By Steve Underwood

As we get current on the new DyeStat.com, we catch up on the 2013 indoor season to date, with New Balance Indoor Nationals looming ahead next weekend.  First in this series is the boys’ sprints and hurdles.

Long Sprints (200 through 600)

Cherry on top
If there was a boys’ Athlete of the Year named for indoors so far, it would probably have to be Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) senior Michael Cherry (ahead of record-setting 2-miler Ed Cheserek).  You don’t see records from the sport’s true legends taken down very often, especially in less-than-ideal conditions.  But that’s what Cherry did last weekend in the Virginia AAA state meet, ripping a lap and a half of the flat Boo Williams Sportsplex track in 33.05, surpassing William Reed’s 27-year-old 33.19 standard.  With no banked turns or oversized ovals to assist him, no one really by his side to race him, and having already blitzed a 1:03.13 500 earlier in the afternoon, Cherry still ran 300 meters faster than any prep before.

Cherry actually hadn’t led the list in that event until last weekend, but he has paced the nation over 500 most of the winter, having dropped under 1:04 four times now.  The best of those was an epic 1:02.61 at his district champs – #4 all-time – on the same Boo Williams track.  Since the 300 and 500 are the standard Virginia distances, Cherry hasn’t raced 400 meters but once this winter, and that was a fine 48.08, still US#4. 

Cherry’s success was hardly unexpected.  He had run US#4 in both races last year(34.08 and 1:04.20).  In the 400, he ran 46.88 indoors and then 46.37 outdoors in 2012.

Also making waves

• Laray Smith – The Xavierian (Brooklyn, N.Y.) senior has the national lead at 200 (21.38) and 400 (47.84), both achieved on the oversized oval at Kent State, Ohio.  He is also US#2 at 300 (33.96).  He’s run mostly in open and collegiate meets this winter for Zenith Velocity TC.
• Richard Rose – After a freshman class USR last winter, the Boys & Girls (Brooklyn, N.Y.) soph picked up where he left off in the 600.  His US#1 1:19.41 gave him the top American finish in the big Armory Collegiate race and ... was the best-ever by a 10th-grader.  Not entered in individual event at NBNI, but team is in SMR and 4x200.
• Ceolamar Ways – The Nease (Ponte Verda, Fla.) senior has had some tough races this winter; he finished .01 behind Kendal Williams in a blazing Jimmy Carnes 200, then suffered a DQ when contact occurred in the Brooks PR 400.  But he also captured a fast Kentucky 200 in US#3 21.48.

Looking ahead to NBNI
Everything points to Cherry dominating the 400, with the 46.57 meet record (or better) certainly within his grasp.  He’s the top returnee from 2012 and, despite his limited winter racing over two laps, his creds overall make him look almost unbeatable – though Smith and other sub-48 types are in the field.  The 200 is much more wide-open.  Cherry is going for the double, but in this race he’ll likely be one of more than a half-dozen strong contenders, including US#1 Smith, Ways, Williams and others.  Look for a fast, deep race.


Short Sprints (55, 60)

Burrell’s amps it up
The story of the year in the short dashes, without question, has been last week’s 60 dash at the Brooks PR Invite.  Most of last year’s finalists in the event were returning and the field represented the season’s top four in the 60 and some of the 55 dash list leaders, as well.  Among the latter group was Jones (Orlando, Fla.) senior Levonte Whitfield, the defending champ at Brooks as well as the 2012 adidas Dream 100 winner.

In the first semi, Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas) senior Cameron Burrell, coming in at US#1 in the 60 (6.69), triumphed in 6.73 – but then the heat was turned up in the second semi as Whitfield’s 6.64 led three under 6.70.

In response, Burrell amped it up like never before.  Focused and determined, he ran a near-perfect race and screamed across the line in 6.61, #2 all-time and the fastest since Casey Combest set the USR in 1999.  This time, four went 6.66 or better, with Whitfield stumbling at little at the start and occupying the fourth spot in what was surely the deepest prep 60 ever.  Read more about Cameron Friday on DyeStat.com.

Also making waves

• Jeryl Brazil – The Loranger senior owns the US#1 mark in the 55 with a 6.27 from last weekend’s state meet.  He hasn’t ventured outside Louisiana to race this winter, but with in-state rivals like Chris Lewis (6.30), he has been pushed plenty hard.
• Antonio James – The Buchholz (Gainesville, Fla.) junior raced just once this winter, but with his US#2 6.28 he took the best 55 of the year at the Jimmy Carnes Invite over Whitfield (6.32), Trayvon Bromell (6.33) and Kendal Williams (6.44).  James is not on the NBNI preliminary entries.
• Tatum Taylor – Pushing Burrell the hardest last weekend at Brooks PR was this O’Dea (Seattle) senior, who lowered his PR to US#2 6.63 (= #4 all-time) in his own backyard.  That came after a 6.67 prelim.  In both instances, he just edged fellow Evergreen State dashman Isaiah Brandt-Sims (6.67 and 6.64).  Taylor also took the Simplot 60 in 6.73 and raced well at U-W earlier.

Peek ahead to NBNI
Burrell was entered in the meet to run the 60, but scratched, according to officials.  Whitfield is reportedly a possible late entrant.  Otherwise, the story will be whether Brazil can make up for last year’s disappointment.  He led prelims at 6.76, but was DQ’d in his semi.  A trio of Canadians, two with sub-6.8 creds, could be his toughest competition.

55/60 Hurdles

Teammates turned rivals
There hasn’t really been a dominant hurdler nationally this winter so far, but one of the interesting little storylines that came out of the Brooks PR meet turned out to be when a pair of former McClure North (Florissant, Mo.) teammates clashed in the 60H.  Aaron Mallet is a senior at the school; Freddie Crittenden left the school after his sophomore year in 2011 and has been competing for Utica (Mich.) HS, where he dramatically improved to a US#1 7.76 the week before Brooks.  Mallet had gone 8.00, but also owned a US#2 7.36 over 55H.

Crittenden edged Mallet in the first semi, 7.82-7.83, while super Hoover (Ala.) junior Marlon Humphrey – himself a 7.80 performer on a hot streak – won the second in 7.83.  In the final, Humphrey hit a hurdle early and was out of it, but Mallet topped Crittenden this time, US#4 7.80 to 7.82. 

Also making waves

• Grant Holloway – The Grassfield 9th-grader opened eyes early and often this winter in the 55H, hitting a nation-leading 7.40 in January, then improving it to 7.35 in early February – setting a freshman USR.  He wasn’t quite able to match it in his state series, running high 7.40s in district, regional and state, and he’ll head up the Emerging Elite field at NBNI.
• Tony Brown – A Beaumont (Ozen, Texas) junior, he made a big jump at Simplot from 7.89 to a US#1 7.76 60H, the same mark Crittenden ran in Michigan the same day.  He also won the Carl Lewis Invite and was a 13.87w (2.1) performer last spring.
• Wellington Zaza – While several other national elites were in Seattle, Zaza was putting on his own show at the PTFCA (Pa.) champs at State College.  The Garnet Valley (Glen Mills) senior lowered his 60H PR from 7.91 to 7.84 in the prelims, then hit US#3 7.79 in both semis and finals.  He’s also a US top-six threat in both horizontal jumps.
• Ken Ward – Also hitting two big PRs last weekend was this Catholic-BR (Baton Rouge, La.) senior, who covered the 55H at his own state meet in 7.48, then a national-lead-tying 7.35.  Ward ran a best of 13.78nwi last spring.

Peek ahead to NBNI
The 60H field should be loaded with most of the nation’s best, including Crittenden, Zaza, and Humphrey, as well as North Carolina champ Isaiah Moore (7.41 55H/7.91 60H), Charlie Forbes from Alabama (7.95 60H), and Aaron Simpson from Virginia (7.37 55H).  All will be hoping to make the NBNI 60H final for the first time as last year’s affair was all seniors.

2013 Quick Boys Sprints/Hurdles Top 20s (plus ties)
For full DyeStat TFX Elite lists, go HERE
(USR in parentheses; o=denotes mark made on oversized track, h=hand time)

55m (6.08)
Time, name, state, grad. year
6.27 Jeryl Brazil LA 2013
6.28 Antonio James FL 2014
6.29 Kejavon Moore AZ 2013
6.30 Chris Lewis LA 2014
6.31 Paul Lewis AZ 2015
6.32 Levonte Whitfield FL 2013
6.33 Christian Clark AZ 2013
6.33 Trayvon Bromell FL 2013
6.34 Jahmaal Daniel NC 2015
6.36 Brian Smith NY 2013
---
6.37 Mustaqeem Williams VA 2014
6.37 Vincent Lowe VA 2014
6.37 Shakier Ryan LA
6.38 Travonn White AZ 2013
6.40 Ayo Raymond VA 2013
6.40 Devontay Doyle VA 2015
6.41 Marcus Taylor VA 2015
6.41 Jeremy Harden GA 2013
6.42 Michael Thomas-Brown VA 2013
6.42 Ricardo Griggs MD 2013
---
6.42 Joshua Belko PA 2014
6.42 Darius Watkins GA 2014
6.42 Dominique Irons NJ 2013
6.42 Vinnie Saucer CA 2013
(24)


60m (6.57)
Time, name, state, grad. year
6.61 Cameron Burrell TX 2013
6.63 Tatum Taylor WA 2013
6.64 Isaiah Brandt-Sims WA 2014
6.64 Levonte Whitfield FL 2013
6.71 Kendal Williams FL 2014
6.80 Greg Popylisen CO 2013
6.81 Molefi Maat TN 2014
6.82 Berkley Edwards MI 2013
6.84 Kyle Fulks TX 2013
6.84 Alex Mead CO 2013
---
6.84 Tremayne Acy TX 2013
6.85 Jonathan Boey IL 2013
6.86 Khalfani Muhammad CA 2013
6.87 Matt Moore TN 2013
6.87 Antwuan Davis TX 2013
6.87 Jazz Hayes KY 2013
6.88 Brandon Hill TX 2013
6.89 Marlon Humphrey AL 2014
6.89 Roy Bay MO 2013
6.89 Niager Mathis PA 2013
(20)
6.6h Ebriham Britton PA 2013


200m (20.69)
Time, name, state, grad. year
21.38o Laray Smith NY 2013
21.44 Elijah Hall-Thompson TX 2013
21.48o Ceolamar Ways FL 2013
21.62 Kendal Williams FL 2014
21.70 Alex Mead CO 2013
21.72o Paul Lucas AZ 2015
21.73o Ryan Clark GA 2015
21.78 Riak Reese OH 2013
21.79o Xarious Henderson GA 2013
21.81 Collin Heard TX 2013
---
21.81 Malik Summers TX 2013
21.82o Molefi Maat TN 2014
21.82 Darius Watkins GA 2014
21.83 Michael Cherry VA 2013
21.84 Casey Lenfest OH 2014
21.85o Grant Swinton GA 2014
21.87o Antwon Smith OH 2013
21.89 Tremayne Acy TX 2013
21.93o Deion Barker OH 2013
21.93 Anton Porter NY 2015
(20)


300m (33.05)
Time, name, state, grad. year
33.05 Michael Cherry VA 2013
33.96 Laray Smith NY 2013
34.13 Jon Alkins NY 2013
34.32 Byron Robinson VA 2013
34.40 Ayo Obadare NY 2013
34.44 Mustaqeem Williams VA 2014
34.54 Malik Jones NY 2014
34.63 Brian Smith NY 2013
34.70 Andrew Bolze MA 2014
34.70 Rai Benjamin NY 2015
---
34.78 Richard Rose NY 2015
34.81 Kiambu Gall NY 2015
34.82 George Flaviano MD 2013
34.83 Diamonte Corley NY 2013
34.87 Anton Porter NY 2015
34.89 Ryan Lucken MA 2013
34.93 Joshua Washington VA 2014
34.96 Semasa Oni NY 2014
34.96 Kivone Howard MA 2013
35.01 Ian Parnell NY 2012
(20)

400m (45.92)
Time, name, state, grad. year
47.84o Laray Smith NY 2013
47.85o Theodore Foster OH 2013
47.89o Alex Rohani CA 2013
48.07 Zyaire Clemes NJ 2014
48.08 Michael Cherry VA 2013
48.11 Marlon Humphrey AL 2014
48.24o Brylon Slay FL 2013
48.38 Bryan Arthur AL 2013
48.49 Josh Wallin ID 2013
48.49 Ayo Obadare NY 2013
---
48.56o Marcus Chambers WA 2013
48.58 Chinedu Amonu NJ 2013
48.68 Malik Jones NY 2014
48.75 Akhiel Savage NY 2014
48.75 Taylor McLaughlin NY 2015
48.76 Qhyle Elijah PA 2013
48.79 Nate Gainey MD 2013
48.79 Nick Stenderowicz PA 2013
48.80o Antwon Smith OH 2013
48.87 Richard Rose NY 2015
(20)


500m (1:01.68)
Time, name, state, grad. year
1:02.61 Michael Cherry VA 2013
1:04.13 Maury Sall MD 2014
1:04.37 Byron Robinson VA 2013
1:04.48 Marquavious Johnson NC 2013
1:04.53 Josiah Elliott NC 2013
1:04.69 Barry Harris NC 2012
1:04.69o Theodore Foster OH 2013
1:04.94 Nathan Kiley VA 2013
1:05.06 Corey Jones VA 2013
1:05.06 Derek Holdsworth VA 2014
---
1:05.08 Jamaree Murray NC 2014
1:05.39 Ricky Morgan VA 2014
1:05.42 Nate Gainey MD 2013
1:05.53 De'Quan Green-Gause VA 2013
1:05.65 Teague Peck VA 2013
1:05.66 Tim Virostek MD 2013
1:05.70 Deshawn Woods VA 2013
1:05.70 Andrew Gould VA 2014
1:05.77 Henry Kiedy NC 2014
1:05.81 Eric Ways VA 2013
(20)


600m (1:17.58)
Time, name, state, grad. year
1:19.41 Richard Rose NY 2015
1:20.17 Jonathan Greenwood NY 2013
1:20.77 Justin Alleyne NY 2013
1:20.86 Matt Murray NY 2014
1:21.10 Andre Rolim MA 2013
1:21.14 Dylan Murphy NY 2013
1:21.28 Lukas Chaya NY 2013
1:21.2h Issac Clark 2013
1:21.2h Ron Busby MD 2013
1:21.47 Jake Burcham NY 2014
---
1:21.49 Pat Rooney NY 2013
1:21.63 Lamar Bruton DE 2013
1:21.65 Zachary Emrich RI 2014
1:21.75 Sidgie Greene NY 2013
1:21.82 Chris Poggi NJ 2013
1:21.96 Joe Luongo MA 2015
1:22.14 Clark Mangini NJ 2013
1:22.1h Chris Koetnitzer NY 2013
1:22.25 Brian Sommers MA 2013
1:22.37 Mike Engesser NY 2013
(20)


55H (7.05)
Time, name, state, grad. year
7.35 Ken Ward LA 2013
7.35 Grant Holloway VA 2016
7.36 Aaron Mallet MO 2013
7.37 Aaron Simpson VA 2013
7.40 Hakiem Horton NJ 2013
7.41 Isaiah Moore NC 2014
7.42 Obafemi Animashaun NJ 2014
7.42 Jordan Martin MD 2012
7.42 Travis Phillips VA 2013
7.43 Charles Graham VA 2015
---
7.43 Jay Herbert NY 2014
7.44 Thomas Jones II NC 2013
7.45 Kamara Biawogi CA 2013
7.45 Davon Anderson SC 2014
7.47 Allan Frye GA 2013
7.47 Karl Cajuste NJ 2013
7.49 Wilfred Asamoah NJ 2013
7.49 Todd Townsend PA 2015
7.49 Misana Viltz CA 2014
7.49 Grant Zebold CA 2013
(20)
7.2h Randall Wall NJ 2013 1/25


60H (7.57)
Time, name, state, grad. year
7.76 Tony Brown TX 2014
7.76 Freddie Crittenden MI 2013
7.79 Wellington Zaza PA 2013
7.80 Aaron Mallett MO 2013
7.80 Marlon Humphrey AL 2014
7.83 James Traylor CA 2013
7.88 Davon Anderson SC 2014
7.91 Isaiah Moore NC 2014
7.95 Charlie Forbes AL 2013
7.96 Allan Frye GA 2013
---
8.01 Lloyd Siscard CA 2013
8.01 Steele Wasik OH 2014
8.01 Jordan Martin MD 2013
8.01 Devin Field TX 2013
8.02 Terrell Singleton GA 2013
8.03 Todd Townsend PA 2013
8.04 Jay Stone PA 2014
8.04 Alec Willard CO 2013
8.05 Daniel Zmuda WA 2013
8.07 Thomas Jones II NC 2013
---
8.07 Isaiah Johnson TX 2014
(21)