It's been quite a terrific last two weeks for Jaden Brown.
The Norristown senior has been on a tear since the PTFCA Indoor State Championships and it continued into this past weekend's New Balance Nationals Indoor at The Armory.
Brown dropped a huge performance in the final of the Championship 60 meter dash, clocking a 6.68 to take second place in the nation. Justin Braun of Ohio, the versatile sprinter, won the 60m in 6.65 after winning the 400 meters the day before.
Boys 60 Meter Dash Championship
================================================================
National HS: ! 6.57 1999 Casey Combest, Owensboro-KY
Armory: # 6.59 2018 Anthony Schwartz, Plantation-FL
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
Finals
1 # 3686 Braun, Justin 12 Westerville-OH 6.65
2.064 (2.064) 3.054 (0.990) 4.006 (0.952) 5.088 (1.082)
5.798 (0.710) 6.235 (0.437) 6.644 (0.409)
2 # 2164 Brown, Jaden 12 Norrist Eagle-PA 6.68
2.105 (2.105) 3.122 (1.017) 4.041 (0.919) 4.916 (0.875)
5.910 (0.994) 6.296 (0.386) 6.678 (0.382)
3 # 3210 Clarke, Jonas 12 Tigers TFC-MA 6.69
2.117 (2.117) 3.108 (0.991) 4.360 (1.252) 5.084 (0.724)
5.855 (0.771) 6.262 (0.407) 6.690 (0.428)
4 # 3006 Ledgister, Fitzro 12 SPP-NJ 6.75
2.109 (2.109) 3.120 (1.011) 4.087 (0.967) 5.051 (0.964)
5.934 (0.883) 6.347 (0.413) 6.744 (0.397)
5 # 1743 Cukerstein, Carte 18 Legion TC-NY 6.76
2.063 (2.063) 3.054 (0.991) 4.014 (0.960) 5.067 (1.053)
5.988 (0.921) 6.348 (0.360) 6.755 (0.407)
6 # 864 France, Fabian 12 Crusaders-NJ 6.77
2.092 (2.092) 3.091 (0.999) 4.055 (0.964) 5.047 (0.992)
5.938 (0.891) 6.337 (0.399) 6.766 (0.429)
7 # 2086 Elloie, Leon 12 New Orleans-LA 6.80
2.019 (2.019) 3.052 (1.033) 3.980 (0.928) 4.947 (0.967)
5.955 (1.008) 6.370 (0.415) 6.794 (0.424)
8 # 2868 Vu, Eddy 12 Shirley-NY 6.84
2.093 (2.093) 3.095 (1.002) 4.020 (0.925) 4.985 (0.965)
5.957 (0.972) 6.414 (0.457) 6.831 (0.417)Brown qualified through to the semifinals on Saturday, running 6.83 to start things off. Then he didn't have his best start in the semis on Sunday, but recovered to run 6.82 to get into the final as the sixth of the eight seeds. But then he pulled out the best race of his career in the final.
Brown's 6.68 is the second fastest time in Pennsylvania state history. He was already at PA No. 2 all-time after a 6.72 at the indoor state meet. Then he improved even more on the biggest stage Sunday. Brown trails only Deworski Odom on the all-time list. Odom, of Overbrook, went 6.62 at indoor nationals in 1995.
Brown, a University of Houston recruit, won the outdoor 100m state title in PIAA Class AAA last spring, going 10.65. He said he's very excited for the outdoor season, and we could see plenty more big times from Brown. He's now firmly emerged onto the national spotlight.
Check out an interview with Brown after the 60m final below.