New Balance Nationals Indoor Watch List: Relay Events

Jimmy and Jojo preview some of the stacked relays set for this weekend and offer some predictions of which teams they believe will leave The Armory as national champions

Girls 4x1 Mile Relay

Defending New Balance Nationals Indoor Champions Blacksburg (VA) return with three of their four runners from last year's 20:28.56 squad, including the always-dangerous Bonnie Angermeier. La Salle (RI) is the top seed with two of the nation's top distance runners in Sheridan Wilbur (US #2 10:40.89 Two Mile) and Eliza Rego (US #1 4:34.3 1,500m).

Girls 4x200m Relay

Medgar Evers (NY) should be the prohibitive favorite, as their nation-leading 1:37.96 is nearly two seconds faster than anyone else this year. But anchor Brenessa Thompson, tied for US #1 6.93 55m, may or may not race due to an injury. She is currently on the start list for the open 60m, but may adjust plans depending on feel. If Medgar Evers competes at less than full strength, expect Parkland (NC)/“Mustang TC", US #3 1:39.4; Cheltenham (PA), US #4 1:39.49; and Paul Robeson (NY), US #6 1:40.18; to step up.

Girls 4x400m Relay

Can Oak Park (MI)/“Motor City TC" defend their title? US #1 800m star Ersula Farrow and Michigan State Finals 400m Champion Anna Jefferson lead the crew, currently ranked US #2 at 3:44.62. Benjamin Cardozo (NY) is the top seed at US #1 3:43.81. With three other squads quicker than 3:50, look for the fast heat to be a barn-burner between US #3 Western Branch (VA), US #4 Union Catholic (NJ) and US #5 Paul Robeson (NY). Sleeper pick? 3:47.03 performer Union Catholic with US #1 53.72 quarter miler Sydney McLaughlin on the anchor.

Girls 4x800m Relay

The top three ranked teams in the nation will battle for dominance, as all have run within three seconds of each other. Millrose Games Champion Mamaroneck (NY) is ranked US #1 at 9:09.36 ahead of fellow Empire State powers Bronxville (NY) at US #2 9:10.16 and Benjamin Cardozo (NY) at US #3 9:11.38.

Girls 1,600m Sprint Medley Relay

Rush-Henrietta (NY)/“Comets TC" enters with the nation's fastest time by three full seconds at 4:04.72 - that's what happens when you have 2:09 800m runner Sammy Watson on the anchor leg. If US #2 Kellenberg Memorial (NJ) can give anchor Jazmine Fray (2:15 this year, 2:09 personal record) enough of a lead, they have a shot at an upset.

Girls Distance Medley Relay

A young group leads the nation in the Girls DMR, as Suffern (NY)'s US #1 12:01.10 quarter is made up of two sophomores in Rachel Ludwikowski and Kamryn McIntosh, one seventh-grader in Mary Hennelly and a lone senior, Imani Solan. Whichever leg McIntosh runs will be a blowout in Suffern's favor as she is the National High School Record Holder for 600m at 1:28.78. US #3 12:03.40 performer Haddonfield (NJ) features Eastern States Mile Champion Brianna Gess, who anchored her squad with a 4:48 mile to runner-up honors last year. The stacked Cardozo (NY) squad (US #5 12:07.69) is always in the mix for relay titles.

Girls 4x55m Shuttle Hurdle Relay

Western Branch (VA) is strong in all the relays, but found their niche in the shuttle hurdle relay. They enter not only as the favorites for the title, but the school has three squads entered in the event and could easily walk away with multiple All-American teams. Last year, the quartet finished a heart-breaking runners-up to Hoover (AL), who set the National High School Record.

Boys 4x1 Mile Relay

The La Salle (RI) boys quartet boast four sub-4:20 milers, including US #3 4:08.76 performer Jack Salisbury, who will also chase the individual Mile Championship title. Matthew Bouthillette, Dan Paiva and David Principe have all run 4:17 for the full mile; all four have run between 4:05 and 4:07 for 1,500m. The group is ranked US #1 in the DMR at 10:18.14, but bypassing that event to contend for top honors here. It would take a herculean effort to top the National High School Record of 17:07.17 set last year by Christian Brothers Academy (NJ), wherein the legs split about 4:19.9/4:11.4/4:24.8/4:10. There are more than a few top-ranked 4x800m squads who should give La Salle some competition, as US #3 7:49.59 performer Davis (UT) and US #7 7:51.64 performer St. Anthony's (NY) are entered.

Boys 4x200m Relay

Newburgh Free Academy (NY) has owned the four-lap event this year, recording a US #1 mark of 1:27.64 - the nation's fastest by nearly a full second. If they can snap 1:27.6, they will make the US Top 10 All-Time list. But can they stay legal? Their first nation leader did not count after suffering a disqualification. If any handoffs are amiss, be sure that 1:28 performers C.H. Flowers (MD), DeMatha Catholic (MD), and Hillhouse (CT) will step in.

US #2 Cheltenham (PA) is bypassing this event to focus on the 4x400m and SMR, leaving the door open for several 1:29 teams to snag All-American honors.

Boys 4x400m Relay

With the Armory Track Invitational and Pennsylvania State Championship titles under their belts, the US #1 ranked Cheltenham (PA) boys are riding a season-long high into NBN Indoors. The 3:18.41 quartet is anchored by Pennsylvania State 60m/200m Champion Christian Brissett and US #1 1:50 800m runner John Lewis, who is bypassing individual events for the relays. One second behind at US #2 is Oak Park (MI)/“Motor City TC," followed by a slew of 3:20 performers in Huntington (NY), Western Branch (VA), Clara Barton (NY), defending champions Union Catholic (NJ) and Amsterdam (NY), who will race from the slower section.

Boys 4x800m Relay

New York dominates the front end of this race, as US #1 and US #2 performers Arlington (NY) and Shendehowa (NY) have butted heads all season long. Arlington won the Millrose Games Eastern 4x800m Championship with their nation-leading 7:47.29, thanks in large part to James Asselmeyer's 1:50.88 leg. Shendehowa recorded their season-best, US #2 7:49.55 with their runner-up finish at Millrose, but took revenge over Arlington in scoring the New York State Championship 'W.' A team that could rain on the New York show is US #3 7:49.59 performer Davis (UT), also entered in the 4x1 Mile. US #6 Fordham Prep (NY), US #9 Syossett (NY), US #10 Xavier (NY) and US #12 Amherst (MA) will be in the mix.

Boys 1,600m Sprint Medley Relay

Cheltenham (PA) has made no effort to hide their ultimate goal for the weekend - not only securing the National Championship title, but setting the National High School Record in the SMR. Anchor John Lewis owns the nation's fastest open 800m mark this year at 1:50.57, but is bypassing a shot at individual honors to focus his full attention on team goals. The national record is 3:24.69, set by Muir (CA) in 1997. Cheltenham's nation leader is 3:26.11. They will be pushed by US #2 3:27.4 performer Boys and Girls (NY), who boast US #1 1:18.4 600m runner Richard Rose on the anchor; and US #4 3:32.7 performer Oak Park (MI)/“Motor City TC," who will leave their anchoring duties to 1:53 800m runner Cameron Cooper.

Boys Distance Medley Relay

With US #1 La Salle (RI) opting to focus their energy on the 4x1 Mile, Eastern States Champions and US #2 Fordham Prep (NY) becomes the new favorite. Conor Lundy ran a 3:05 lead-off leg that go-round, but he does have 4:12 mile credentials this season and could make a strong anchor. The race will be a tight one, as US #4 Mansfield (MA) has run 10:19 this year and Christian Brothers Academy (NY) has run US #5 10:20. Defending national champions Cardinal O'Hara (PA) are ranked US #6, won the Pennsylvania Indoor State Championship and return a proven anchor in 4:12 miler Kevin James. Watch out for unranked Xavier Prep (NY) with 4:12 guy John Rice on the anchor.

Boys 4x55m Shuttle Hurdle Relay

You can never count out the Western Branch (VA) boys, who stand as not only defending national champions but National High School Record Holders at 29.40. But 2015 might be a year for new blood, as Phoebus (VA) has raced 30.38 this year. Medgar Evers (NY) and Highland Regional (NJ) are US #7 and US #6.