11. Kiara Williams (AL) - Triple Jump Champ
Kiara Williams, the senior from Homewood High School in Alabama, was one of her state's two national champions on the weekend (joining 100m/200m champ Jayla Kirkland). Arguably her state's most versatile athlete, Williams came to New Balance Nationals with a more specialized focus in the long jump and triple jump. Having a PR of 40'3" coming into the meet in the triple jump, she was not considered as one of the pre-event favorites by any means.
However, she popped a foot and a half PR leap of 41'9" to defeat some well established national triple jumpers including Chinne Okoronkwo from Washington (2nd, 41'5"). Her wind legal performance (+1.9) moved Williams up to a US #5 ranking in the event, ironically behind Okoronkwo and her 41'10.25" season best.
MileSplit counts down the top 15 girls individual performers from the 2015 New Balance Nationals:
15. Ashleigh Reisch (OH) - Racewalk Champ
14. Haley Showalter (CO) - Hammer Throw Champ
13. Twanisha Terry (FL) - 100m Runner-up & Leg on 4x100m & 4x200m Champs
12. Weeks Twins (AR) - Pole Vault Champ & Runner-Up
11. Kiara Williams (AL) - Triple Jump Champ
10. Kaylee Antill (OH) - Discus Champ
9. Sharrika Barnett (FL) - 400m Champ
8. Nicole Greene (FL) - High Jump Champ
7. Sophia Rivera (MO) - Shot Put & Javelin Champ
6. Jayla Kirkland (AL) - 100 & 200m Champ
5. Tia Jones (GA) - 100H Champ
4. Sammy Watson (NY) - 800m Champ & Anchor Leg on SMR Champs (National Record)
3. Ryen Frazier (NC) - 5K, 2 Mile, & Mile Champ
2. Sydney McLaughlin (NJ) - 400H Champ & Anchor Leg on Swedish Relay & 4x400 Champs
1. Kate Hall (ME) - Long Jump Champ (National Record)