Is Sammy Watson ready to break more national records?
Remember Sammy Watson?
The IAAF World Youth Champion for 800m swept the event at New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor as a sophomore last year; she also led Rush-Henrietta High School to national records in the Sprint Medley Relay with her blazing half mile anchor legs.
I guess that's not so hard when you can run 2:03.
But she's not racing the half mile here -- she is racing slightly "off events" in the 400m and Mile. She may not be the world champion in either event, but she is the defending New York state champion for both the 400m (52.69 PR) and 1500m (4:25.24 PR).
The No. 2 seed in the 400m is Corinne Kennedy of Lebanon, N.H., who has run 1:39 for 600m this year. Watson is the national leader in the 600m; she ran 1:31 two weeks ago.
The Mile will be more competitive, as an automatic bid to the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is on the line. Watson's full mile PR is 5:04, though her 4:25 1500m PR converts to 4:44 for 1600m/4:46 for Mile.
Her competition in the Mile includes:
- Meagan Doody (Oyster River, NH), 4:49 1600m PR/2:10 800m PR/fifth at 2015 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Mile
- Kristie Schoffield (Merrimack Valley, NH), 2:14 800m PR/4:54 1600m PR
- Eliza Rego (La Salle, RI), 4:29 1500m PR/2:12 800m PR/10:02 3K PR
- Kaley Richards (Lowell, MA), 4:56 Mile PR
**Rush-Henrietta High School is also entered in the Sprint Medley Relay. Only Ceara Watson (Sammy's sister!) graduated from last year's national record-setting squad. Could they lower their 3:52.68 national indoor record later this year? This meet will indicate where they stand!