Asinga Runs 6.57/20.64 Double In Prelims; Hodge Lowers 200 Meters Record To 22.77
By David Woods for DyeStat
BOSTON – Before the first round of the 60 meters, Issam Asinga saw Casey Combest in the stands of The TRACK at New Balance, and they high-fived. Perhaps there was a ballistic transfer.
Because soon thereafter, Asinga tied Combest’s 24-year-old national high school record for 60 meters Saturday. Asinga, of Montverde Academy FL, clocked 6.57 to match the mark by Combest, of Owensboro KY.
Combest was at the New Balance indoor nationals to watch his son, King, finish second in the freshman 60 meters. But Combest sensed his long-standing record would be challenged by Asinga.
“I told him to ‘go get it,’ “ Combest said. “I’m pretty proud of that record. I put a lot of time in on it. I’m glad he tied it. But I always knew someone was going to get it eventually.
“I want my son to get it, you know. Asinga gets it, and my son comes back and gets his.”
Asinga said it was “really cool” to see in person someone whose name he had seen only on paper.
“He gave me some Combest energy,” Asinga said.
The 18-year-old sprinter was not done for the day, nor done for this meet. Nor was a Montverde sprint corps that could carry speed into the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a dazzling display, Asinga nearly set a second national record in the fastest one-day indoor sprint double in high school history. He clocked 20.64 in prelims of the 200, just .02 off the record and equal No. 3 all-time.
Jaylen Slade of IMG Academy FL clocked 20.62 in 2021, Noah Lyles of TC Williams VA 20.63 in 2016 and Jordan Anthony of Tylertown MS ran 20.64 in 2022.
The 200 record did go down on the girls side. Adaejah Hodge, also of Montverde, clocked 22.77 in prelims to break the Feb. 11 record of 22.89 set by Mia Brahe-Pederson of Lake Oswego OR.
Hodge clocked 7.27 in the first round of the 60, or .01 behind national record-holder Shawnti Jackson of South Granville NC.
On Sunday, Asinga has semifinals and final of the 60, plus finals of the 200 and 4×400 relay.
“A great day, but I can’t get caught up in it,” he said. “I have to move on and keep focus on the next day. After tomorrow, it’s celebration then.”
Nature and nurture are fueling Asinga’s rise. He has committed to Texas A&M.
His mother is Ngozi Mwanamwambwa Asinga, a sprinter representing Zambia at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. His father is Tommy Asinga, who represented…
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