By Alicia Couch Payne
Rising Buford High School senior Kimberly Harris will be representing Team USA at the Pan American U20 Championships. The Pan Am Games will take place July 18-21, 2019 in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Kimberly participated in the USATF U20 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Miramar, FL on June 21-23. Kimberly ran the 400-meter dash. She beat her personal best record during the 400 race with a time of 52.16. She finished 4th overall competing against college athletes. It was her performance at this meet that earned her an invite to compete for Team USA in the 4×400-meter relay in Costa Rica.
This summer has been a busy one for Kimberly. She has competed in the 2019 Memorial Barrientos meet in Cuba on June 7-9. Kimberly competed for Team NSAF. She placed 3rd in the 400m and her relay team placed 2nd in the 4×400 relay. June 13-16 Kimberly competed at the 2019 New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet held at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. She placed 7th in the 400 in N.C. Kimberly was most recently in South Carolina at the AAU Region 8 Qualifier from June 27-30. In South Carolina, Kimberly anchored the winning 4×100-meter relay team.
Kimberly has been a part of the three-time GHSA State AAAAA Girls Track and Field Championship team at Buford High School. She is the reigning champion for the GHSA State AAAAA 200-meter Dash, 400 Dash, 4×100 relay, and the 4×400 relay. Many of these races she has won multiple times in her high school track career. The list of Kimberly’s career accomplishments is simply too long to list fully.
When she is not representing Buford High School, Kimberly can be seen representing the Jack Rabbit Track Club where she trains up to four days a week. She used to play soccer which she picked up when she was just three years old. In her sophomore year, Kimberly quit playing soccer and concentrated on her track career. Andre Al-Ghani recruited her to run for Jack Rabbit when she was just 10 years old.
Make sure to follow the Pan Am U20 games to keep up with Kimberly’s progress in Costa Rica.
