Tuesday Top Ten Events To Watch At Nationals

MileSplit NY - The three day track extraganza we call New Balance Indoor Nationals is about to start at the New Balance Armory Track And Field Center in Manhattan, New York.  We'll be there with the best coverage around, including live webcasts, constantly flowing tweets, interviews, and pictures.  Accept no substitutes as we bring you up to speed on what may be the best races of the day.  This week's Tuesday Top Ten serves as a preview of the meet to be.  And yes, to answer the most important question to most, our cover picture is just a preview of what the bags look like this year.  Also, we did a top twenty today, to make up for the miss last week.

Updated Entries 3/3

 

Boys


4 x 1-Mile  - Here's one we've been waiting since spring season to watch.  Last spring, Northport ended their season with four milers under 4:20.  With all four legs coming back, 17:30 is in the cards for the win for the 4x800 state champs.


60m -  The National Leader may be in this one, but it is all about the rematch of Sayville's Chris Belcher and Greece-Athena's Brian Smith.  The two now have about equal PR's and will be battling it out through the rounds for short sprint supremacy.

400m - Here is where things start to get interesting.  You take the known vs. the unknown.  It is known that Elmont's Ayo Obadare is the fastest closer in the state right now, but Laray Smith (NYC) has been running club all season, and has the Nation leading marks for the 200,300 (US #2), and 400m.  The one anomaly in this race is Michael Cherry (Virginia), who blasted the National Record in the 300m (33.05) earlier this season.  And let's not forget Richard Rose of Boys and Girls, who holds the sophomore National Record in the 600. This one could be a barn burner (hopefully not the Warwick Barn!)


Boys 2-mile - The race we should have probably gotten at states, the two state leaders, Eric Holt of Carmel and Sibby Hanson of Arlington, will be toeing the line against eachother.  However, they will be far from alone, as Edward Cheserek (8:39.15 PR), Tom O'Neil (9:02 PR), and Sean McGorty (8:55.38 PR) will also be in the race, and look to push the pace.


60m Hurdles - We have a favorite on our hands.  Ticonderoga's Jay Hebert is the national leader as only a junior in the 55m hurdles, as he went 7.31 at States.  He'll be far from alone on the field, as some Texans are making the trip, but this is looking good for the smaller Section 7.  Remember, Section 7 won a national title last year, as Dan Lennon of Peru ran away with the 5000m boys title.


4x800m - The National Leader's, Pleasantville who ran 7:45.55, will not be contesting the event this year, as they have opted for the open 800m.  In their wake, look for CHSAA powerhouses Kellenberg and Chaminade to give it one last Indoor battle.  Both under 7:50, we could see the state leading time be blown away.


4x400m - Union Catholic NJ may have held the National Leading time in the early season, but Elmont took it away soon after.  Now, both teams have entered for the final rematch, with Western Branch and Westfield (both from VA) also added into the mix.  Could a team go under the 3:16 that Boys and Girls put down last year?


High Jump - The big New York four are all here.  National Leaders Mike McCann (Smithtown West) and Rubin Owens (LeRoy) have both cleared 6-10, Isaiah Turek (Ichabod Crane) has been over 6-9, and Desmond Mobley (Greece-Olympia) is right at 6-8.  However, eight of the nations top twelve jumpers will be at the meet, and it is anyone's game.


Distance Medley Relay - Something we've been waiting for all season, after an iffy mark at the Yale Invite.  Carmel has a strong setup for the DMR with Eric Holt and Benito Muniz, but will have Rush-Henrietta's powerful threepeat of Brennan Root, Josh Wray and Mickey Burke.  Don't count out Saratoga either, as Jay Navin will be one of the fastest milers in the lineup.  Arlington, North Babylon, and Northport make this a who's-who of NY Distance running, but it will take some power to fend off the NJ Duo of CBA Lincroft and St. Benedict's Prep, plus the added pressure of the PA duo of  Strath Haven and West Chester Henderson.


5000m - There are plenty of New York stars in this race, but the two names that jump out are Edward Cheserek, and NXN Runner Up, Estevan De La Rosa of Arcadia CA.  Both could take the race out in a stranglehold, and not let go until the line.
 

 

Girls

 

Distance Medley Relay - There are plenty of venerable teams from New York entered into the event (Syosset, Warwick, Cornwall), but it seems the SAT's may have had a hand in this one.  Cardozo was all set to make another run at the SMR National Record, but a member of that relay has SAT's to take the day off.  That has switched their focus to the DMR, And could make them very dangerous as the current National Leaders.  Watch for Academy of the Holy Names to put out some pressure though.

800m - Sabrina Southerland is double entered, and her exact events are not yet set.  However, there is plenty of talent here to go around.  National Leader Hannah Meier (MI) is entered in the event, but so are the Long Island talents of Emma Gallagher (Garden City) and Jazmine Fray (Kellenberg).  This may come down to the millisecond, as did the boys 800m last year.


2-Mile - Arlington's Bella Burda is US #2 in the event, and may finally have someone to run with on the Armory Track.  Wesley Frazier (NC) will be making the journey, and has the wheels to push the pace in the long event.  With her will be Katie Lembo of Penfield, and Marissa Saenger of Clarence, who stayed with the sophomore at the state meet.  This could bring about a sub-9:30 mark out of anyone.


4x200m - Kadecia Baird of Medger Evers may be the wow factor of the meet.  Entered in the 200m open, the 4x200m and the 4x400m, her squad is favorited to win all of them.  However, it is the short relay that may provide the most action, as they chase their own state record of 1:37.73.

 

Mile - Call this the Millrose Redux, as most of the field is searching for another shot.  With Southerland entered, it may be another runaway, but if she chooses to forgo the event, it gets that much more interesting.  Eileen O'Hara of Webster Thomas was a big challenger for a state title, and is entered here.  Laura Leff of West  Genesee could also put the pressure where it is needed.  The Meier twins are also entered, and will always be a factor.  If anything, it should be fun to watch.

 

Shuttle Hurdle Relay - An interesting turnaround a week can have.  New Rochelle has dropped their PR's all around, and now come into Nationals as the one to watch.  While teammate Briyah Brown may have been a step ahead at States, its the Shuttle Hurdle who may have that step at Nationals.


Pole Vault - It is quite a long trip for Lancaster, but they bring a strong squad of ladies.  It will be interesting to see the 4x200m relay run on the banks for the first time this season, but the real story may be in the pole vault.  Jen Thill has twice attempted 13 feet, and Nationals may be the place to get it.


4x800m - It is a crowded field in the 4x800, even without Holy Names or FM this year.  Bronxville may have won the event at states, but the times will need to drop to hang in here.  Warwick Valley and Garden City are other top seeds, and along with Shenendehowa, the pace could be pushed to nine minutes even.  Watch out for Davis of Utah, as the NXN powerhouse should not be underestimated.


Sprint Medley Relay - It is an interesting meet for Suffern.  They may be one of the top seeds in the 4x400m, but Medger Evers may have the edge.  However, take that same team to the SMR, and they become really quite good.  The real competition for the Section 1 standouts comes from Hillhouse CT's Precious Holmes and crew, and could make the race very interesting.

 

5000m - Well, Michigan is coming in full force to NBIN.  The quartet from Grosse Point South looks to take another shot at Saratoga's 4xMile national record, and the Meier Twins have been sprinkled about the meet in the individual events.  However, look to the 5000m to see Erin Finn, who won the race last year by a clear distance.  It does get interesting however.  Bella Burda of Arlington will be in the race, and challenging Finn on that Friday night.  This could get interesting.