What is speed? Lightning McQueen would call himself the literal word “speed” for his infamous cartoon racing abilities. However, for Malden High, there’s a new sprinter who can claim the title, one with such shocking times—bringing the word from cartoons into real life. And, she’s only a freshman.
Meet Khadijah Diagne, the number 1-ranked 300-meter sprinter (38.25 sec) in the state, placing her 16th nationally. As well as holding the record for Malden High, in not just the 300, but the 55-meter dash as well (7.08 sec).
Diagne has always known she was fast. It’s not just the simple, recess-speed, but the true step-for-step speed where the opponent is simply left behind. At the Division 2 MIAA state championship, she ran a staggering 3.31 seconds faster than the second place finisher, who was a senior.
Malden High’s Senior Captain Yunus Yousfi said Diagne has “the talent of a professional sprinter,” noting that since the start of the season, everyone could tell she was “different.”
Diagne is no stranger to athletics; she was a soccer player her whole life, and it was not until her mother pushed her to try track that she finally realized her full potential. “My mom heavily influenced me, as she ran herself,” Diagne claimed.
Her adaptability and leadership are what stand out the most. Her willingness to try something new and expand her array of talents is what makes her such a strong athlete. “She has a great work ethic, and she adapted quickly to the track team,” Yousfi added.
“I want people to always try out something new because you never really know how great you could be,” Diagne proclaimed.
Adaptation is what got her this far and is what will continue to take her further into the future, aiming to make her an even better athlete.
For the upcoming outdoors season, her training has only intensified. In addition to Malden Track, Diagne also runs for the ‘Metro-Cobras Track Club’, which has enabled her to “work on various aspects of racing that wouldn’t be possible by just working in Malden.”
Her goals for this outdoor season are to “claim the school record in the 100, 200, and 400 meters, to make States, and Nationals.”
As for the far future, it’s very bright. With being so highly ranked, offers from colleges will eventually start to roll in. “I’m hoping to get a scholarship to college with track and in the future eventually go professional,” Diagne shared.
“As a teammate, I am happy for her growth and am excited to see where she ends up,” Yousfi concluded.
The entirety of Malden is backing up this generational talent, hoping to see her go far. It’s only a matter of time until her name is a national headline.
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