Thelma Davies Picks LSU


The best sprinter in Pennsylvania history and MileSplit's No. 3 recruit of the Class of 2019 has made a college decision.

Thelma Davies chose Louisiana State University (LSU) in a video presentation on the campus of Girard College in Philadelphia Thursday evening. Davies also considered USC, Arkansas, Miami, and Texas before decided on LSU. She said she made her decision two weeks ago.

When she first broke onto the track and field scene as a freshman, her coach Diamond Woolford made her watch some videos of some top sprinters.

"The first team I saw was LSU and I've been hooked ever since," Davies said after the announcement was made public.

Coaching, she said, was the No. 1 aspect that put LSU over the top. Dennis Shaver has been the head coach of the Tigers since 2004. Assistant coach Tamara Ards is the primary sprints coach in Baton Rouge.

"I just know that Coach Shaver and the whole coaching staff will help me get to the next level," she said. "I just felt like a belonged there more than any other school."

Davies will join a storied LSU sprint program that has produced a number of Olympic-caliber athletes over the years. Last spring, the Aleia Hobbs ran to the NCAA national title in the 100 meters. The Tigers' 4x100-meter relay also went 42.25 to win the NCAA championship this past season.

Rated the No. 3 overall girls' recruit by MileSplit, Davies believes she has plenty of room to improve as a sprinter in her final high school year and at the collegiate level. She only started running track competitively her freshman year of high school.

"I have a lot of room to grow -- my start, my drive phase, my finish -- everything needs to be polished," Davies said. "Personally, I feel as though Coach Shaver can help me."

In Davies' first three seasons, the senior quickly rose to the top of Pennsylvania's all-time lists in a number of events. Davies has already broken the Pennsylvania state record in the indoor 55 meters (6.77) and indoor 60 meters (7.33). Outdoors, she holds all-time state records in the 100 meters (11.42) and 200 meters (23.10). 

In total, Davies has won 11 state titles (5 indoors, 6 outdoors). She became just the third athlete in state history to win PIAA state championships in two events for three straight years. This past summer, Davies was fifth in the 100 meters at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships.

Looking ahead to the coming indoor season, Davies is the nation's No. 3 returner in both the 60 meters and 200 meters. She is the nation's No. 4 returner in the 100 and 200 meters outdoors. Davies said she plans to open up her indoor season at the Armory in New York with the Hispanic Games.