News

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championships are scheduled for Thursday, June 15 to Sunday, June 18 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

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Here are 10 storylines to follow at the prestigious meet, which is being showcased in Pennsylvania for the second year in a row:

More Montverde magic

Since most of the spring season for Montverde Academy sprinters Issam Asinga and Adaejah Hodge has been highlighted by competition against professional and collegiate athletes, the talented tandem will have opportunities to remind their prep peers of their speed and strength in the 100- and 200-meter events at Franklin Field.

Asinga won both the boys 60-meter dash title and 200-meter crown in March, with Hodge capturing the girls 200 championship at New Balance Nationals Indoor at the exciting new facility at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston.

Now, the elite Florida program will get to showcase its best athletes – including Zyaire Nuriddin and Micayah Holland – at one of the most historic track and field venues in the world, including relay opportunities in the 4×200, 4×400 and 1,000-meter sprint medley championships.

Asinga, 18, won the 100 and 200 on June 10 at the Star Athletics Sprint Series at Montverde Academy, running a wind-aided 9.83 seconds and a wind-legal 20.20 effort.

Asinga, a Texas A&M commit, now boasts the three fastest all-conditions performances in U.S. prep history by running wind-aided marks of 9.83, 9.86 and 9.89, but his best wind-legal effort remains 10.10 from April 1 at the Pepsi Florida Relays.

The World Under-20 all-conditions fastest all-time 100 performance was established in 2014 by American athlete Trayvon Bromell, who produced a wind-aided 9.77 effort.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo set the World U20 record last year with a wind-legal 9.91 performance.

Asinga, who set the national high school 200 record by clocking a wind-legal 19.97 at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout April 29 in Lubbock, Texas, has his sights set on becoming only the second World U20 athlete to run under 19.90. Erriyon Knighton, a 19-year-old American, boasts the World U20 all-time mark of 19.49, but Asinga is only the fifth U20 competitor in history to eclipse the 20-second barrier.

Hodge ran a wind-aided 11.08 and a wind-legal 22.60 at the Star Athletics Sprint Series in preparation for New Balance Nationals.

Hodge, 17, is ranked No. 7 all-time among prep athletes in both the 100 and 200 with wind-legal marks of 11.11 and 22.60.

She ran the No. 2 all-conditions performance in U.S. prep history with a wind-aided 22.31 mark at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout. Hodge also clocked the national high school indoor 200 record in Boston with her 22.33 effort.

Jackson embracing all challengers

With another impressive victory in the 100-meter dash Wednesday at the Brooks PR Invitational in Washington, national high school record holder Shawnti Jackson of South Granville High in North Carolina will shift focus to her next opportunities to challenge the respective U.S. prep leaders in the 200 and 400 in Philadelphia.

Jackson, an Arkansas commit who prevailed at Brooks PR by an 11.00 to 11.09 margin against junior Mia Brahe-Pedersen of Lake Oswego High in Oregon, is scheduled to potentially compete against Montverde Academy’s Adaejah Hodge in the 200 meters and Lauren Lewis of Prosper High in Texas in the 400.

Jackson, also the national high school indoor record holder in both the 60-meter dash (7.16) and the 300 meters (36.63), is ranked No. 9 all-time in the outdoor 200 at 22.70 and No. 25 in U.S. prep history in the 400 with a 52.13 effort.

Lewis equaled the No. 7 all-time prep competitor with her 51.17 performance June 3 at the Great Southwest Classic.

The 200 is scheduled to run prelims and finals, with the 400 being structured as a timed final format, which is ahead of the 200 qualifying race Saturday. The 200 final is scheduled for Sunday.

Jackson, 18, who ran a wind-legal 10.89 on June 3 at the Music City Track Carnival in Nashville, Tenn., to equal the age 18 world all-time best in the 100, also swept the Class 2A 100, 200 and 400 titles May 19-20 at the North Carolina state championships.

Renewing relay acquaintances

The last time Cuthbertson High from North Carolina, competing as the Carolina Cavaliers, squared off against Union Catholic of New Jersey in the girls 4×800-meter relay at New Balance Nationals Indoor, the classic showdown produced the two fastest performances in U.S. high school indoor history.

Cuthbertson’s Charlotte Bell, Stella Kermes, Alyssa Preisano and Justine Preisano edged Union Catholic by an 8:48.02 to 8:48.86 margin in Boston, with the rematch scheduled for Friday in a race that is also expected to include Purple Track Club, representing Ann Arbor Pioneer High in Michigan.

Union Catholic’s Maameyaa Nyinah, Jimmiea King, Kaleigh Gunsiorowski and Peyton Hollis elevated to the No. 2 all-time outdoor 4×800 quartet with its 8:44.98 effort to win the Championship of America title April 29 at the Penn Relays at Franklin Field.

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Cuthbertson ran 8:48.48 on March 1 in its season opener, making the Cavaliers the No. 7 all-time outdoor program. They have been patiently waiting since Boston for another matchup with Union Catholic, with both teams targeting the 2008 national high school record of 8:43.12 by Roosevelt High from Maryland.

The girls 4×800 is one of many intriguing relay matchups, including the girls 4xMile on Thursday, which is also scheduled to include the Carolina Cavaliers and Purple Track Club, as well as the girls distance medley relay Sunday, with Kinetic Track Club – representing Saratoga Springs High in New York – matching up against Purple Track Club and IMG Academy from Florida.

Northville High in Michigan, competing as Six Mile Track Club, headlines the boys 4×800 relay as the national leaders Friday, with fellow Michigan program Adrian, as well as Carmel High of Indiana also scheduled to compete.

Northville elevated to the No. 17 program in U.S. prep history with its 7:35.32 performance June 3 at the Michigan Division 1 state final.

Wilson looking to make another bold statement for Bullis

Although freshman Quincy Wilson of Bullis School in Maryland might be the youngest competitor in a loaded boys 400-meter field, he already has plenty of experience at Franklin Field, in addition to being the reigning New Balance Nationals Indoor champion with the top mark of the winter schedule at 46.67.

Wilson, who competed at the Penn Relays, returns to Philadelphia not only looking to contribute to strong relay performances for Bullis, but also to challenge himself against national prep outdoor leader Tavon Underwood of Mead High in Colorado and his state record 45.36 effort.

Underwood prevailed Wednesday at the Brooks PR Invitational in Washington in 45.78 and looks to build off that momentum against Wilson, Xai Ricks of Long Beach Poly High in California, along with Florida athletes Zyaire Nuriddin of Montverde Academy and Micahi Danzy of Florida State University High.

Bullis is entered in the boys 4×100 and 4×400, the latter in a potential showdown with Seton Hall Track Club of New Jersey, featuring athletes from Seton Hall Prep, as well as the Carolina Cavaliers, representing Cuthbertson High in North Carolina.

The Bulldogs are also scheduled to race in the girls 4×100, 4×200, 4×400, 4×100 shuttle hurdles, 800 sprint medley, 1,000 sprint medley and 1,600 sprint medley relays.

The showdown involving Bullis and Montverde Academy in the girls 4×400 is expected to be one of the most anticipated matchups of the meet. Both teams have run sub-3:40 this season.

Bullis ranks as the No. 4 all-time prep girls program at 3:36.25, with Montverde Academy ranked No. 7 at 3:37.28, both targeting the 2004 national high school record of 3:35.49 achieved by Long Beach Poly at the California state final.

The Jackrabbits also ran 3:35.55 at Franklin Field at the 2003 Penn Relays.

Big throws could produce quite a show

Whether it’s the boys discus throw final Friday, the hammer throw championship Saturday or the shot put competition Sunday, there is excitement surrounding who will rule the ring, with several of the nation’s top athletes set to square off.

The discus event features New Jersey standouts and 200-foot competitors Fabian Gonzalez of Southern Regional and Benjamin Shue of Bergen Catholic, in addition to Junior Payton-Kimble of Northeastern High in North Carolina also looking to eclipse the barrier following a 198-7 (60.54m) effort in early April.

Gonzalez and Shue are also entered in the shot put having both surpassed the 64-foot mark this season, along with fellow New Jersey athlete Joshua Huisman of St. Rose, as well as Hayden Dixon of Schuyler County in Missouri and Dillon Morlock from Norwayne High in Ohio.

The hammer throw field features Rhode Island stars Ethan Wordell of North Kingstown and Christian Toro of Lincoln Senior, the top two athletes in the country this season at 231-1 (70.43m) and 229-3 (69.89m), respectively.

Wordell and Toro are expected to be joined by another Rhode Island athlete in Keith Daigneau of Bishop Hendricken, along with Parker Kim from Syosset High in New York and Dylan Sheehan of Lyme-Old Lyme High in Connecticut.

Napoleon’s last stand in the steeplechase

One of the marquee events on Friday night’s schedule will showcase two of the three fastest female athletes in U.S. prep history in the 2,000-meter steeplechase championship.

Angelina Napoleon of Allegany-Limestone, who lowered her own national high school record to 6:18.41 on June 10 at the New York state meet, is expected to race once more against Sheridan Wheeler of Saratoga Springs, who took third in the final at 6:22.13 and is also the No. 3 all-time performer in the event.

Lillie Bogdan of Frontier Central in New York and Alli Crytser from Hanover High in Virginia are also entered and rank in the top five nationally this year, but both athletes have yet to run under 6:35 this season.

Stephanie Garcia, a former Virginia All-American and New Balance professional athlete who represented the U.S. at the 2011 and 2015 World Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, boasts the fastest 2,000 steeplechase performance in American history at 6:14.66.

Napoleon ranks No. 2 all-time in the U.S., with Wheeler at No. 6 in American history.

Napoleon is also entered in the 2-mile Friday, in addition to the mile Saturday, plus the 800 and high jump Sunday.

She competed in the 800 and high jump finals at the New York state meet, in addition to her steeplechase victory.

Ready to run it back

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Devan Kipyego of St. Raphael Academy in Rhode Island hopes to have a short-term memory when he competes Saturday in the boys mile championship.

Kipyego appeared to be on pace to challenge a sub-4 performance Wednesday at the Brooks PR Invitational in Washington, when he was clipped from behind in the final 200 meters, resulting in several athletes losing balance and momentum as they approached the home stretch.

Kipyego was unable to recover and finished eighth in 4:17.60.

Kole Mathison of Carmel High in Indiana, who was fourth at Brooks PR in 4:06.21, along with Utah standout Daniel Simmons of American Fork High and Noah Jenkins of Herriman High, are also entered.

Aaron Sahlman of Newbury Park High in California, who placed ninth in the 800 at Brooks PR in 1:52.16, is entered in both the 800 and mile in Philadelphia.

The boys 800 championship field Sunday is also expected to include sub-4 miler Tinoda Matsatsa of St. Andrew’s Episcopal in Maryland, who finished fourth at Brooks PR in 1:48.50, just behind Andrew Regnier of Waunakee High in Wisconsin in 1:48.49.

Xai Ricks from Long Beach Poly High is also entered, in addition to Miguel Pantojas of Hagerty High in Florida, plus Patrick Hilby from Aurora Central Catholic in Illinois and Mathison.

Engelhardt eyeing another masterful mile

Another elite athlete hoping that a minor setback leads to a big comeback is sophomore Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura High in California, who is looking to capture the girls mile title Saturday after securing the New Balance Nationals indoor championship in March in Boston.

But Engelhardt will also need to regroup following a disappointing outcome to her 2-mile race Wednesday at the Brooks PR Invitational in Washington, where she dropped out in the final 1,000 meters of the race.

Engelhardt boasts the fastest 1,600 time in the country this season at 4:33.45 from May 27 at the California state final. She is also third nationally in the mile at 4:36.26 from April 8 at the Arcadia Invitational.

Engelhardt will need to recover well in order to hold off Leah Stephens from Our Lady of Good Counsel in Maryland, Sophia Gorriaran of Moses Brown High in Rhode Island, Jessica Secor from DuPont Manual High in Kentucky, along with Cuthbertson teammates Charlotte Bell and Stella Kermes.

Engelhardt won the New Balance indoor title in 4:38.65. She captured the Nike Outdoor Nationals crown last year in 4:38.40, with Gorriaran clocking 4:37.54 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in December in Boston.

Remarkable runway achievements

Sterling Scott of Starkville High in Mississippi won the adidas outdoor national triple jump title last year.

Scott placed second in the Nike Indoor Nationals triple jump final in March.

He will now pursue a New Balance outdoor crown Friday at Franklin Field, looking to build on his 50-11 (15.52m) performance from April 20 at the Class 6A Region meet, which ranks No. 2 in the country this season.

Llyric Driscoll of Western Branch High in Virginia, the wind-legal girls national triple jump leader at 42-7.50 (12.99m), will also be showcased in Friday’s championship.

Morgan Davis of Saraland High in Alabama leads a group of 20-foot long jumpers into Sunday’s final, where she is expected to be joined by Lena Gooden of Osbourn Park High in Virginia, Avery Lewis from Friends’ Central in Pennsylvania and Ticora Gaskin of Westwood High in South Carolina.

Davis is also a 6-foot high jumper (1.83m), looking to square off Sunday against Addison Hovey from Hart High in Michigan and Tyler Collins of West Carteret High in North Carolina, who have both cleared 5-11 (1.80m), in addition to Juliette Laracuente from Highland High in Ohio and her 5-10.75 clearance.

The boys pole vault championship is also scheduled for Sunday, with 17-foot athletes Cody Johnston of Hobart High in Indiana and Wyatt Stewart from Madison Central High in Kentucky leading the field.

Stewart is the national outdoor leader at 17-7.75 (5.38m), with Johnston third at 17-6 (5.33m).

Gorriaran looks to go out on top

Sophia Gorriaran will have plenty of opportunities to compete at Franklin Field in the future wearing a Harvard kit, but the girls 800-meter final Sunday will be the final opportunity for the Moses Brown High standout to contend for a New Balance national outdoor championship as the most decorated competitor in Rhode Island prep history.

Gorriaran has run 2:04.09 this outdoor season to rank No. 3 in the country, but she boasts a personal-best 2:00.58 in her high school career.

Ali Ince of Normal Community High in Illinois, who won her third consecutive Brooks PR title in the 800 on Wednesday in Washington, is ranked No. 2 nationally this season with her 2:03.17 effort from April 8 at the Arcadia Invitational.

Ince didn’t give an inch Wednesday in a thrilling showdown against Isis Grant from Sandy Creek High in Georgia, prevailing by a 2:04.82 to 2:04.83 margin.

Gorriaran, the reigning Nike Indoor national champion, is expected to square off against Grant and New Balance Nationals Indoor winner Ince, along with Kate Putman from Cicero-North Syracuse in New York and Nicki Southerland of Delta High in Indiana, and potentially Angelina Napoleon of Allegany-Limestone, the New York state champion following a 2:03.97 effort June 10 in the final.

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