For Gratz sprinter, track roots run deep

Very few area track and field historians - if any - are probably surprised that Tymerah Burgess is a standout sprinter.

As a student at University City, her father, Satira Burgess, was the Public League 400-meter champion. After being a Junior World champion in the 100 hurdles at Simon Gratz, her mother, Joyce Bates, won consecutive NCAA titles in the event for Louisiana State.

So when Burgess arrived at Gratz two seasons ago, folks expected her to post fast times. And she has.

Now, as a 17-year-old junior, Burgess has the top time by a high school girl in Pennsylvania in the 100, 12.10 seconds.

"This year, I would like to go 11.70," said Burgess, who is receiving recruiting interest from Texas A&M, LSU, Pittsburgh, Penn State and Connecticut.

If she runs that fast, she would break the Public League record of 11.71 set by former Gratz standout Clarenchell Tate in 2006.

Don't expect Burgess to break the record anytime soon. She tweaked her right hamstring while participating in the 4x100 relay April 22 at the Penn Relays. As a result, Burgess will be sidelined until the Public League championships on May 13.

If she's concerned that the layoff will hinder her performance, she's not showing it.

"It got better," Burgess said of her hamstring. "I can walk and jog perfectly fine. But I don't want to go out there and start sprinting."

Once Burgess returns, her goal will be to win the Class AAA 100 title at the PIAA outdoor track and field championships on May 29.

Right now, Chester's Rayiana Johnson is expected to be her stiffest competition. The senior won last season's Class AAA title in 12.04, and Burgess placed sixth (12.38). Johnson is also the classification's defending 200 champion.

Burgess, however, won this season's lone head-to-head 100 matchup, at the 26th annual Pennsylvania Track Classic.

Powering out of the blocks, Burgess led from the start. Despite running into a headwind, she posted her personal-best time of 12.10. Johnson was a distant second at 12.38.

"What you see this year is the result of her getting her butt kicked in the ninth- and 10th-grade year," Gratz coach Bob Massie said of Burgess. "Yeah, she has made the state finals in each of the last two years. But she has worked harder this year."

As a result, she reminds fans of her parents, especially Bates.

"That doesn't bother me," Burgess said. "People know that's she my mom.

"And she helps me a lot, especially with my injury. It's good to have a champion in the family."