Girls
The girls one and two mile fields are loaded at the front. The girls mile features the top 6 milers in the country with co-US#1's Emily Lipari NY and Maddie Meyers WA leading the way. Joanna Stevens VA, US#2, Cory McGee MS, US#3, and Kathleen Stevens VA, US#4, are all so close to Lipari and Meyers that it could be anyone's race. US#5 Aisling Cuffe NY should also be in the mix if there is a fast early pace. Rounding out the field are Arianna Vailas NH, US#8, Joelle Amaral NJ, US#11, Sarah Barry RI, US#12, and Colleen Schmidt NY, US#13.
Kathleen, Joanna, and Aisling will all double back in the 2 mile and they are ranked US#1-3 respectively. But the party could be spoiled by a fresh Emily Sisson MO, who is currently ranked US#1 in the 3k with a blistering time of 9:25.70. Foot Locker Champ Megan Goethals MI, US#4, is another favorite to take the title. Rounding out the field are Roxanne Henningson NY, US#10 and Kathleen Lautzenheiser VA, US#13. This race is going to be fast.
The Shot and Weight are also going to be big for the girls at NIN with Melissa Kurzdorfer NY leading the way in both events. She is ranked US#1 in the shot and US#3 in the weight. Vanessa Stewart NY, US#2, Rachel Serafin PA, US#3, and Baillie Gibson WY, US#4 join Melissa in the shot. Karen Henning NY, US#6, Taylor Dupont GA, US#7, Alexandra Tolich OH, US#9, and Angela Onye RI, US#10, join her in the weight throw.
Jen Clayton NY, US#1, is the one to beat in the girls long jump as the only girls over 20' on the season. She will be flanked with some talent with Nicole Cummings NY, US#3, Nikki Nunn VA, US#4, and Jazmen Townsend VA, US#5. Rounding out the field are Courtney Kedra PA, US#8, Mariah Browne NJ, US#12, and Deanna Latham MA, US#13.
The girls triple jump will feature the top jumper in the nation with Desmonae Gray VA.
The girls high jump is loaded with talent. Emily Kianka NJ, US#1, is on a roll with a jump of 5-11 and looks very confident. Behind her, by only an inch, are Taylor Burke OH, Moira Cronin MA, and Lacey Shuman MD. Also competing is 5-8.25 jumper Sarah Palmer NY.
The girls pole vault included the top two jumpers, both from Louisiana, who will be competing in both the NIN and NSIC meets. They have traded US#1 all season but that honor currently belongs to Morgann LeLeux at 13-6. Merritt Van Meter is at 13-3. Emily Urciuoli NJ, US#5, will also be competing at both events. Also in the vault are Sarah Birkmeier MI, US#8, and Lauren Terstappen PA, US#9.
The 60 meter hurdles will include Kendell Williams GA, US#3, and Jasmin Stowers SC, US#6.
Kyle Plante NY, US#3, will attempt to double in the 200 and 400. In the 200 she is the favorite but will have to contend with Briana Nelson SC, US#12.
In the 400 the roles are reversed with Briana Nelson leading the way at US#2. Leah Nugent PA, US#5, and Plante, US#6, will be chasing her down. Michelle Brown NJ, US#9, will also be in the hunt.
The girls 800 meter run features 5 US top-10 performers. Chloe Schmidt PA, US#4, leads the way at 2:11.54 with Molly McNamara NJ, US#5, close behind at 2:11.82. Shelby Houlihan IA, US#6, Claudia Francis NY, US#7, and Marie Demedicis AL, US#9, round out the field.
The girls 5000 meter run features three US top-10 2 milers. Lindsay Crevoiserat CT, Megan Venables NJ, and Roxanne Henningson NY, will compete.
Boys
The boys long jump and triple jump have been led by the same athlete all season, Carlton Lavong PA. Lavong is US#1 in the long with a 24-11 and US#1 in the triple with a 49-11.50. The championships are his for the taking as are the magical barriers of 25' and 50'. Jarrett Samuels NC, US#2, Marquis Dendy MD, US#3, and Corey Crawford NJ, US#4, will be right on his heels. Tom Hopkins PA, US#8, and Berfrantz Charles NY, US#9, round out a deep field.
In the triple jump Kendrick Smith VA, US#2, is Lavong's closest competitor. Marcus Dean VA, US#8, Steven Bell NC, US#9, and John Minott NC, US#10, round out the field.
The distance events are loaded for the boys with the boys mile featuring US#2 Alex Hatz NY and US#3 Colby Alexander OH. John Bleday MA, US#4 and Omar Kaddurah MI, US#7, also have fast miles this year. A late emerger is Kirubel Erassa GA, who recently split 4:13.8 during an amazing triple that included a 1:56 800 and 9:05 3200. Also flying under the radar this year is Anthony Kostelac VA, who has very impressive closing speed.
The boys 800 meter run is headlined by defending champion Billy Ledder DC, US#1, who is looking better than at this point last year. Nick Kaiser MI, US#2, and Mark McCauley ME, US#4, are his main challengers. Anthony Kostelac VA is in the 800 as well, so watch out for his speed.
The US#1 time of 8:58.81 by Jon VItez NJ could be in some serious jeopardy with the field in the 2 mile run. Jim Rosa NJ, US#3, and Tyler Udland NJ, US#4, are under 9:10 and have been running well. Jake Hurysz NC, US#7 and Chris Bendtsen CT, US#10, will also be pushing the pace up front.
The 5000 meter run features Kirubel Erassa GA, who has emerged as a serious contender with the strength shown by his performance last week.
The boys pole vault will be a 'rare-air' affair with the likes of Michael Woepse CA, US#1, in the field. Woepse cleared 17-00 last week outdoors. Paul Malquist GA and Mark Thomas TX have both cleared 16-6 indoors this year. Cory Duggan NY and Seth Arnold TX are both at 16-00.
Blake Heriot OH, US#1 in the 60 meter dash and the 400 meter dash, is favored to win both for double gold. Both races will be tightly contested as the best in the nation surround Blake in both events. In the 60 Fuquwan Green NC, US#2, and Shawn Smith KS, US#3, will be right on his heels.
In the 400 Brady Gehret PA, US#2, will be running the 400 fresh, and will most certainly be right with Blake down the stretch. William Henry OH, US#4, and James Harris AL, US#5, will be in the thick of things as well.
In the 200 meter dash Fuquwan Green NC, US#4, is the clear favorite among those entered.
The 60 meter hurdles will be a hot event with 4 US top-10 performers in the race. Trevor Brown CO, US#1, Kendall Hayes TX, US#3, Stephen Lewis PA, US#4, and Jordan Moore GA, US#9, will all be tightly bunched.
Alec Faldermeyer NY, US#1, will be looking to win the weight throw in both championship meets and is the clear favorite here. Brett Hardin GA, US#4, Dustin Brode OH, US#5, and Max Milder RI, US#7, will be aiming for Alec in hopes of a big throw.
Stephen Lewis PA and Tanner Anderson NC have both cleared 6-10 this season and look capable of cracking 7-00. It might take that to win.
Dominic Filiano NH, US#5, and Isaiah Simmons VA, US#6, are the favorites in the boys shot put competition.
Kevin Lazas TN and Gunnar Nixon OK will go head to head for the boys pentathlon win