Malden High’s Khadijah Diagne named National All-American runner; won THREE State Championships!

Selected as Freshman All-American; first-ever in city of Malden, school history

By Steve Freker

When a young athlete achieves noteworthy success at a young age, the common refrain is “The Sky’s the Limit.” That might be too low for Malden High School Class of 2029 rising sophomore Khadijah Diagne! Following a fabulous Spring Outdoor Track Season, where she set three school records and won an unprecedented three State Championships in MIAA Division 2 competition, the Golden Tornado track superstar continues to even greater heights. All this, and she has only completed her freshman year of high school.

At the recent Penn New Balance Outdoor Nationals, held at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania, Diagne’s accomplishments — unprecedented for a Malden High runner — led to her attaining New Balance Freshman All-American status in two events. Diagne represented her club team, the MetroCobras of Boston, at the Nationals. At the Nationals, the top six finishers in all events attain All-American status.

Diagne raced to a third-place finish in the 200 meter in the New Balance Freshman National race at 24.25 seconds. For her third-place finish, she was awarded Freshman All-American status. For Diagne, the 24.25 finish was close to her personal best, which was a 24.02 finish at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Meet of Champions.

In the Freshman National race at Penn, Paison Sanders of St. James Academy, Springfield, Va., was the winner at 23.98 seconds. Jasmine Silkert of Flying Falcons Elite (Jacksonville, Fla.) was second (24.11 seconds).

Diagne also was named All-American for her sixth-place finish in the 100 meter Freshman final, where she ran an 11.97 seconds race. Sanders (11.62 seconds) and Silkert (11.63) were neck-and-neck finishers at 1-2 in that event as well.

Malden’s Diagne would have had an even more remarkable day, just missing attaining All-American status in THREE events when she finished eighth in the 400 meter Freshman National race, where she ran at 55.62 seconds. That event was won by Mya Arrendell of Bullis Track Club, Potomac, Md., at 52.88 seconds.

In the 100 meter, it was a remarkable finish for Diagne in that it was another personal best, and the first time she has ever broken the 12.00 seconds mark. She had won the MIAA Division 2 State Championship in the 100-meter with a time of 12.29 seconds in May. Diagne’s triumphant MIAA State Championship run in May was a revelation, as she won state titles three times: in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter events.

In the 200 meter, she was MIAA Division 2 State Champion with a 24.59 seconds victory. She also was second overall in Massachusetts with a 24.02 seconds finish on June 4 at the Meet of Champions (All Divisions). Diagne was also MIAA Division 2 State Champion in the 400 meter event with a 56.04 seconds finish. With a personal best 54.96 seconds finish in the Meet of Champions on June 6, she placed second.

Diagne’s accolades from the regular season for participation for Malden High School in the Greater Boston League (GBL) included being named Most Valuable Player in the GBL for her running exploits, where she established school records in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter. Diagne was also named to the Eastern Mass. All-Scholastic Outdoor Track Team by both The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald, the first Malden High School student-athlete ever to be so honored.

“It has been just remarkable how much success Khadijah [Diagne] has attained and how much honor she has brought to our school, our city and her family,” said Malden Public Schools Athletic Director Charlie Conefrey. “She certainly has a bright future ahead of her.”