According to NRK Sport, Melanie Doggett, a 14-year-old sprinter, ran 100 meters in 11.01 seconds at a meet in the USA on Saturday, but the wind was not measured. Her time is faster than the Norwegian record of 11.10 seconds held by Ezinne Okparaebo.
NRK Sport notes that if Doggett’s time had been registered at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, she would have placed sixth in the final. Her 11.01 seconds would also have been quick enough to advance from the semifinals, eclipsing the 11.02 run by Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith. However, because the wind was not measured, the time cannot be considered for official records, making these comparisons entirely hypothetical. NRK Sport also provides context: the current world record stands at 10.49 seconds, set by Florence Griffith-Joyner at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials.
It is enormously good. It is a sprinter at international top level at the age of 14. So it is simply fascinating and fun to witness.
NRK Sport reports that Doggett has also clocked 22.80 seconds in the 200 meters. Vebjørn Rodal, the 1996 Olympic 800m champion, told NRK Sport that the performance was exceptionally strong and remarkable, describing it as the level of an international top sprinter at just 14 years old. Ezinne Okparaebo, whose Norwegian record was surpassed, remarked that the time was outstanding irrespective of the wind reading. Former Norwegian sprinter John Ertzgaard, who competed at the highest level in the 1980s and 1990s, told NRK Sport that such a result is a rare occurrence, likely due to exceptional genetics, and noted that Doggett’s 200-meter time mirrors that of a Diamond League athlete.
John Ertzgaard also warned NRK Sport that building high expectations can lead to burnout, and many promising talents have dropped out after being burdened with too much pressure. He urged those around Doggett, including parents and coaches, to hold back, emphasizing that she is still a child who should enjoy normal activities like weekend trips with her school team. It remains unclear whether Doggett’s time will receive official recognition given the absence of wind measurement. No public information is available about her training background or how her mark compares to age-group world bests; her coaching, training schedule, and previous competition results are all unknown.
I see that she has also run 22.80 on 200 meters, so these are adult times. She has times like a Diamond League athlete. Like the best in the world. She has a bright future ahead.
When you are 14 years old and run these times, you start thinking that this could easily be an Olympic champion in 2032. Shoe brands and agents are on immediately.
But there are many who have dropped out because expectations became too great. So those around her, parents and coaches, they must hold back now.
The danger is simply that you go too early with optimization. She is actually still a child. She must be allowed to go on these weekend trips with the school team and still have fun. So I think that is part of the development, which is very important.
This is a rare commodity. For she is very young and hasn't had time to train very much. She is not old enough to be in the Olympics, but runs times that could almost have taken her to the final.