By: MileSplit's Kyle Brazeil

WATCH THE OCEAN BREEZE FREEDOM GAMES LIVE ON FLOTRACK ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 7

It's finally January, and the early season is out of the way. It's time to start sharpening the razor's edge and picking out select races to run fast in preparation of the heavy lifting needed for multiple events in championship season. The Ocean Breeze Freedom Games in Staten Island, New York, on Saturday, Jan. 7, will set up many of the top athletes from the Northeast and produce some matchups we may not see again until it's time for indoor nationals. We've broken the meet down for you below--which may also serve as a viewers guide--so study up because things are about to get fast.

Girls Sprints

55m Hurdles

Christina Warren (Perkiomen Valley, PA) comes in with the highest seed, looking to better her own 8.12 and chase the facility record of 7.99. Alyssa Yeboah-Kodie (St. Anthony's) is right in that realm as well and is capable of catching the record. Skyla Davidson (Lake Braddock, VA) is the next best seed but will be chasing the leader to the line.

55m

There are several verifiable seeds from the locals to headline the 55m. Halle Hazzard (St. Anthony's) is your odds-on favorite, the current No. 1 in New York. Deja Bowen (Middletown) and Kiana Stallworth (New Rochelle) are regulars in the sprints, hovering around 7.10, while Ryan Webb (Hudson Catholic, NJ) comes from the Garden State. The unknown is Brittany Barriffe (West Side, NJ), who heads into the event with a high seed, but we're not quite sure where it comes from.

300m

As always, there is a slim margin for the favorite status in the sprints. Only two athletes are under 40 seconds in the field, but they are strong. Halle Hazzard (St. Anthony's) returns to Ocean Breeze and will take on Iantha Wright (St. John's Prep).

Linesha Thompson (James Madison) may be a new name on the scene, but she clocked 40.98 in her only race on the books last week. Kaela Jolibois (Villa Marie, PA) has a personal best of 58.43 in the 400m, and Midlothian's Madison Anderson comes in at 57.31. Antoinette Bradley (Friendly, MD) can match that with her PR of 57.48 as well as Talitha Diggs (Saucon Valley). Diggs is the daughter of four-time Olympian Joetta Clark-Diggs and has the genes for a strong race at any distance.

600m

Things will be heating up here, as many girls are coming in with similar seeds. Emily Phillippides (Greenwich, CT) has the fastest mark, a 1:35.63 set last year. Right in her company will be Paige Keefer (West Babylon) at 1:36.81 and Ariella Garcia (Notre Dame Academy) at 1:37.51. The one to watch out for will be Lexi Del Gizzo (Tenafly), who has a 1:36.21 personal best but has since run 56.47 outdoors since that mark was set. It should be a good race.

Girls Distance

1000m

Two New Yorkers who saw each other on the cross country trails will be returning to their stronger discipline. Alex Harris (North Rockland) may be a key player in the steeplechase scene outdoors, but for the past three years, she has been Section 1's top dog in the 1000m. For Hannah Reale (Shenendehowa), it's been more about the 800m, most notably an incredible anchor leg to win the Penn Relays Championship of America title in 2016. These two will face off for the first time ever on the track and fight for a top time in the event.

But they won't be alone. Emily Philippides (Greenwich, CT) just recently ran 2:13.39 for 800m and looks to be coming into the new year strong. Virginia is sending top talents as well, with Shannon Schewers (Lake Braddock) at 2:13.0 and Olivia Beckner (South Lakes, VA) with a 2:15 personal best. Reale's teammate Julia Zachgo is another to watch out for and is right up there with Reale in XC.

1500m

Bump up the distance and we see some more matchups carrying over from XC. Once again, Shenendehowa and North Rockland fill out many of the top seeds in the field. For the Lady Raiders, Haleigh Morales and Kerry O'Conner will be well representing the team. Both have sub-five-minute personal bests, with Morales at 4:50.00. Her XC season indicates that may go down at her Ocean Breeze opener. For the Stallions, Olivia Lomascolo and Charlotte Hartman find themselves as top seeds. Both, too, are under that five-minute barrier and look to have improved this XC season.

Who else is in the mix? Notre Dame Academy will be sending its top two--Sydney Rice and Keiana Mitchell--to represent Long Island. Both are under five minutes, and will be in the hunt. Angela Castrobuova (Carmel) has the best personal best in the field at 4:47.33, while Kelly Iocca (Connetquot) has the best season's best, running 4:50.71 just last week. Giuliana Sadler (Minisink Valley) rounds out the top contenders with her 4:51 personal best.

3000m

North Rockland won't have Shenendehowa to worry about in the 3000m, but it may have something even tougher. Enter Kate Murphy (Lake Braddock, VA), who will be opening up her season over the longest indoors distance she's seen since her sophomore year. Since then, Murphy has clocked an astonishing 4:07.21 in the 1500m and made the Olympic Trials. In addition, she's ran the 3000m outdoors, clocking 9:10.51 to win the USATF Junior Olympics last spring. This will be Murphy's season opener against real competition, despite tempoing a 5:06 mile in mid-December.

If there was one athlete from New York to put pressure on Murphy early this season, it would be freshman Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland). She's already proven she can run unafraid of the competition after putting severe pressure on Sammy Watson at last year's spring state meet. Tuohy is coming off her best XC season yet, which was preceded by an eighth-grade state indoors record for the 1500m in 2016. This will also be Tuohy's opener, so the pair should be on even ground and could be a real threat to the win. Not only that but she could also use the race as a real chance to chase down the freshman state record in the event, set by Kelsey Chmiel (Saratoga) last winter at states, by surpassing the 9:41.73 mark.

There are some other players in the mix, such as Olivia Elston (Goshen) and Sydney Rice (Notre Dame Academy), but none with the credentials of the top two.

Girls Field

Horizontal Jumps

New Rochelle's Kiana Stallworth highlights the long jump, while teammate Olivia Morgan will hold her own in the triple. But with three at 38-0 or better, it could be tough. Madison Anderson (Midlothian) has jumped 38-7.5, Sarena Choi (Westhampton Beach) has a 38-6, and Sam Stetz (St. Anthony's) has a 38-2.

Vertical Jumps

There are no clear favorites for the high jump, while Pole Vault should have some strong action. Michelle Rubinetti (Northern Valley Demarest) and Amanda McNellis (Commack) are both capable of bettering the 12-3 facility record.

Throws

Brittany Curtin (Connetquot) is the best seed in the weight, right under 50-0, while Sade Meeks (North Babylon) and Naomi Amadi (Franklin, MD) are right under 40-0 in the shot.

Girls Sprint Relays

4x200m

Wise (MD) and New Rochelle look to be the strongest seeds. Although, Holy Trinity and West Side (NJ) could also be in the mix.

4x400m

West Babylon are the reigning outdoor state champions and bring back all four of its runners. They are the odds-on favorites.

Girls Distance Relay

4x800m

Shenendehowa has loaded up its relay for this event and should prove to be the favorite. However, Lake Braddock (VA) has one of the best anchors in the country in Kate Murphy and could very well prove chase.

Boys Sprints

55m Hurdles

It's a rematch of New York's No. 1 and No. 2. Tai Brown (Midwood) just outleaned Oluwatomide Alao (Molloy) to win the Bishop Loughlin Games. Both have been in the nation's top 10 ever since and will get a rematch at the Freedom Games. Kyle Garland (Germantown Academy, PA) may be the spoiler, with a 7.57 personal best, and is the only other hurdler in the realm of the top two. So too may be Nick Michalowski (Shenendehowa), who is the top returner from last year's states. If he wants to win a title, this is the field he has to beat.

55m

Several of New York's top athletes will face off. Kevin Boucaud (Amsterdam, NY) headlines the field but faces Nigel Green (William Flloyd). Green is currently New York's seventh-ranked athlete in the event, although Boucaud has the better personal best. Sean Davis (Friendly, MD) will be coming in as the best out-of-state seed, with a personal best of 6.61.

300m

D'Andre Barriffe (Bishop Loughlin) headlines the field, with a personal best of 34.73. Next up is Nigel Green (William Flloyd), who has a personal best of 35.17. Plenty more are in the realm, and it could be a fast final.

600m

In an event looking for a standout, Josef Oettl (Xavier) is ranked sixth in New York over 1000m and will be dropping down in distance. Will Phinney (Ridge, NJ) has a best of 1:54.21 over 800m and could prove to be a factor in the event. The unknown is Josh Rominger (Midlothian, VA), who has a personal best of 1:05.74 in the 500m. That translates roughly to a 1:21 in the 600m.

Boys Distance

1000m

Your top two seeds here may come from out of state. David Whitfield (Arch. Prendergast) has a personal best over 800m of 1:53.38. Andrew Delvecchio (Lake Braddock, VA) enters with a PR of 1:55.22, which should translate well to the 1000m. Then there is Antonio Lopez (Colgan, VA), who has a 2:31.56 over the true distance. On the home front, Ryan Tierney (St. Peter's) is coming off a win over the mile at the Bishop Loughlin Games, while Matt Nieves (Bishop Loughlin) ran well at Marine Corps. The wild card goes to Ajax Diamandis (Brien McMahon, CT), who has gone 4:16 for the full mile and will be dropping down in distance.

1600m

It's an early-season battle here, and Robert Becker (Kingston) comes in as the athlete under 4:20 with his 4:19.68. As mentioned, Ajax Diamandis has gone 4:16 and will be doubling on the day. Will there be enough rest?

Section 1 will be throwing some of it's up-and-coming talent at the leaders, who will be looking to become the next sub-4:20 milers for downstate. On the radar is Greg Fusco (Somers), Brian Camillieri (Nanuet), and Dylan Serino (North Rockland).

Speaking of big section turnouts, Section 2 is sending two pairs that will be in the mix. Saratoga has Declan Hines and Shea Weilbaker, while Shenendehowa has Alex Hislop and Alex Matson.

Alex Pai (Morris Hills, NJ) represents the biggest out-of-state threat with a 4:21 personal best. Also look out for Behailu Bekele-Arcuri (Warwick Valley), a top-placing freshman in XC. The frosh state record of 4:21.48 isn't unreachable if he can edge into the seeded heat.

3200m

Lake Braddock (VA) will have the top seed in the longest distance, as it also does on the girls side of the action. Conor Lyons took second to Aidan Tooker (Saratoga) in this event last year and is coming back with a 9:16.97 to improve his placing. Looking to keep the title in the Empire State will be Jayson Hines (Kingston) and Declan Hines (Saratoga)--no relation. Both will be in the mix but will need a big step up to secure the win.

The man to prevent Lyons' movement is Ryan Gallagher (Briarcliff), who comes in with a personal best of 9:15.46. Gallagher just ended a great XC season, and his success could carry over. The same can be said of Giancarlo Cipri (Xavier), was floating around the mid-9:20s last spring.

Boys Field

Horizontal Jumps

Long jump should be interesting with Kevin Boucaud (Amsterdam) and Amityville's Kerron Gonzales and Emmanuel Oguntoye all three well over 22-0. Looking for the 48-foot mark, Oguntoye comes back for the triple jump against Miles Duncan (William Penn, DE).

Vertical Jumps

Kyle Garland (Germantown Academy, PA) is the top seed and state leader in the high jump at 6-10. Charles Crispi (Monsignor Farrell) is looking for that 15-foot bar, which would be four inches over the facility record.

Throws

Jack Zimmerman (Briarcliff) will take on Hervens Mulatre (North Rockland) in the shot, while the weight will be all about Thomas Reiser (Minisink Valley) and Anastasios Mouzakis (Tappan Zee).

Boys Sprint Relays

4x200m

Largo (MD) is known for its speed, but Bishop Loughin ​is looking to keep the title in New York.

4x400m

Largo (MD) is the top seed in the middle distance relay and could look to break 3:20.

Boys Distance Relay

4x800m

The chase for a sub-eight is on in the new year. Freehold Township (NJ) looks to headline the run, but Midlothian (VA) is right on its tails. Shenendehowa (Saratoga) and Ridge (NJ) should be right in the mix as well.

WATCH THE OCEAN BREEZE FREEDOM GAMES LIVE ON FLOTRACK ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 7