Quick Take
Overview of the day: Several national records were set during Day 2 of the NBNI. The most impressive of them all was the one established by Armand "Mondo" Duplantis of Lafayette, La., who once again rewrote the record books in the pole vault. He is not only the first high-schooler to clear the 18-foot barrier, but now can add 19 feet to his resume. Duplantis accomplished that feat with a winning height of 19-1!
Trey Cunningham of Winfield City, Fla., broke his own national record in the 60-meter hurdles with a winning time of 7.45 in the preliminary heat. The Florida State University commit will be aiming to break that mark again on Sunday when he competes in the finals.
As expected, East Orange, N.J., and Western Branch, Va., engaged in a fierce battle in the Shuttle Hurdle Relay. The two squads both broke the national record of 29.20. East Orange took the gold with a time of 28.62. Western Branch was timed in 28.64 for second. Comprising the winning relay for East Orange was Akeem Lindo, Cory Poole, Altraiq Dunson, Ibrahim Fobay. "I just wanted to make sure that we got this as a group," said Fobay, the anchor. "It's because of them, we won (this)."
Cameron Haught of Yellow Springs, Ohio, continued his dominance in the one-mile race walk, winning his second straight indoor title and third consecutive national crown - he is the defending outdoor titlist - with a time of 6:12.003.
Christian Brothers Academy, N.J., won bragging rights over fellow state rival Colt Neck to win the Championship 4xMile Relay. The quartet of Brian Hill, Tim McInerney, Noah Yuro and Colin Trigani combining for a time of 17:25.47. For the most part, the quartet ran similar splits with Brian Hill opening at 4:24, Tim McInerney and Noah Yuro clocking 4:20s and Colin Trigani finishing it off with a 4:19 anchor. "We wanted to run as fast as we could," Yuro said. "When we got the baton, just go out and don't wait for people to catch you." Colt Neck secured second at 17:28.70. The fastest spilt of the day belonged to the Cougars' anchor Jordan Brannan, who was timed 4:13.92.
Bullis, Md., and Western Branch, Va., set up what could be an exciting final on Sunday in the Championship 4x200m relay with a down-to-the-wire finish in the prelims. Bullis edged Western Branch at the line with both clocking a time of 1:27.33 (Tied for US #2).
Highlighted by a 1:50.29 anchor leg from Cameron Cooper, Oak Park, Mich., captured the Championship Sprint Medley Relay with a new nation No. 1 of 3:25.31, a time that ranks No. 4 all time. Oak Park was more than five seconds ahead of second-place finisher, Panther Creek, N.C., which was timed in 3:30.82. Cooper's quick split should serve as a confidence booster for the Championship 800m on Sunday where he'll match up against Virginia's Brandon McGorty in their assault on the national record of 1:49.21.
With his winning distance coming on his final attempt, William Henderson of Baltimore Poly, Md., won the Championship Long Jump with a leap of 24-8.5. Williams matched his all-time best, a distance that earned him second at last year's NBNI. Finishing second in the event by 1.5 inches was Jalen Seals of Fort Worth, Tx. Seals, a third-place finisher at last year's meet, leaped 24-7.
Multiple national record-holder Tyrese Cooper ran the fastest time in the 400m preliminaries with a methodical 47.13. The Miami Norland (Fla.) sophomore will be eyeing the meet record (46.57) and national mark (45.92) at Sunday's finals. Cooper also breezed to the fastest time in the 200m prelims with a 21.15, setting up a highly probable 200m-400m double on the meet's final day.
In an impressive display at the high jump area, three athletes went over seven feet with Rahman Minor of Pike, In., winning a jump off with a height of 7-0.25. Alabama's JuVaughn Blake andNew York's Daniel Claxton were second and third, respectively.
As expected, Jordan Geist of Knock, Pa., was your shot-put champion with a heave of 75-4.75.
The top six teams in the 4x800m went under 7:52 with Egg Harbor taking gold in 7:48.92. Fellow state rival St. Benedict was second in 7:50.48.
National Records
60-meter hurdles: Trey Cunningham, Winfield City, Al., 7.49 (preliminary heat)
Shuttle Hurdle Relay: East Orange, N.J., 28.62 (Western Branch, Va., also broke existing mark of 29.20), 28.64
Pole vault: Armand Duplantis, Lafayette, La., 19-1
National Champions
Boys' Racewalk: Cameron Haught, Yellow Springs, Oh., 6:12.003
Shuttle Hurdle Relay: East Orange, N.J., 28.62
4xMile: Christian Brother's Academy, N.J., 17:25.47.
Sprint Medley Relay: Oak Park, Mich., 3:25.
Long jump: William Henderson, Baltimore Poly, Md., 24-8.5
Pole vault: Armand Duplantis, Lafayette, La., 19-1
Pentathlon: Kevin Garland, Germantown Academy, Pa.,4,150
Shot Put: Jordan Geist, Knock. Pa., 75-4.75
4x800m: Egg Harbor, N.J., 7:48.92
High jump: Rahman Minor, Pike, In., 7-0.25
Quotables
After my first jump I knew if i made a few adjustments, In knew if I made a perfect jump I could make it. The last one was pretty close to perfect for my technique at the point."
"Armand "Mondo" Duplamis, after his record-setting performance in the pole vault at NBNI
Event of the Day: Towards the early evening of the meet, all eyes were on the pole vault. And for good reason. World junior record-holder Armand "Mondo" DuPlantis of Lafayette, La., didn't disappoint. The junior phenom opened at 17-5, a height that would win most national meets. A short time later, Duplantis did the unthinkable, clearing the magical 19-foot barrier with authority by winning the national title with a new U-20 World Record of 19-1. DuPlantis, who earned his latest record on his last attempt, simply demolished the old meet record of 17-11.25 set in 2015 by Deakin Volz of Bloomington, In. He also now has the family's bragging rights, surpassing his father, Greg Duplantis, who had a career best of 19-0.25. Finishing second and third in the event was KC Lightfoot of Lees Summit, Mo. (17-1) and Matt Peare of North Canton, Ohio (17-1)