NB Games: Benjamin US #6 A-T 33.40 300! Medgar Evers 1:37 4x2!

Jan 24, 2015

Photos by Kyle Brazeil

Not as much competition as he faced last time on the track at the Armory, but regardless if he's facing the nation's best sprinters or having to essentially run a solo time trial, Rai Benjamin is going to roll to victory on the banked track in NYC. Benjamin lowered his US #1 time down to 33.30 at the New Balance Games on Saturday, which ranks US #6 all-time in the event! Benjamin is one of several top national sprinters this year indoors that is gunning for Michael Cherry's national record of 33.05 from 2013.

The Medgar Evers College Prep girls 4x200 meter relay could also see themselves well up on the all-time list at their current rate. After going just under 1:40 a few weeks back at the Hispanic Games, the Medgar Ever girls really went under 1:40 this time around at the Armory as they were chased late by Nansemond River (VA), but won in a new improved US #1 clocking of 1:37.97. Their time also moves them to a US top 10 all-time ranking at #9!

The runners-up from Nansemond River in a US #2 time of 1:39.23 had a strong 3rd leg from Brandee Johnson, who earlier claimed first individually in the 300 meter dash time with a US #2 performance of 38.55 as the Virginian state champ sprinter and her team took advantage of a rare opportunity to race on a banked track.

It was a pair of US #1 times for both boys and girls at the New Balance Games as it was a great battle up front in boys relay race between two out-of-state teams in C.H. Flowers of Maryland and Cheltenham of Pennsylvania. The Flowers boys with their 1:28.44 move ahead of previous #1 ranked Newburgh Free Academy of New York City, while Cheltenham moves into the US #3 spot with their runner-up race on Saturday at 1:28.61.

The New Balance Games was the final opportunity to earn an auto qualifier for the Millrose Games. Spencer Brown had the best kick in the end after the race went out strategically slow in a 2:12 first half mile. Brown from Wilton High School in Connecticut pulled away on the final lap for a winning time of 4:15.94 to punch his ticket for the historic mile race. Last year's Millrose Games mile champ Luke Gavigan of Tappan Zee (NY) closed well late to grab second place, but does not have an auto qualifier. However, it would be a surprise if the 2014 Millrose champ was not extended an invitation among the remaining at-large spots and given the opportunity to defend.

In the girls mile race, Marin Warner from Holmdel High School in New Jersey led early on, but by mid-race it was Olivia Sargent from Pennsbury in Pennsylvania who seized control and never looked back en route to a very strong victory of 4:55.17. Her performance ranks her US #4 among mile/1600 times this indoor season and more important sends her on her way to the Millrose Games.

New York girls own the DMR currently with the top 5 times in the nation after Mamaroneck (NY) won the event at the New Balance Games in a US #5 time of 12:13.92. The boys DMR had a dramatic finish with Marco Pompiji doubling back from racing in the mile earlier to split a 4:16 on the 1600 meter anchor leg to bring Collegiate boys ahead for the win just under 10:30.

With a dramatic head first slide at the line, Shayla Broughton of Medgar Evers won the girls 55 meter hurdles in a 8.09 clocking, which makes her US #10 season best time in the event. Teammate Brenessa Thompson, who lost her US #1 ranking earlier in the day when Teahna Daniels posted a time of 6.93 down in Florida, was unable to regain her spot on the national leaderboard despite winning the 55 meter dash in 7.01 clocking.

Thrilling 600 meter races in the evening session of the New Balance Games. The girls 600 meter run featured arguably two of the best at the distance between 400 & 600 US leader Amanda Crawford of Paul Robeson along with Emma Gallagher of Benjamin Cardozo. After the two ladies went through 400 meters in 57 seconds and on pace to go under 1:30, Crawford and Gallagher got tangled up on the final lap. Gallagher was able to recover to finish first in what would have been a US #1 time of 1:32, but was disqualified due to the contact with Crawford.

Meanwhile, the boys race ended up staying relatively clean to allow Lynbrook's Luke Germanokos to pull away with a US #2 victory of 1:19.82.

The relays at meet's end really were the fireworks and action could be found. Defending indoor national 400 meter champ Richard Rose stepped up to run the 800 meter leg for his Boys & Girls squad SMR and he better watch out. He may have found a new event after running a 1:50.45 split and nearly chasing down Cheltenham's anchor (who ran a stellar 1:51 leg). Cheltenham won in a US #1 time of 3:26.11, while Boys & Girls anchored by Rose took second in US #2 3:27.31.

The Pennsbury boys and girls of Pennsylvania swept the 4x800 meter relays with the boys nearly challenging for the #1 time in the country with their 7:56 victory, while the girls featuring mile winner Olivia Sargent were quick as well through four legs in an overall time of 9:30.

More from New Balance Games:

Photos by Kyle Brazeil