Published March 13, 2008
By Brett Honeycutt
The Charlotte Observer
It only seems like Charlotte Latin seniors Jasmine Isley and Malai Walker have run in obscurity.
In reality, the right people have noticed.
People who understand track can't dismiss their accomplishments, and college coaches haven't either.
As Walker and Isley have dominated competition at the private school in south Charlotte, they have combined to rack up an amazing 11 individual state titles and have run on six relays that won gold.
In addition, they hold five N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association meet records.
The success, though, hasn't bloated their egos.
Said Isley: "I am a pretty modest person. And even though I've been winning for the past few years, it doesn't make me big-headed. I really do feel like I am just part of the team."
Some could dismiss what they've done by saying it came against inferior competition.
That argument falls apart when one sees both rank among the best in N.C. history and have signed with major Division I programs.
Isley, who will run at Georgia Tech next season, experienced success early by winning four AAU national hurdles titles from 11 years old until she was 13, and breaking two national age-group records in the process.
In high school, she is one of the best in N.C. history; she is the eighth-fastest in the 400-meter hurdles (1 minute, 2.21 seconds) and 15th-fastest in the 300 hurdles (44.29).
Walker, who will compete at North Carolina, concentrates on the 100 and 200 meters during outdoor track. This past indoor season, she ran the eighth-fastest 200 in girls' state history (25.38) and 18th-fastest 55 meters (7.18). With her progress during indoor, she likely will break into the elite outdoor list in the 100 and 200, as well.
"It's always nice to break a record or to win," Walker said. "But just seeing the rest of the team happy and excited about winning, just seeing everyone else's reaction to what we do is a great feeling."
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