IMG Academy's Jaylen Slade Carries Big Hopes Into Stacked 300 Field

By Todd Grasley of DyeStat

This weekend’s Virginia Showcase features some of the best indoor talent from around the country and one of the marquee events at the Virginia Beach Sports Center will be Saturday in the boys 300 meters, which features Jaylen Slade of IMG Academy in Florida, Jayson Ward from Lloyd C. Bird in Virginia and Justin Braun from Thomas Worthington in Ohio. 

That trio of Js are all eyeing a potential win, as well as spots on the all-time prep performer list.

“I’m looking to break 33 seconds in the 300 and give people a show with great athletes to run against,” Slade said.

His coach, Jamaican Olympian Dwight Thomas, echoed that sentiment.

“The open 300 meters will have one of the best fields in the nation,” he said. “Justin Braun and a few others will be in that lineup. It should be a very exciting race for high school track and field.”

Braun has an early season 400-meter effort of 47.82 seconds and is currently ranked in the U.S. top 10 in both the 60 and 200 meters, with Byrd boasting times of 21.98 in the 200 and US#2 47.98 in the 400 meters.

Slade currently leads the country in the 60-meter dash (6.70) and ranks second in the 200 (21.13). His 400 personal best of 47.59 from 2020 would be the top time this season. The 300 is right in his wheelhouse, despite having only run the event in practice with 300 repeats and a single time trial. 

“It’s just a different strategy and a different environment, he explained. "I love indoors because it is just a lot faster and fun."

The current record belongs to Brian Herron, who ran a blazing 32.64 to win the 2018 Virginia Showcase. Cameron Rose (2020), Eric Allen Jr. (2018), and Justin Robinson are four of the five athletes to ever break 33 seconds and they all did it at this meet. The fifth athlete to break 33 seconds, Tyrese Cooper, ran 33.07 at the meet in 2017 but eclipsed 33 seconds at the Armory Track Invitational three weeks later.

After earning the 2019-20 Gatorade Georgia Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, winning the Georgia Meet of Champions 200-meter title, and doubling at the 2019 GHSA 4A state outdoor meet in the 100 and 200, Slade transferred to IMG Academy in Florida for his junior season. His new coach knows quite a bit about competing at the highest level and has nothing but praise for Slade, who will also compete in the 55-meter dash and 4x400 meter relay this weekend.

“I believe Jaylen is a special talent, Thomas noted. “With myself accomplishing what I did during my career, I am able to teach and show him the right path for him to become successful. With Jaylen’s talent and rawness, his height, and his structure, it is almost the perfect prototype for short sprinters.”

The pair have been working on sprint mechanics to increase Slade’s efficiency and a smooth transition from the indoor season to a successful outdoor campaign.

“One of our goals is to run under 21 seconds indoor in the 200 meters, which is not far away," he said. “This will set us up for the outdoor season leading into nationals and maybe Olympic Trials.”