-Derham Hall are all in that top sprinter group. What is your relationship like with those girls?

A: I'm friends with them and we are also competitors. I run with Maddie in the summer for our AAU team, and I compete against Brieasha. They are very strong runners and really good competition. They help me push myself.

A: Hopefully our 4x200 relay team will get there. I'm hoping to get to state in three events rather than one like last year. And I trained with Shani Marks the past two winters at the University of Minnesota. She's really good with conditioning and techniques and so this summer I'm going to try 300 hurdles and start jumping.

Q: The state meet, Elite Meet and the Section 5 meet are all at Hamline. Is that a comfortable place for you to compete?

A: Yeah, I feel like the track at Hamline is fast. And it kind of looks smaller. It's not, obviously. But it looks smaller, so in my mind I feel like it's easier to run.