The Scoop: Recapping A Massive Weekend Of Action At New Balance Nationals Indoor

Anna Hall made a massive leap in the pentathlon on Saturday at New Balance Nationals Indoor, claiming a junior class record of 4,054 points and her second straight national title in the multis. 

And it came after her second straight national championship in the high jump on Friday, which saw her clear 5 feet, 8.75 inches. 

Hall's trajectory continues to climb. And even though she failed to win any single event of her five, she was no less than second in any of them. She capped off her work in the 800m, finishing second overall to Sterling Lester in a new personal best of 2:17.98. She went second in the high jump (5-8.5), second in the shot put (36-3.50), second in the long jump (18-10) and second in the 60mH (8.82). 

Her point total surpassed the junior class record of 3827 that was set by Long Beach Poly's Shana Woods back in 2005, and it trails only Olympian Kendell William's senior class and national record of 4,068 points, which she accomplished in 2013 before moving on to the University of Georgia and becoming a multiple All-American in the multis. 

Hall has one more year left to claim that title. 

Finals                                                          
  1 Hall, Anna                19 Littleton, CO             4054O
  2 Lester, Sterling          19 Kennesaw, GA              3976O
  3 Williams, Annika          19 College Station, TX       3765F
  4 Jones, Allie              18 Santa Barbara, CA         3496 
  5 Krafian, Anoush           18 Belmont, MA               3392 
  6 Royce, Chloe              20 St lambe, QC              3387 
  7 Smith, Brianna            20 Elkins Park, PA           3268 
  8 Higgins, Erin             18 Ashburn, VA               3232 


Meanwhile, Germantown Academy (PA) High senior Kyle Garland came up short of Gunnar Nixon's national record of 4,307 points in the pentathlon, though he did best his mark of 4,150 of which he set last year at the same event. 

Garland scored a US No. 4 all-time mark of 4,169 to win and was the only athlete to break 4,000 points, outpacing North Allegheny's Ayden Owens, who was second with 3,960 points. 

Garland was second in the 60mH (7.86), first in the long jump (23-2), first in the shot put (53-5.5), tied for second in the high jump (6-4) and fourth in the 1000m (2:54.93). 

And the moment had to be just slightly more rewarding, considering the fact that Garland overcame a slight injury that put him out for a few weeks this winter, forcing him to miss the USA Indoor Championships and the Pennsylvania indoor state championships. 

The win also marked Garland's second straight national title in the pentathlon at New Balance. 

Finals                                                          
  1 Garland, Kyle             18 Philadelphia, PA          4169J
  2 Owens, Ayden              18 Owens-Ayden-              3969O
  3 Bryan, Anthony            19 Santa Rosa Beach, F       3576F
  4 Kinder, Jett              20 Brentwood, TN             3526F
  5 Bolles, David             18 Phoenixville, PA          3492F
  6 Sheridan, Connor          18 East Greenwich, RI        3460F
  7 Martin, Jacob             18 York, ME                  3459F
  8 Costantini, Sebastian     19 Collegeville, PA          3439F