Fast Times, Major Duels Go Down At Mondo Elite Invitational

Florida and Texas have traditionally battled it out for the moniker of "Fastest State In The Country," but don't look now, because North Carolina is fast approaching. 

On Saturday, a superb amount of fast times and major duels went down at the Mondo Elite High School Invitational in Winston Salem. 

Here's a few of the particulars: 

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1. The Kayla Davis Show Continues

The phenom from Providence Day School (NC) once again lowered her career best at 400 meters, resetting another state record as she dipped below 53 seconds to win the invitational girls race in 52.96 seconds. That effort gives her a US No. 2 mark -- just behind Athing Mu's 52.55 -- and she became just the second girl nationally to run under 53 seconds. Davis also broke the freshman national record in the 400m previously set by Kendall Baisden (Detroit Country Day, MI) in 2010.

2. Remember The Name Randolph Ross 

The Garner (NC) High School senior proved his state record at 300 meters last weekend at The VA Showcase was no fluke, as he once again put together a superb race and posted a US No. 3 mark of 47.87 seconds at 400 meters, becoming just one of three boys nationally to go under 48 seconds at the distance. Ross is now US No. 3 in the 300m and 400m and US No. 7 in the 500m. And he may not even be done. 

3. Speaking Of Southern Durham's Khaleb McRae

He may have lost to Ross in the 400m, but McRae made sure to double back in the 500m and put forward a show. The sprinter posted a US No. 6 time of 1:04.81, hitting an elite threshold for sprinters at the distance. Just eight boys have accomplished that feat in 2019 so far. 

4. The Jenna Hutchins-Sasha Neglia Duel Continues

This matchup could be fun over the next two years. In the fall, Hutchins capped off a wonderful cross country season with her first state championship in Tennessee by beating Neglia -- though not without some controversy -- at the line in the state's big school division. The Science Hill freshman followed by qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals, where she finished as an All-American in ninth, while Neglia went on to Nike Cross Nationals, where she was 15th. Now, just a few months later, the duel continues. Hutchins edged Neglia at the line with a time of 4:57.32. Neglia was second in 4:57.54. This particular matchup could yield some seriously fast times over the next few months. 

5. Florida's Top Half Miler Takes Elite Mile

If you can't get a race in your home state, you find one, right? That's what Estero (FL) High School senior and University of Florida signee Hugh Brittenham did, as he accepted an invitation for the elite mile at JDL's facility in North Carolina and followed with an impressive win, in just the second indoor performance of his career. The 1:51.92-half miler went 4:17.68, battling Cary senior Anton Idhammar at the line (4:17.71). Idhammar was doubling back after running 4:14 in the mile last week in Virginia. 

6. Southeast Raleigh's Relay Squad Was Back At It

Maybe the boys from Raleigh didn't set a national record in Virginia last week in the 4x200, but they sure did come back a week later with much to prove. One of the country's top relay squads went a US No. 4 mark of 1:28.73, which set a new facility record and reset the team's own aspirations moving forward in the season. Watch out for this team come nationals season.