* Jane Hedengren and Elizabeth Leachman return to the track to face off for the second time since September
Photo Credit: Raymond Tran/MileSplit
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NEW YORK CITY -- The city of bright lights is ready for the nation's best track and field athletes.
Thousands of them will descend upon the Armory from Friday through Sunday for the third edition of Nike Indoor Nationals.
Who are the top athletes to watch?
We compiled nine can't-miss standouts below who will be sure to make an impact over the weekend. Check back on MileSplit for more coverage of the meet.
Related Links:
Elizabeth Leachman talks records and Nike Indoor Nationals
9. MacKenzie Dagrosa, San Antonio Reagan (TX)
Class of 2024
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The Texan owns a U.S. No. 9 mark of 5 feet, 10 inches from her lone indoor performance in January at the Carl Lewis Invitational, but she's already up to 5-10 outdoors, with that mark coming this past weekend at the Smithson Valley Ranger Relays.
A national title isn't out of the question for Dagrosa, who enters nationals tied with Kya Crooke with an outright clearance of 5-10.
The opportunity is there for the Texan to nab a title.
8. Rachael Uvieghara, Palm Harbor University (FL)
Class of 2024
Event: 60m
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The benefit of being a member of the Nike Elite crew is that you get to rep yourself in meets like Nike Indoor Nationals. This certainly applies for Uvieghara, who has run just twice over the indoor season.
She did, however, line up at the Millrose Games, where she clocked a time of 38.89 in the 300m.
The 60m, however, is more of her jam and she enters with a U.S. No. 23 time of 7.45.
Don't be deceived, though. The University of Southern California signee has clocked a wind-legal 11.38 seconds in the 100m from the Florida State Championships last year and, if her start is cleaned up, she's a real threat to win the title here.
7. Tahir Hines, Allatoona (GA)
Class of 2024
Event: Weight throw
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It's put up and shut up time. Hines has been at the top of the national rankings in the weight throw all year long. But that 77 foot, 2.5 inch throw came on Jan. 7.
It's been over two months since. So ...does his performance hold up?
Hines will have questions to answer as he battles it out with U.S. No. 2 Charles LaFore, U.S. No. 4 Lander Marak and U.S. No. 10 Evan Martinez.
6. Le'Ezra Brown, Dudley (NC)
Class of 2024
Event: 60mH
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Call it a hunch, but we think Brown will have a chance here to steal a victory. The North Carolina athlete was a surprise hit at The VA Showcase in January and he still owns a U.S. No. 6 time of 7.80 in the 60mH.
Brown's performances have only gotten better with time and he recently netted a North Carolina indoor title with a career best time of 7.25 in the 55mH. We think this under-the-radar athlete can impart some damage in the finals of the 60mH.
5. Josie Donelson, Lake Oswego (OR)
Class of 2024
Event: 400m
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The Lake Oswego athlete currently owns a U.S. No. 2 time of 53.44 in the 400m and, better yet, she hasn't been afraid to race. She took her talents all the way to the U.S. Indoor Championships in February, where she clocked that career best effort above.
This weekend, Donelson might be the favorite in this race, though she will match up against U.S. No. 1 Bayleigh Minor, who will need to prove that time of 53.05 from January.
Lucky for these two, the stakes will invite big moments. Others to consider in the 400m include Skyler Franklin, Skylar Brazzell and Payton Smith.
4. JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, -- Emerald Ridge (OR)
Class of 2025
Event: 60mH and long jump
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Strategy. That's what Gero-Holt is applying here.
Instead of following up her U.S. No. 1 and career-best high jump mark of 6-2.5 at nationals, she's instead opting for the 60mH and long jump.
Why?
It's pretty easy to reason. Gero-Holt is cleaning up her multi-events as she prepares to go after the high school national record in the heptathlon over the spring, not to mention a possible U.S. Olympic Trials appearance. The high school junior is fast-developing future star, and so we're just going to sit back and watch as she does what she does. Cook, Jacieonna, cook.
3. Tamrat Gavenas, Philips Academy Andover (MA)
Class of 2025
Event: 2-mile
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The COROS NextGen athlete is entered in the boys 2-mile championship and he is not to be slept on. While he's arriving from a slew of smaller meets, he's got some real credentials: He's gone 2:31.01 in the 1K, 4:12.07 in the mile and 8:14.94 in the 3K.
That 3K mark, in fact, is ranked No. 6 in the country, No. 1 in Massachusetts and No. 2 all-time in the state. He's also the reigning third-place finisher at Foot Locker Nationals, so the man knows how to race.
Now, these championship distance races are always dictated by the pacing and strategy of those in charge. Gavenas will have to deal with the likes of Berkley Nance, Ty Steorts, Keegan Smith, Nathan Neil, Will Conway and Noah Valyo. But competition only makes one stronger, right?
2. Jonathan Simms, Allen (TX)
Class of 2025
Event: 400m
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The Allen High School star is entered in the 400m, where he has a real challenge in front of him. The objective will be to win, for sure, but how about time?
Can Simms break 47 seconds? Will he aim even higher than that?
The boys 400m is among the most competitive fields at Nike Indoor Nationals and strategy can make or break a race like this. But in a perfect world, Simms gets two runs at this distance, both in the prelims and the finals. He'll face Hudson Allain, Keayari Thompson, Ade Lloyd, Xai Ricks and Jayden Horton-Mims.
Let's just see what happens.
1. Jane Hedengren, Timpview (UT)
Class of 2025
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Hedengren has her sights squarely in the girls 2-mile, where she will go mano a mano with Boerne Champion star Elizabeth Leachman, who Hedengren beat at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in September.
Hedengren has popped back into incredible form after an injury and has the potential here to not only go after a sub-10 effort, but maybe even dip under 9:50.
The COROS NextGen athlete and Leachman are, on paper, the women to beat. How will they compete, and just what will they throw at each other out on the track? We can't wait to find out how this race unfolds.
Related Links:
Nike Indoor Nationals' preliminary heat sheets
Nike Indoor Nationals' meet page