* Zack Poekert, Cody Johnston and Rickey Williams are among the athletes to watch headed to adidas Outdoor Nationals this weekend in Greensboro
Photo Credit: Compiled
WATCH LIVE: ADIDAS OUTDOOR NATIONALS
BEGINS AIRING ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16, AT 8:30 A.M. EST
We're just days away from adidas Outdoor Nationals, which will showcase over 3,500 athletes from across the U.S. in a no-holds-barred track and field competition on the North Carolina A&T track.
National elites, U.S. No. 1 athletes and a selection of top performers from Virginia, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and elsewhere are expected to throw down from Friday to Sunday in Greensboro, North Carolina.
But while there are surefire stars slated to compete, we'll also have an array of young up-and-comers and underrated athletes making their way into fields.
The stars of tomorrow will no doubt show themselves at adidas Outdoor Nationals.
We've previewed a selection of the top storylines below, as well as the top action to watch out for on the boys side.
Related Links:
Over 3,500 athletes slated for adidas Outdoor Nationals
Top Boys Athletes To Watch:
The Top Boys Athletes: Jerrae Hawkins, IMG Academy (FL), 100m; Lassale Hewlett, Heart of Georgia (GA), 100m; Rickey Williams, Camden County (GA), 400m; Michael Long, St. Sebastian Strider (VA), 800m; Owen Clemons, Cleveland (TN), mile, Zack Poekert, Cypress Creek (FL), 5K; Charles Wall-Davis, Nansemond River (VA); Cody Johnston, Hobart (IN), pole vault; Jacob Cookinham, Bishop Stang (MA), shot put; Mikel Udengwu, Norwalk Glenn (CA), discus; Kenneth Byrd, East Burke (NC), decathlon.
Why You Need To Pay Attention To These Athletes:
Cody Johnston, Hobart (IN): He's just one inch shy of tying the Indiana state record in the pole vault with his 17 foot, 6 inch best from his Regional performance in May. With just a few weeks remaining over his high school career, Johnston has an opportunity to go big. His last three meets have all seen him clear 17 feet and he has skied over that mark in seven meets out of 12 so far in 2023. He currently is U.S. No. 3 in the country, trailing Wyatt Stewart's 17-7.75 mark.
Kenneth Byrd, East Burke (NC): He's currently ranked No. 1 in the decathlon in the U.S. with his score of 7,003 from the Raven Relays in April. But that was his only foray into the decathlon this season, so Byrd might just aim for a bar of 7,300 or more at adidas. Only 10 athletes in high school history have gone over 7,300 points. Byrd's specialty lies in the pole vault, where he's cleared 16-4.75; and the jumps, where he's earned marks of 6-6.75 and 21-10 in the high jump and long jump, respectively.
Michael Long, St. Sebastian Strider (VA): He might be one of the more underrated middle-distance runners in the U.S. His PR of 1:50.71 puts him at U.S. No. 22 in the country and that performance was last achieved in May at the Draper Invitational. With some added pressure, perhaps Long, who currently leads all Virginia runners at the distance, could attain a sub-1:50, a performance that would bump him into the top 12 800m runners in the country.
Rickey Williams, Camden County (GA): Williams (above) finished fourth in a loaded GHSA Class 7A 400m championship in May, clocking a time of 47.30. But he owns a best of 46.59 from the Christian Coleman Invitational, which makes him the favorite in this field. A low-46 second performance would move Williams, a high school junior, up the rankings in Georgia and within the U.S.
Why The 5K Could Be A Fun Watch
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Only three boys are entered in the 5K, but the race could end up being one of the great battles of adidas Outdoor Nationals.
For starters, this race will end the first night of action on Friday in Greensboro. As the humidity drops and the lights kick on, you'll find a battle between three runners who all own personal records for 3,200m between 9:09 and 9:17.
Zack Poekert, a senior from Cypress Creek in Florida and a U.S. Naval Academy commit, ran 9:09.45 for 3,200m in March, a Florida No. 7 time, and finished fourth in FHSAA Class 3A 1,600m final.
He'll face up against Tyler Surface, a high school junior from North Raleigh Christian Academy with a 9:16 personal best, and Noah Bender, a University of Chicago recruit who ran 9:17.85 for 3,200m at the Glenn Loucks Games.
Making matters more interesting, this will be the first outdoor 5K for all three boys.
But that could just make the final 1,600m that much more compelling. With some big moves bound to be made in the final laps, it's possible that this trio makes a run at sub-15.
On The Line Analysis:
The crew breaks down three big storylines heading into adidas Outdoor Nationals this weekend in Greensboro
The Best Sprint Event This Weekend:
Boys 100m Championship
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Potential Field: Jerrae Hawkins, Lassale Hewlett, Jace Coleman
Hawkins, a 4-star wide receiver from IMG Academy, scored a 100m best of 10.37 from the Texas Relays in April. The Florida-based star could be the favorite here. But as we saw last year, there could be some major upsets brewing.
You shouldn't sleep on Hewlett, a senior from Georgia who's run 10.43 seconds and finished third in his Georgia 4A final, or Jace Coleman, a high school senior from Stephenson (GA) who ran 10.44 seconds to beat Hewlett in that same state championship race.
A total of five athletes enter with seed times under 10.5, while 12 are under 10.6.
Of course, it makes no difference if you don't make the finals. So the prelims should be spicy.
Adidas Outdoor Nationals Throwback:
Heart of Georgia's Danarrion Ard broke away from the pack in the final 30 meters to win the 100m last year at nationals
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Over 3,500 athletes slated for adidas Outdoor Nationals