* Alivia Williams ran 53.88 in the 400m on Saturday at New Balance Nationals
Photo Credit: David Nguyen/MileSplit
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by Maxx Bradley - MileSplit
BOSTON -- The penultimate day of New Balance Indoor Nationals kept pace with the previous two, with another national record headlining the day and with a handful of top-tier times sprinkled throughout.
On Thursday, American Fork frontman Daniel Simmons brought his boys home in 4:06 in the four-by-mile. On Saturday, Simmons stepped up to the line with 25 laps on deck and took care of business, winning his third NBNI title and smashing the national record. Simmons bested Tyrone Gorze's record of 13:56.82 from a year ago, nearly catching Connor Burns' outdoor record of 13:37.8. Simmons became just the third high schooler to ever break 13:40 and the first to do it indoors -- Patrick Koon later became the fourth to break 14 minutes at Nike Indoor Nationals.
A lot of the time, the preliminary rounds leading up to the final don't see incredibly fast times, as it's more of a 'survive and advance' mentality.
The 60m semi-finals were the polar opposite, as Parkland Magnet IB's Antwan Hughes Jr.and IMG Academy's Caine Stanley threw down nasty 6.65 marks in the second round, as they both punched their ticket to the final tomorrow and stole the bulk of the momentum.
In the second to last race of the day, the ladies of Bullis did what they do best ... win. After winning the 2023 NBNI 4x200m title a year ago, the goal of repeating was pretty simple. And the Bulldogs didn't have to do anything crazy, winning in 1:35.84; they were the only team under 1:39.
With one day to go, the performances haven't been short of electrifying. Get yourself caught up to speed with the third day of the 2024 New Balance Nationals Indoor.
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STORY OF THE DAY
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In a 4x200m final where half of the entered teams either DNF'd or were DQ'd, it's pretty incredible to even finish the race, let alone win it. Archbishop Carroll (DC) edged out IMG Academy (FL) 1:26.47 to 1:27.02.
STAT OF THE DAY
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A Mere Two Points Separate Boy's Pentathlon Finishers
Even after running, jumping and throwing, Jackson Mackay only edged out Cooper Williams 3833-3831 in the NBNI multi championship. Mackay, one of Canada's finest, earned a PB while setting new meet, Ontario and Canadian records in the event.
MVP OF THE DAY
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Daniel Simmons, American Fork (American Fork, Utah)
I mean, come on! A new indoor national record after calling his shot just a few weeks ago? Simmons shattered the previous record by roughly 18 seconds, winning by 36 seconds in 13:38.86. Simmons also became just the third high schooler to break 13:40 and was the first to do so indoors.
Boys Pentathlon: It may have taken five events and a day to do so, but Canada's finest Jackson Mackay, a junior out of Sir Frederick Banting SS claimed the NBNI Pentathlon title. Mackay set a meet, Ontario and Canadian pentathlon record along the way, edging out Cooper Williams by two points in 3,833.
Girls Pentathlon: After shattering the meet record by nearly 200 points and winning the competition by over 100, IMG Academy junior Yuliya Maslouskaya pulled away after winning the long jump in 19-2, beating out Houston Christian's (TX) Cate Bryant, 3627 to 3518.
Boys Championship 60mH: Following the first two rounds of qualifying, Bradley Franklin, a senior out of Thompson (AL) looks to be the favorite heading into teh final, with a 7.66 time leading the field. Dai'vontay Young and Yashahya Brown followed Franklin with 7.72 and 7.74 performances in the semis.
Girls Championship 60mH: Just missing out on the meet record, Union Catholic's Taylor Cox led all qualifiers in 8.30, just missing her PB and the meet record. Atlantic's (FL) Thalia Waters was the next fastest in 8.40.
Boys Championship 60m: What do you get when you put the top sprinters in the nation in the same building? Quick prelims. Antwan Hughes Jr. of Parkland Magnet IB(NC) NC) and IMG Academy's (FL) Caine Stanley led everyone with 6.65 apiece. That's the No. 3 time ran in the country this season.
Girls Championship 60m: A meet record in the semi-final? We can only imagine what that will mean for the final. Brianna Selby, the USC commit out of Indian River (VA) clocked 7.21, breaking the year-old meet record and lowering her PB by a lengthy margin. Montverde Academy's (FL) Adaejah Hodge was next fastest in 7.29.
Boys Championship 400m: In the opening round of the quarter-mile sprint, noneotther than Bullis' (MD) Quincy Wilson ran 46.69, leading all qualifiers. Leonia's Jaden Marchan of was next up in 47.96.
Girls Championship 400m: The Montverde Academy pair of Alivia Williams and Michelle Smith led the way for all qualifiers in 53.88 and 54.22.
Boys Championship (Sec. 1-5) 2-Mile: With the final two heats playing out on the final day, Benjamin Gabelman, a senior out of Wester. North clocked 8:58.02, while Loomis Chaffee's Alex Fisher was runner-up in 9:03.17.
Girls Championship (Sec. 1-5) 2-Mile: Holly Barker out of Laguna Hills (CA) ran away with the win on Saturday, solo'ing a 10:11.42, while Allison Lee of Plainsboro North was second in 10:35.33.
Boys Championship 200m: Caine Stanley is a man on a mission in Boston this weekend, this time leading the way in the 200m prelims, running 21.06, with Jake Odey-Jordan of Archbishop Carroll behind him in 21.34.
Girls Championship 200m: Another day, another Adaejah Hodge masterclass. The Montverde Academy senior was all on her own in the prelims, leading the field in 23.65. Freshman teammate Dasia Reed was next in 24.23.
Boys Championship 5000m: Daniel Simmons didn't only win his second national title of the weekend, but also shattered the indoor 5k record of 13:56.82. Simmons ran 13:38.86, becoming the third high schooler to break 13:40.
Boys Championship 4x200m: Eight teams toed the line, while only four went on to finish. Navigating their way through different levels of chaos, Archbishop Carroll (DC) took down IMG Academy (FL) in 1:26.47 to 1:27.02
Girls Championship 4x200m: Would it be a NBNI without a Bullis (MD) national title? Just like they did a year ago, the Bulldogs dominated from the get-go, winning in 1:35.84 to the South Dade Express Track Club's 1:39.89.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
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"Just pick up my feet and get closer to 'em. You know I don't know how I did it if I'm being honest."
Jackson Mackay, Sir Frederick Banting (Canada)
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The Boys Pentathlon champion had a pretty simple approach to keeping the leaders in his sights throughout the final event of the competition, the 1000m.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
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Parkland Magnet IB superstar Antwan Hughes JR celebrates after running the top qualifying time in the 60m semi-final
Photo Credit: David Nguyen/MileSplit
* Alivia Williams ran 53.88 in the 400m on Saturday at New Balance Nationals
Photo Credit: David Nguyen/MileSplit