New Balance Nationals Outdoor

New Balance Nationals Outdoor Girls Preview

New Balance Nationals Outdoor Girls Preview

Jun 18, 2015 by Meg Bellino
New Balance Nationals Outdoor Girls Preview




By Kyle Brazeil of MileSplit New York

Girls 100m, Saturday 10:10am ET
The matchup is set. Although National Leader Candace Hill will not be in attendance, Brenessa Thompson will be. In 2014, Thompson and Hill came across the line together in a photo finish at 11.34 for the National Title. Thompson would finish runner up based on milliseconds, and will be looking to return with a vengeance. However, Thompson doesn't have the season under her belt that US #4 Khalifa St. Fort does. Coached by renowned track and field legend and commentator Ato Bolden, this junior has hit an impressive 11.43, well ahead of the others in the field. That doesn't mean you can count out Cassondra Hall either, who finished second at Indoor Nationals in the 55m. Could she translate that speed to Greensboro? Tune in to find out.

Girls 200m, Sunday 12:30pm ET
Speaking of runner ups looking to improve their position, Diamond Spalding will be looking to do much the same. Finishing second here last year, Spalding has a 0.3 second gap on the field in terms of season bests. She already has a State Title under her belt, as well as another runner up slot from the Prefontaine Classic. She'll be looking to get atop the podium in Greensboro.

Indoor runner up Symone Darius of New Rochelle has been club coached all year, but it didn't stop her from being only one of two athletes to break 24-seconds Indoors. Saving herself for Nationals, the junior from NY shocked the field. Can she do the same here? And what of Karimah Davis, an emerging elite athlete from 2014, now moving up into the seeded ranks. Can she throw down with the best in the nation. And then there is Dasia Pressley, the Pennsylvanian standout who has the second fastest seed in the field at US #9, 23.52. What can this sprinter from the North do in the simmering sun of Greensboro.

Girls 400m, Sunday 2:00pm ET
With National Leader Sydney McLaughlin doing the 400m Hurdles instead, we'll have to settle for a US #2 vs. US #3 matchup instead. Something tells me it won't disappoint.

Sammy Watson ran away from the field in the 400m Trials to win the NY State Meet last weekend. With plenty more in the tank saved for a fresh final, who knows what that number could drop down to for the sophomore standout. She'll be facing off against the Florida State Champion in Sharrika Barnett, who is also coming off a fast win at Golden South.

They will have some company as well, from several others who have gone sub-54. Mackenzie Dunmore (US #8), Karrington Winters (US #9), and Serenity Douglas (US #10) are all on the low end of 53secs, while Destiny Ward (US #14) finds herself on the high end. Wild card will be Kam McIntosh (US #15), who has yet to run a higher caliber 400m open race, but whose split of 53.2 FAT could prove very promising in a strong field.

Girls 800m, Sunday 1:25pm ET
At the top end, there is no doubt which matchup we want to see. They've been on a collision course since January. Indoor National Record Holder (for 600m) Kam McIntosh won the 400m at NBNI. Indoor National Record Holder (for soph 1000m) Sammy Watson won the 800m at NBNI. Neither have raced each other flat out since the Armory Invite indoors, and it looks like that drought will end in Greensboro. McIntosh ran away from the 800m field at the NY State Champs this past weekend, dropping her personal best to US #3 of 2:05.63. Sammy Watson ran away from the field in the 400m at the same meet, while doubling back to win the 1500m, no small feat in a State like New York. Who knows what the pair will drive each other to, in pursuit of the title of top Sophomore in the Empire State.

But don't sleep on the rest of the field. Hannah Parker went 2:06.12 last year, and could sneak in the mix, after placing third in the event last year, behind Olivia Baker (now of Stanford) and Raevyn Rogers (now of Oregon, who just went sub-2:00 this past weekend). Also in the mix is Sarah Walker, who dropped a US #4 in Cuba this past weekend. Danae Rivers comes in with US #5, and Ersula Farrow can never be counted out from the event.

Girls Mile, Sunday 2:25pm ET
Down goes Frazier? We don't think so.

Despite a runner up position at the Dream Mile, Ryen Frazier is the creme of the crop here on her home turf. However, at both Prefontaine and the Dream Mile, Stephanie Jenks was also in the field, and with her 4:42, it makes her very dangerous in this field. Don't sleep on Allie Schadler, either, who comes in with a 4:43 to be within striking distance. Annie Heffernan rounds out your sub-4:50 milers with her winning mark from Loucks.

There are plenty of other names looking to make some headway. Libby Davidson is a sophomore on the move, and Catherine Pagano was one of the top milers Indoors. Lauren Trumble is coming off a strong 1500m at NY States, as is Sam Peterman, who was recently featured by the New York Times.

Girls 2 Mile, Saturday 5:25pm ET
It would seem as if Ryen Frazier is trying to keep the Triple Crown within her family. She takes the the two mile Saturday night as the odds-on favorite, by more than a few seconds. Whereas she took fourth the year before, it's hard to bet against her now. Libby Davidson comes in as your next seed, having taken second at the Penn Relays for 3000m. The sophomore from Virginia will be looking to pick up the pace for next year's cross country, and Greensboro is a good place to start. Sarah Kettel was 5th Indoors at this event, one slot ahead of Davidson, and come in and improve her PB.

Girls 5000m, Friday 9:10pm ET
It's pretty clear that Ryen Frazier is making a go at the triple crown her sister pulled off two years ago. She enters as much the favorite in the event, placing second at Indoor Nationals this year. There are several very talented runners in the field as well, such as Libby Davidson, Weini Kelati, and Sheridan Wilbur, but Frazier still has a significant gap. This could be all about the time if the weather cooperates.

Girls 100m Hurdles, Saturday 11:25am ET
Seven of the top Twelve girls in the country over the hurdles will most likely make it to the final at NBNO this year. Leading the field is Alexis Duncan, who just dropped her US #3 in Cuba this weekend. Her mark is 0.01 ahead of Anna Cockrell, who took third in that same race. The pair have the biggest gap on the field, and the rematch is already brewing.

Funlayo Oluwole (US #5) will be bringing the heat from Virginia, with Tonea Marshall (US #6) helping represent Texas. Rounding out the field is Kimani Rushing (US #10), Gabby Cunningham (US #11), and Timetria Mitchell (US #12)

Girls 400m Hurdles, Sunday 12:15pm ET
With complete respect to the rest of the field, there is probably no other event so dominated by a front-running athlete on either side of the competition.

Consider this your reminder that Sydney McLaughlin ran 55.63 last year, as a freshman. For some perspective, that would have taken third at NCAA's this year. And McLaughlin has only gotten faster since last year, after her shot at the 300m National Record Indoors, as well as her Record in the 60mHH at Indoor Nationals. The sky is the limit here.

As for the rest of the field, only Anna Cockrell has broken 60-seconds for the event. Given the right race, and the right conditions, Cockrell is within striking distance. US #3 at 300mH is Jurnee Woodward of California, who wouldn't be making that trip without good reason. Could she come in and take home the title?