Sanya Richards, St. Thomas Aquinas, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Sanya Richards is one of the few athletes to hold both the National High School Record and senior American Record in one event, her signature race - the 400 meters. Richards (now Richards-Ross) starred in five events as a prep - the 100m, 200m, 400m, high jump and long jump. But her 50.69 400m record foreshadowed her later quarter mile prowess as she went on to set the American record of 48.7. Richards, the 2002 Gatorade Track & Field Female Athlete of the Year, is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time IAAF World Championship gold medalist. She trains in Austin, Texas and competes for Nike.