DALLAS — The track and infield at David W. Carter High School are bustling on this mid-June Wednesday morning, just before 11 a.m. The sky is a clear blue that rivals a teenager’s tongue coated in a Jolly Rancher. The Texas heat is already sweltering, as if the sun rose from the East and lingered just south of I-20. It’s hot enough to cause skin to sweat and dandelions to wither on the grassy field. Kennedy Jackson-Miles, a 14-year-old sprinter with the Cedar Hill Blaze summer track club, doesn’t seem phased by the heat. With fingers on the rubbery track surface and feet against metal blocks, she explodes out of the blocks repeatedly, her soaked T-shirt and glistening forehead evidence of her hard work and determination. “I’m going to be in the Olympics in 2028,” she confidently states during a break, brimming with aspirations and drive.
Coach Marcus Stokes shares the belief in Kennedy’s Olympic dreams, making it clear with a look in his eyes. Born in 2010, Kennedy’s recent birthday announcement and her dedication to training in the scorching Texas heat at a young age are indicators of her exceptional work ethic. Sha’Carri Richardson, who once trained on the very same track at Carter High School, is about to make her Olympic debut and has set the standard for rising stars in the area, including Kennedy.
Richardson, an icon in Dallas track and field, followed in the footsteps of Michael Johnson, who first put North Texas on the map in the sport. The sprint scene in Dallas is vibrant with talent and community support, inspired by the success stories of athletes like Johnson and Richardson. Richardson, who hails from Oak Cliff, embodies the spirit of the region and serves as a role model for aspiring young sprinters.
In a community where track meets are packed and high school competitions carry the intensity of long-standing rivalries, Richardson’s success is a testament to the enduring legacy of North Texas track and field. Her achievements have elevated her to a national star, capturing the hearts and minds of the local community, especially young athletes like Kennedy Jackson-Miles and Krystan Bright.
Bright, a recent graduate of Cedar Hill High School, embodies resilience like Richardson, overcoming early setbacks to become a standout hurdler. Inspired by Richardson’s story and journey, Bright is preparing to continue her track career in college, fueled by the sense of community and support that defines Dallas track and field.
In the next generation of Dallas track stars, Sha’Carri Richardson’s influence looms large, inspiring young athletes like Kennedy and Bright to push their limits and strive for greatness on and off the track.
GO DEEPER
Sha’Carri Richardson, with emphatic win at trials, closing in on Olympic glory
(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photo: Hannah Peters / Getty Images)