2000 HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR--MONIQUE HENDERSON

by Kirk Reynolds

A smiling, elated Monique Henderson can't believe her mindset of a few months ago-can't believe she ever considered not running at the Olympic Trials. The High School Athlete Of The Year now revels in her Year 2000 storybook season just concluding in Sydney.
"I really feel dumb that I always thought that I didn't want to go to the Trials," explains the 17-year-old San Diegan. "I could have missed out on an opportunity like this. I'm really happy I didn't now."

Henderson roared through a high school schedule that culminated in her 50.74-both a High School and American Junior Record-at the California State meet in June. The 400 star next clocked 51.78 at the Pre Classic, then advanced through heats and semis as a crowd favorite in Sacramento before taking 8th in the OT final at 51.79. That placing, along with her season's best time, earned her a spot in the Olympic relay pool.

"Being in high school, I gear up for the State meet," explains Henderson. "And that's a big meet for me, so I didn't know if I'd be able to go to the Trials. We weren't looking at it as a goal for the season. I just figured, 'The next four years I'll be faster and I can do better.' The main reason was to wait until I was in college when I'd be gearing up for [future] Trials."

Gail Devers had spoken to Henderson in February, encouraging the prep star to compete in Sacramento-if only for the experience. Henderson wants to seek out the Olympic veteran in Australia:

"When I see her, I'm going to tell her thank you because I would have missed out on going to the Olympics this year. And that's something that I definitely didn't want to miss out on now that I get a chance to go."

Henderson only got to watch older, more experienced U.S. runners take the baton at the Olympics. U.S. coach Karen Dennis nicknamed Henderson "Baby," and other relay members have picked up on it. Henderson doesn't mind.

"It's all good," Henderson laughs. "It's also kind of neat. Yeah, they do call me that, but I ran the time to get on the team. I'm not quite 18 yet, so I can't sign my own papers and stuff. I don't really mind. Just as long as they don't treat me like a baby!"

After her trip Down Under, Henderson returned for her senior year of high school. In the Morse HS hallways, she's the one sporting the U.S. Olympic team gear.

"Oh, god! I will be wearing something from the Olympics every day!" promises Henderson. "All my teachers have been really nice. They've given me a lot of work right now, because I'm going to miss a month of school. So I have all my homework and all my books. As long as I have it done…"

Henderson will take a much-deserved break from training following the Olympics, then will resume training in the winter. She says she did reach a tough time in late August when she was being hounded by college recruiters, media and the time demands of a long season: "It was taking its toll. I was getting kind of tired. But it's such a big thing to go to the Olympics and get the whole Olympic experience. I got my energy back up to go train."

Already a 3-time California champ, Henderson says, "I'll do track again and of course try and win the State meet again next year. That'll be my goal. I want to run faster than 50.7, which might be a little bit hard just because the day I ran that, I was feeling just perfect that day. And it's not every day or every week you feel that way."

Since 7th grade, Henderson's 400 times have dropped methodically. She has recorded annual PR lowerings of 54.79, 53.83, 52.93, 51.96, and now 50.74. Can Henderson imagine future times?

"I've got to stop somewhere-once you get into the 40s!" says Henderson, who also owns a nifty 23.19 PR in the 200. "I think the next 4 or 5 years it's not going to be dropping a second every season. It's going to be dropping half a second or something."
Months ago, Henderson never expected to reach this level. Now she can't wait to better it.

"I plan on running good times in college, and when I get out to keep on running and try and make more Olympic teams. Maybe three or four if I can. That would be a nice goal: to make more than three Olympic teams."

Women's AOY Voting
The list of women who have racked up perfect scores in AOY voting now numbers three as Monique Henderson joins another pair of SoCal sprinters: the legendary Marion Jones (who did it twice) and Angela Williams.
Multitalented Sheena Johnson was almost as unanimous as a runner-up choice.
This year's 18 vote-getters:

1. Monique Henderson (Morse, San Diego, Calif), sprints-- 210
2. Sheena Johnson (Gar-Field, Woodbridge, Va), hurdles/jumps-- 177
3. Nichole Denby (North, Riverside, Calif), hurdles-- 155
4. Laura Gerraughty (Nashua, NH), shot-- 109
5. Briona Reynolds (Red River, Grand Forks, ND), discus-- 103
6. Khalilah Carpenter (Brookhaven, Columbus, Oh), sprints-- 97
7. Lashinda Demus (Wilson, Long Beach, Calif), hurdles-- 94
8. Ychlindria Spears (Luling, Tex), long jump/triple jump-- 56
9. Muna Lee (Central, Kansas City, Mo), sprints-- 55
10. Kendra Wecker (Marysville, Kan), javelin-- 32
11. Kate Johnston (Veterans, Warwick, RI) 18; 12. Alicia Craig (Campbell County, Gillette, Wyo) 15; 13. Amy Linnen (Mount Sinai, NY) 12; 14. Katy Polansky (South, Eugene, Ore) 10; 15. Anita Siraki (Hoover, Glendale, Calif) 6; 16. Stacie Manuel (Willmar, Minn) 3; 17. Christina Estrict (Collinwood, Cleveland, Oh) 2; 18. Cassy Richards (Winchester-Thurston, Pittsburgh, Pa) 1.