By Chris Lotsbom

High school standouts Kadecia Baird, Emily Savage, and Taylor Williams extended their stellar high school seasons with wins at the USA Club National Championships here in New York City. At iconic Icahn Stadium --home to the adidas Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meeting-- all three won their respective events: the 400m, pole vault, and 100m. 

Baird, the 2012 IAAF World Junior silver medalist at 400m, ran 53.28 in the preliminary round on Saturday, qualifying for Sunday's final. In the final, she took the victory over former University of Washington standout Jordan Carlson by more than a half second. Though her time of 53.83 wasn't as fast as the prelims, the 18-year-old Baird was still pleased.

"I wanted to come out and run fast," said Baird. "It was unfortunate that I couldn't do it, but I'm going to take the time in the wind."

Though she had qualified for the 200m final on Sunday as well, Baird decided not to take part in the final due to the lactic acid built up in her legs. The high humidity and hot temperatures (roughly 85F) made for a tough day to sprint in.

"I'm a little more exhausted than I was yesterday," said Baird, noting that the wind on the backstretch made it especially tough on Sunday. In Saturday's prelim, Baird ran 23.80 for 200m, the only athlete to break 24 seconds.

On Saturday, Savage won the women's pole vault in a field of nine women. Not entering the competition until late, Savage went on to clear 3.65 meters (11 feet, 11.7 inches), good enough for the victory over Kylee Gleason. 

The University of Oklahoma-bound Savage has had a stellar senior season, winning titles at Penn Relays, New Balance Nationals Outdoor, and now the USA National Club Championships. 

"I'm still on cloud nine," she said. "It's been a great track year.

As for USA Club Nationals, Savage took a casual approach.

"This whole week was relaxed," said Savage. "Today was really a practice meet, but I wanted to get up to 13 [feet] but it just wasn't my day." 

The only problem for Savage came in her final attempt, when a bug flew into her eye.
"It was my last couple steps right before you jump up and I see this little black thing coming at my eye and bam!" she said with a chuckle. Closing her eyes then opening them back up, Savage found herself laying in the pit, having run through her last attempt. "I was like 'no!' I didn't get my jump in. I think it was a little fly that got me." 

Taylor Williams was the surprise 100m champion, running 11.60 to win over the likes of Central Park Track Club's Melissa Caddle and Sharay Hale. The Pennsylvania native who finished sixth at New Balance Nationals Outdoor was ecstatic about her title, capping off a very productive season.

"I got out really well," said a smiling Williams. "Going in I was seeded fourth, so it's a big surprise to win."

Williams said the win motivates her for her forthcoming senior year of high school.

"Definitely," she said. Asked what her ideal times or places would be, she responded with: "high school national champion would be really nice, junior Olympics national champion would be really nice, too."