Thelma Davies is posting record-setting times on the track
The Girard College sophomore aims to qualify for the 2020 Olympics
Girard College sophomore Thelma Davies is quickly climbing the charts as one of the best high school sprinters in the country.
It's a promising career that nearly never took flight.
"My sixth-grade teacher invited me to come out and run with the indoor track and field team," the 16-year-old said. "The first day, I wanted to quit. But I told myself, 'I'm not a quitter.' "
Davies, who has been at Girard since second grade, made a huge splash when she won a pair of gold medals at the PIAA track and field championships last spring at Shippensburg University.
With a clocking of 11.59 seconds in the Class 2A 100-meter dash, she bested the state record (11.78) set in 2001 by Rochester's Lauryn Williams, who went on to be an Olympian.
The Darby resident and erstwhile soccer player also won the 200 in 23.85 seconds, tying Williams' record.
A week earlier, Davies impressed by placing first and setting meet records in the Class 2A 100 (11.82) and 200 (23.98) at the District 1 championships at Coatesville.
Davies' interest in running was fostered by her first Girard coach, the late Rick Leek. A teacher at the school from 1988 to 2014, he was known to almost everyone at the 168-year-old independent high school at 2101 S. College Ave.
"He was the first person who told me I had potential in the sport," Davies said. "That meant a lot to me. He's still an inspiration."
Taking the baton from Leek, Diamond Woolford now oversees the small Girard program, which has about five girls and 11 boys, and he regulaly trains Davies.
Woolford, 36, was a state indoor and outdoor long-jump champion for Girard in 1999. He went on to be a long-jumper and sprinter at Penn State.
He first saw Davies run when she was an eighth grader. "I said to myself, 'Wow, this girl definitely has the talent and potential to do big things.' "
Davies received an invitation to compete in the prestigious NYRR Millrose Games at the Armory in New York in February. She placed first in the 55-meter dash with an eye-popping mark of 6.82 seconds.
Setting a personal record in the event, the 5-foot-4 phenom held off Daija Lampkin, of Middletown (Del.) High. The touted senior, who was runner-up in 6.88, is bound for Alabama.
"The Millrose Games were new to me," Davies said. "The level of competition was very high. But when I got in the blocks, I knew I could put up a pretty good time."
Friday afternoon, at the ninth annual Jack Armstrong Invitational at Abington, Davies took first in the 100 in 12.02 seconds. Cheltenham's Ciani Fleming (12.69) and Central's Lauryn James (12.72) were next in line.
"It's a long outdoor season, so we're taking things slow at this point," Woolford said. "If she was hitting on all cylinders, she would have had a faster time."
With Davies as the anchor, Girard took fourth in the 4x100 relay in 51.94 seconds. The Cavaliers, with two novices among the group, are hoping to make the cut for next year's Penn Relays.
"I'm excited that we're doing the 4x100 relay," Davies said. "I want to encourage other girls to run with me. If I can help girls like Diamond [Woolford] has helped me, I'll gladly do it."
One of Davies' goals is to compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. She was thrilled to meet three-time Olympic medalist Carmelita Jeter at the 2016 Penn Relays.
"That was a real blessing," Davies said. "She told me to continue to train hard and follow my dreams. That's what I'm going to do."
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