New Westminster’s Raquel Tjernagel is quickly becoming the fastest high schooler on the continent.
The Grade 12 New Westminster Secondary School student ran the quickest high school times so far this year at the Bryan Clay Invitational track and field meet in Azusa, California a week ago.
Tjernagel, who helped New West claim its first-ever B.C. high school track banner last year, surprised the track and field world at the invitational meet, placing second in the women’s 400 metres to two-time Olympian and South American champion Geisa Coutinho of Brazil in a very fast time of 52.26 seconds.
Tjernagel’s time bettered her previous best by 2.25 seconds and was the fastest time in the world this season for an under-20 female athlete and the quickest high school time in North America.
Later in the day, Tjernagel proved she is equally as quick at 200m, running the fastest time by a Canadian teen, placing third in the women’s open and posting a 23.34 time.
Last season, Tjernagel represented Canada at the World junior championships in Eugene, Oregon, and made it all the way to the semifinals before placing 12th in the world in a new B.C. youth record time of 23.75.
The Coquitlam Cheetah runner will face her district rival Zion Corrales-Nelson of St. Thomas More Collegiate in the sprints at the upcoming B.C. high school championships.
Burnaby’s Corrales-Nelson ran in her first track meet of the season at the Oregon Relays, where she swept gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m races.
The STM runner also took part at last summer’s world juniors, participating for the Philippines.
