For Olivia Baker, is the third time a charm?
By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor
There were so many ways for Olivia Baker jump into the New Balance Nationals Indoor championships.
After all, she's a member of three No. 1 ranked relays for Columbia NJ, an additional two US#3 relays and is versatile individually from 200 meters to 800 meters.
But it's pretty obvious that her heart is set on the 400 meters and for good reason. Baker has finished second in the 400 two years in a row and in 2014 she is ranked No. 1.
Baker ran 54.09 seconds to win the New Jersey Meet of Champs title on a flat track. Last year, she ran 53.99 seconds in the NBNI final while Precious Holmes won in 53.43.
Baker will also have some work on the relays. Columbia is entered in the SMR and the 4x400.
Since NBNI came to The Armory four years ago, no sprinter has won twice among the 60, 200 and 400 in the same year or consecutive years.
Any measure of sprint "dominance" has been confined to a single event. There are a few reasons for that. First, the 60 is run in three rounds, so pair it with the 200 is not easy. And the 200-400 combo has proven to be too difficult because the competition is so great.
A second sprinter who could make the step from runner-up to champion this year is Canadian Bolade Ajomale, who is entered in the 60 meters. Ajomale finished second to Jeryl Brazil last year and placed seventh in 2012.
This year, Ajomale will have a whole new set of Americans to contend with, including US#1 Trentavis Friday from North Carolina, who has run 6.70. That's the same time Brazil ran to win it in 2013. Malcolm Johnson OH and Eli Minor MI have both run faster than 6.80.
Mikiah Brisco from Baton Rouge, La., who recently committed to hometown school Louisiana State, is US#1 in the girls 60 after running 7.31 at her state meet. Senior Hannah Cunliffe WA, who has run independent of high school for most of her high school career, is US#2 at 7.35.
Cunliffe is in the difficult Heat 6 of the 60. It also includes Torie Robinson of Winslow Township NJ (US#2 6.95 for 55 meters) and Carolyn Brown VA (US#4 6.99 for 55).
In the boys 200, it's impossible to overlook Trenten Beram of Arlington NY. Beram ran at The Armory in nine separate meets this season, including the NYRR Youth Championships on Sunday. That day, he ran US#4 21.57.
It could take something faster to win the national title. Deondre McClain AL, Darryl Haraway PA, Trentavis Friday NC, Nicholas Gray OH, Ivy Dobson NV, Anton Porter NY, Chris Ntreh TX and Zyaire Clemes NJ are all capable.
Gabriella Cantrell of Oakland, Calif. is at the top of the girls 200 entries, with US#1 23.77. The USC recruit may be the class of the field but if home-track advantage comes into play don't overlook sophomore Symone Darius of New Rochelle NY, who has enjoyed a breakout season and is US#2 with 24.02. Dasia Pressley, the Pennsylvania state champion, and sensational freshman Lauren Rain Williams of Los Angeles, could also be in the mix.
The 400 meters here two years ago -- when Najee Glass beat Aldrich Bailey, Michael Cherry and Arman Hall as three of them ran in the 46s -- was one of the best races in meet history. And there are some people who believe this years's race could be almost as strong.
Zyaire Clemes from Trenton Central NJ ran 47.13 here to win Eastern States and with a US#1 probably deserves the tag of favorite. He was second last year. New York state champion Rai Benjamin has grown by leaps and bounds in this event over the past few weeks and junior Richard Rose, the PSAL champion, was fifth in this event last year.
In the girls 400, there is Baker, who will try to take one step forward after back to back runner-up finishes. The top challengers include Anna Jefferson MI, a sophomore who is US#2 (54.30) and Zola Golden NY, a junior who is US#3 (like Beram, she has raced at The Armory many times this season). Keep an eye out for Union Catholic freshman Sydney McLaughlin, who is a future star.
