Just how fast can Cherry go in the 400m dash? (Photo: MileStat.com)
Championship 800m Final
The boys 800m run is loaded with top talent and one can only hope they race instead of watch each other. If so this could be one special finish! John Crossley, NC, and Isaac Clark, NJ, are the two top seeds with times of 1:49.99 and 1:50.12 respectively. However, star miler Bernie Montoya, AZ, has a season best of 1:50.19 and the race savvy to go with it. Chris Ibarra, TX, and Isaac's brother Jacob Clark, NJ, are both clocked at 1:50.30 and will be right in the mix as well. Blair Henderson, LA, Ricky Faure, WY, and Myles Marshall, TX, are also in the hunt for top placings depending on how the race plays out.
The girls 800m run features 3 runners under 2:06.5 with Sabrina Southerland, NY, leading the way with her US#2 clocking of 2:06.09. With her solid racing savvy she is clearly the one to beat down the stretch. Hannah Parker, NH, and Alexa Efraimson, WA, are right on her heels and could challenge for the win depending on how fast the race goes out. Karina Shepherd, MA, Jazmine Fray, NY, Blake Dodge, NC, Katie Willard, TX, Corinne Myers, NJ, Maddy Berkson, RI, are all between 2:08-2:10 and could make this quite a close and interesting race if everyone stays in it through 600m. It will certainly be exciting to watch!
Championship One Mile Final
The boys mile run could be a tight affair unless Henry Wynne, CT, has his way with the race as he is the top seed by several seconds with a 4:05.04 clocking. Jack Keelan, IL, has also run fast, 4:07.50 but is coming back off of the 5000m from Friday night so we'll have to see how well his legs recover. Alex Hess, IN, Vincent Ciattei, MD, James Randon, MA, Connor Mora, MI, and Michael Hall, OH, have all gone under 4:10 on the season, making this race too close to call for the other top places.
Wesley Frazier has already won the 5000m run and is slated for the 2 mile run today. She is the top seed in the mile at 4:39.17, and we have seen her race well despite all the heavy work before, so this should certainly be a must watch event as it will also be her last as a high school athlete. Josette Norris, NJ, Stephanie Jenks, IA, and Anna Maxwell, CA, are all within a few seconds of Frazier and will be looking to snatch this one from her with fresh legs. Katie Knight, WA, is 8 seconds off the pace, but she is a great racer so look to see her try to close that gap and grab a top spot as well.
Championship 400m Final
Up front this race has some exciting battles along with a tight pack fighting for the other top spots. No doubt this one goes fast as both Olivia Baker, NJ, and Kadecia Baird, NY, are savvy racers. Both have gone under 53.70 this season putting them slightly ahead of the rest of the pack. Kendall Ellis, FL, has gone 53.80 though, so look for her to try to keep pace for a chance to break up the top two. Jorian Ordway, FL, Maiya Dendy, DE, Erin Ford, FL, Stephanie Ferrante, OH, and Sydnee Over, CT, round out the field with no one slower than 54.80, which should make for a fast race across all competitors looking for those all-american slots.
Just how fast can Michael Cherry, VA, go? That is certainly the question as he has a 46.02 best this year and usually saves his best for the championship season. He will most certainly be pushed to a fast time with Zyaire Clemes, NJ, 46.50, and Alexander Rohani, CA, 46.71, in the race and looking to snag that #2 spot. The rest of the spots are up for grabs as Lamar Bruton, DE, Ricky Morgan, VA, Nick Uruburu, FL, Marquavious Johnson, NC, and Ronny Hall, CA, are all within 0.2 seconds of each other, making for one exciting final!
Championship 200m Final
Of course the following athletes have to qualify out of the heats, but assuming they do this could be a tight race up front with Ceolamar Ways, FL, Trentavis Friday, NC, separated by only a hundredth of a second at 20.78 to 20.79, and both know how to run a solid 200m race. Just back from them is the talented Trayvon Bromell, FL, with a best of 20.86 this year. Reggie Glover, FL, Byron Smith, NC, and James Drummond, NC, are all right in the mix around 21 seconds and could surprise depending on how the race goes.
The girls 200m dash could be championship #2 for Ky Westbrook, AZ, depending on how the 100 goes today, as she is favored by quite a bit in this race with a fast clocking of 23.27w. SheKara Martin, GA, and Diamond Spaulding, FL, will give her a run for her money with bests of 23.58 and 23.59 respectively. Javianne Oliver, GA, Jada Martin, GA, and Marcquita Stalbert, LA, should all challenge for a top placing with times under 23.85.
Championship Distance Medley Relay Final
In the girls race Suffern, NY, are the clear favorites with other top national contenders absent from the meet. They come in with a best of 11:46.96, 6 seconds ahead of Redondo Union, CA, but anything can happen in the anchor leg of a DMR. Several other teams hoping to jump into the top 3 include Germantown Friends, PA, Warwick Valley, NY, Bernards, NJ, and West Springfield, VA, who have all gone under 12 minutes this season.
In the boys race Arlington, NY, and Rush Henrietta (Comet TC NY) lead the way with times of 10:07.18 and 10:08.96 but several other teams are under 10:15 on the season. Carmel, NY, has gone 10:10.35 and Pope John XXIII, NJ, has gone 10:10.56. Westerville North, OH, Highland Milford, MI, and Ridgefield, CT, could also shake things up.
Championship 400m Hurdles Final
The top spots look like they will go to Morgan Harvey, NJ, Andrea Olsen, NJ, and Kaila Smith, SC, as no one else is close to the times they posted this season, but the race still needs to be run and someone could pop out of the woodwork.
In the boys race Kenny Selmon, GA, is the top seed with a quick 52.30 clocking but Marlon Humphrey, AL, is also in the race and is the top 300m hurdler in the nation, so watch out! Timothy Holmes, FL, has gone 52.78 and could be in the hunt for the win as well as Mark Cooke, NJ, with a time of 53.28.
Girls Championship Javelin Final
The girls javelin could be a battle among three competitors who have thrown over 150' on the season. Megan Glassmann, UT, has thrown US#6 156-3 but just behind her are Ellie Gravitte, CT, US#7 152-7, and Sarah Firestone, PA, US#8 152-1.
Girls Championship Hammer Final
In the girls Hammer Marthaline Cooper, RI, has a big advantage, coming into the competition with a US#1 heave of 178-7, more than 6' better than her nearest competitor. Jennifer Slagus, PA, is also over 170' with Gabrielle Figueroa, OH, lurking at 168-9. Other notables who could make noise for the top places include Leia Mistowski, RI, Nyla Woods, GA, Danielle Borriello, NY, and Josie Hardin, GA.
Boys Championship High Jump Final
The high jump will be a battle for rare air as Demario Gray, CT, 7-00, and David Njoku, NJ, 7-00, have both cleared 7' on the year, but two other competitors are just an inch back, Justin Kretchmer, IL, 6-11, and Steve Dunbar, VA, 6-11.
Boys Championship Long Jump Final
The boys long jump will be a big battle up front with Travonn White, AZ, at US#1 with a 25-5.5 leap and Desmond Mobley, NY, at US#8 24-9. Andre Jefferson, TX, is just back at 24-8.75 and could also challenge with a big jump.