Hale sets new records in 200m, 400m

If it wasn’t already apparent, sophomore phenom Sharay Hale made clear her stranglehold on women’s Ivy League sprints this past weekend at the Heptagonal Championships. In her second conference appearance indoors, Hale accrued 26 points and led the Lions to a strong runner-up showing, just 15 points behind the Princeton Tigers.

This is not to say that her dominance was a surprise. Last spring, Hale posted the fastest time in the nation for a freshman in 400m outdoors with her 52.64. She won the Ivy title in that event and advanced to the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. There she got her first taste of the big leagues, and it was bittersweet—she was the first to miss the final heat, by eight hundredths of a second.

Hale used that experience as a building ground and motivational point. She returned in the fall ready to work and determined to improve upon her freshman year second-place finish at the indoor Heps. But of course, nothing ever goes as smoothly as planned. Hale incurred a stress fracture in her shin in late October and was sidelined for a month and a half.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make nationals after that,” she said. “I guess I proved myself wrong.”

That she did. In spite of the setback, Hale came out firing this winter, winning the 500m run and anchoring the women’s 4x400m relay at the NYRR Saturday Night at the Armory II to a then-school record, 3:42.60. She kept the ball rolling at the prestigious New Balance Collegiate Invitational with a then-school record of 54.73 in the open 400m and a second school record, 3:41.19, in the 4x400m, a provisional qualifier to the NCAA meet.

The relay event has helped to foster camaraderie among its members, whose personal specialties range from the 60m hurdles to the 200m and 400m sprints. Sophomores Hale, Kyra Caldwell, and Kristen Houp and freshman Yamira Bell have a bond that at once extends beyond and contributes positively to the 200m oval.

“We are all really close outside of the team,” Hale said. “But we’re also always talking about track, assessing what we can do better.”

A final tune-up for Heps at the NYRR Saturday Night at the Armory III saw Hale lower her own school indoor record yet again, taking the 400m with a 54.20.

The women’s team knew going into Heptagonals that they could be in contention for the win, but that to do so would require a potentially unwieldy feat on the part of a few. Hale was undaunted.

“I couldn’t remember the last time I’d doubled,” she said, “but I wanted to do whatever was needed of me for my team.”

Her contribution was more than anyone could have asked or expected. On day one, she set Heps heat records in the 200m and 400m preliminaries with times of 24.24 and 54.46, respectively. On day two, Hale set new records in the finals of both events. In the 400m, she set a new Columbia record of 53.79—the second-fastest in Ivy history­—and in the 200m, she set a new Columbia and Ivy record of 24.20. That was only the second time Hale had competed the 200m indoors. In addition, she anchored the 4x400m to third. For her triumphs, she was acknowledged as the women’s Most Outstanding Performer.

Cloud nine has proven a comfortable locale, but Hale has paid her dues. An Amateur Athletic Union competitor from a young age, she was a force as soon as she entered the high school stage, winning state titles her freshman year. But Hale didn’t take to a move from the comforts of her hometown Detroit to Wisconsin her sophomore year.

“I couldn’t even train because of the move,” she said. In the absence of a track at her new school, Hale moved up to the 400m for fear of injury at the 100m or 200m. The transition was successful.

“I tried the 400m and was able to win at states,” she said.

Still, lacking the appropriate facilities, Hale did not return to her previous stature during her upperclassman years. Nonetheless, her potential was a point of fact.

“We knew she was talented,” sprints coach Gavin O’Neal said. “People who had seen her run told us, ‘This girl is fast.’” If that wasn’t assurance enough, powerhouses Texas A&M and South Carolina—notorious for turning out Olympic athletes—were offering her full rides. In the end, Columbia turned out to be the right fit.

With her freshman year success and evident progression at Indoor Heps, Hale’s talent is indisputable.

“She can run anything from the 100m to the 400m,” O’Neal said. “We want to keep her healthy and allow her to continue getting stronger.”

Add to that a zealous ambition and confidence that fears none. “I know the goals that I want to achieve and I’m not intimidated,” Hale said. “I love to run with people who are faster.”

Hale will head to Arkansas for the NCAA Championships March 12-13 to see how she currently matches up. Apart from that, outdoor Heps are a short two months away, and her appetite is whetted for a second shot in the 400m at nationals.

In the long term, the focus is London 2012.

“Of course I want to go pro,” Hale said. “If I can stay healthy and continue to improve like I’ve been, it’s not far-fetched.”

O’Neal shares that belief and sees its realization as dependent on tactical proficiency.

“We’ve stressed the ability of managing a 400m race—finding the balance of a good first 200 and finishing strong,” he said. “If you have the proper strategy, you’re going to maximize your performance.”

Hale’s got the drive and the tools, without a doubt. For the experience, she has another two years. One thing that’s certain: You should stay tuned.