Washington follows Gardner's example

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

 
EUGENE, Ore. -- Ariana Washington took a hard look at the career path of English Gardner before choosing to accept at scholarship to the University of Oregon.

 
Washington, from tradition-rich Long Beach Poly CA, said that Gardner's development from US#10 11.56 (2010) as a New Jersey prep to 2013 NCAA champion for Oregon appealed to her.

"(Gardner) is one of the reasons I chose Oregon," Washington said. "To watch her transform from where she was her last year in high school, and coming back from being hurt (as a high school junior), to NCAA champion, it showed that you can only go up."

Gardner, from Eastern Regional HS in New Jersey, was a transformational figure in the rise of Oregon women's sprinting to a true national power. She turned pro after her NCAA title as a junior and moved to Los Angeles to train with coach John Smith. 

Gardner went to the Arcadia Invitational this spring to meet Washington in person. 

"She came to Arcadia and asked to meet me," Washington said. "I was like 'She wants to meet me?' She sat down and talked to me and gave me her number and said to call her if I ever needed to talk."

By then, Washington had already signed her letter-of-intent.

Washington will come to Oregon as the most decorated sprint recruit in school history. She swept the 100 and 200 three years in a row at the CIF Finals and her six individual titles are the most in California history. Her 11.22/22.96 PRs, plus valuable Team USA and Penn Relays experiences, made her the top sprint prospect in the class of 2014.

Washington's predecessor as CIF sprint champion, Jenna Prandini, will be her teammate at Oregon. Prandini, of Clovis, won the 100 and 200 at CIF finals in 2011. 

Washington has been dealing with pain in her lower jaw caused by a wisdom tooth that needs to be pulled. She finished seventh in Wednesday's 100-meter dash final and will do her part on the 4x100 relay before flying home to have the tooth pulled.