We may only be halfway through January, but the big performances have been coming strong and steady. We expect a big shakeup this weekend after the VA Showcase, live exclusively on MileSplit/FloTrack, but we wanted to set the scene heading into the biggest weekend yet.
We've already seen great action across the country, from Texas dipping its' toes into competition, to some of the largest volume meets in the country up in the Tri-State area. Familiar favorites and rising stars have made themselves heard alike.
MileSplit has taken a deep dive into the achievements and potential of these athletes, and have ranked them across disciplines. This list reflects how we feel the National Championships will shake out later this Season, and who will have the most impressive performances between them
We profile three new names to know below, as the list is always in flux.
Be sure to also check out the full list linked below as well.
MileSplit 50 Newcomers
Jane Hickey (Ursuline, NY) -
The Senior from New York is making up for lost time. A full-time soccer player until her Junior year, she made a splash last year by capping off her campaign with a 2:03.61 to take 4th at New Balance Outdoor Nationals over 800m. Now with another year's experience, she's ready to hit the ground running, and has done just that, soloing a US#6 All-Time mark in the 600m. She ran 1:28.68 for the off-distance, making for one of the strongest debut efforts in history. She's also run 54.86 in the 400m, only a taste of what's to come. Jane is headed to UNC-Chapel Hill in the Fall
Mariah Maxwell (APXP Dev, TX)
Her sister may have the jumping genes, but Maxwell shares her speed. Running with her sister at the Texas Indoor Champs, Maxwell clocked a new US-1 in the 60m dash over her sister, then came back to take second in the 200m at 22.97. Indoors is only a warmup for Outdoors down in the Lone Star State, but this speed at this time of year is undeniable. Indoor Nationals will provide a big stage, before the warmer weather hits, and the times start flying.
Ellie Barada (Bloomington South, IN)
The season is just starting up for the fellow UNC Commit. She's one of the top returners for the 600m after running 1:29.83 last year, but also took second at Nike Indoor Nationals in the 800m at 2:06.48. Her debut this year saw her pull down the National leader in the latter, already running 2:07.19 as a rust-buster debut. Her PR of 2:03.95 Outdoors is the goal this indoor season, and it puts her right with the best in the country, and also sets up quite the 4x800m at UNC in the coming years.