Stanford-bound dual sport star Isaiah Brandt-Sims makes best of brief indoor season w/ US #1 in 200

His 2013-2014 indoor season was only limited to three meets in January, but Isaiah Brandt-Sims only need three tries to end his winter season of racing and prepare for his final outdoor season at Wenatchee High School in Washington to own the nation's fastest time in the 200 meter dash indoors with a 21.47 clocking against collegiate competition at the University of Washington Invitational on January 31st. A dual sport athlete who has signed a scholarship to compete next year in both football and track at Stanford University, Brandt-Sims is setup this spring to achieve a rare feat in becoming a four-time Washington state champion in the 100 and 200 meter dash in their largest classification of 4A. Despite having national caliber personal bests of 6.64 in the 60 meter dash, 10.54 in the 100 meter dash, and 21.24, Brandt-Sims has rarely ventured out of his homestate to face national level competition. One of the biggest meets that he has competed in to date is when the Brooks Running Company brought in some of the nation's fastest sprinters to him at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle last winter. Brandt-Sims does plan on traveling to face many of California's best at the Arcadia Invitational before making the final drive for a 4-peat in the sprints as a state champion in the state of Washington. Shutting down his indoor season early to rest up a minor foot injury, Brandt-Sims sits down with MileSplit US to discuss his final outdoor track season ahead before he heads off Stanford in the fall to play football and run track. 

 

Race Video of Isaiah Brandt-Sims clocking a US #1 21.47 200 at UW Invite (from Flotrack)

 

 

 

MileSplit US interview with Wenatchee HS (WA) senior Isaiah Brandt-Sims (US #1 ranked in boys 200 indoors - 21.47)

MileSplit US: How did you first get involved with track & field?
 
Isaiah Brandt-Sims: I started running track when I was 9 years old. I began in Hersey's Track league. 
 
MileSplit US: A two sport star in track & field and football. What does each sport provide to you be better athlete in the other?
 
Brandt-Sims: I think track helps me a lot to stay in shape when I'm not in football and it also helps my speed. Football helps me with track because it helps me stay quick on my feet for my starts. 
 
 
MileSplit US: You have competed for the most part locally in the state of Washington and not ventured out of the state despite posting national caliber times, so what was a meet like the Brooks PR meet been like for you in getting a chance to face some of the nation's best beyond your state?
 
Brandt-Sims: The Brooks Invite was a great experience. I got to race the fastest people in the country, only the best competition. 
 
MileSplit US: Impressive early start to your season including running a US #1 time in the 200 meter dash at the University of Washington last week. How does it feel to be the US leader in an event and how have you felt with you start to your senior year of track?
 
Brandt-Sims: It feels amazing that I ran such a fast time at the beginning if the season. I think this year is going to be a great year. 
 
MileSplit US: Right off the bat as a freshmen, you won state titles in Washington in the 100 and 200 in 4A. If you win this year, you would make history in becoming a 4-time state champ in both events. What would that historical achievement mean to you if you were able to accomplish that feat in the spring?
 
Brandt-Sims: Accomplishing winning the 100 and 200 four years in a row would be amazing! I would be so happy and excited that I did it!
 
MileSplit US: Over the course of high school, you certainly have bulked up and gotten stronger for football as well as for track. How has the added strength and muscle helped you on the track?
 
Brandt-Sims: Getting bulkier and bigger has helped me in track because I am stronger and I have better endurance each year.
 
 
MileSplit US: Who are your coaches and what impact have they had on you?
 
Brandt-Sims: My sprint coach is Carl Haberberger and he has always pushed me in track. Each year challenging me to do my best. I also train with another coach, Colan Sewell with Sewell Institute of Speed out if Seattle. He has also pushed me a lot and I have learned a lot from his program. 
 
MileSplit US: Do you have any goal times that you would like to run in the sprints before you graduate?
 
Brandt-Sims: This season I am hoping to run under 10.3 in the 100 and under 21.1 in the 200. I hope to break the state records in both events.
 
MileSplit US: I'm sure you saw Levante Whitfield, last year's Brooks PR Invite 60 dash winner, run back that kick for a TD for Florida State University in the national championship game showcasing his track speed. Do you have dreams of yourself having a big explosive play like that for Stanford on the football field using your speed?
 
Brandt-Sims: At Stanford, I dream of being very explosive and I hope to make a big play being a wide receiver catching a game winning touchdown.
 
MileSplit US: Will you be competing in both football and track in college or will you be hanging up the track spikes at the end of the track season? Do you feel that your track times helped gain you more attention in the recruiting process?
 
 
Brandt-Sims: I will be competing in both sports in college. I think they have helped a lot in the recruiting process to get more attention early on. 
 
MileSplit US: What level of inspiration and influence has your mom been had on you being a single mom and becoming a lawyer as an example to push you to reach your potential in athletics and academics?
 
Brandt-Sims: My mom has been a big influence on me and has pushed me to always do my best. She always has made sure I got good grades in school and stayed out of trouble. 
 
MileSplit US: What are the meets left on your indoor schedule and what are some of the meets that you are looking forward to competing in the most this outdoor season?
 
Brandt-Sims: For the indoor schedule, I think I am done until outdoor season. I have a little foot injury that's been bugging me the last 2 weeks so I plan to take time off and rest. I really look forward to the Pasco Invite and also going to the Arcadia Invitational. 
 
 
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