Ryan Clark, Noah Lyles lead top sprint fields

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

 

It may not have every top quality athlete, but the fields ready to go at New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championships in Greensboro, N.C. are spectacular. 

 

This is an event that moves the needle on the national rankings across the board -- sprints, jumps, throws, distance, everything. 

 

The entire meet will be streamed live on RunnerSpace.com -- and our little branch of RunnerSpace will be covering the meet with updates, interviews and stories.

 

Here are some in-depth sketches of top athletes committed to running at NBNO, from our weekly Who's Coming series:

 

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

 

Here is a rundown of some of what we can expect at this weekend's championships. 

 

Boys 100 and 200 Meters

Anyone who saw Banneker GA’s Ryan Clark and TC Williams VA’s Noah Lyles race in the 200 meters at New Balance Nationals Indoor has to be excited that those two are entered in both the 100 and 200 meters at Greensboro. Actually, Clark and Lyles just raced as teammates in Cuba last weekend but this time it’s national titles that are up for grabs. No one has touched Clark this spring in the 100 meters and his US#1 10.18 last weekend makes him the prohibitive favorite in that race (Clark won the NBNI title in the 60 meters in March).

 

But the 200 meters could once again be something special with these two guys lined up and pushing one another. Of course, they won’t be alone. The field also includes Maxwell Willis of Bowie MD, who ran a wind-aided 20.55 at the Great Southwest Classic., and Nick Gray of Pickerington North OH, who has run US#11 21.09 this spring. The field also includes standout eighth grader Tyrese Cooper from Florida, who has been appointed to Heat 3 with Lyles.

 

Spartanburg SC football star Tavien Feaster (10.42/21.11nwi) is also someone to watch in both the 100 and 200. Feaster, a junior, is one of the top running back prospects in the class of 2016 and has committed to Clemson. 

 

Boys 400 Meters 

New York state champion Izaiah Brown of Amsterdam ran US#8 46.40 last weekend and he could add a national title to his resume in Greensboro. He was third in this race last year. The defending champion, Josephus Lyles of TC Williams VA, ran 46.60 in Cuba last weekend but also became ill on the trip and is not expected to compete at New Balance Nationals. Eighth grader Tyreese Cooper is also entered in the fastest section and is looking to crack 47 seconds for the first time. Nathanaiel Huggins of Opelika AL ran 47.02 as part of an impressive triple at Alabama state meet, but that was back on May 2.

 

Boys 800 Meters 

Unfortunately, the amazing Brian Bell story at nationals will not have a sequel. Bell ran through pneumonia (undiagnosed) at the Ohio state championships and two days later landed in the hospital where he spent nearly a week. Bell said Thursday that he will attend the event as a spectator and is disappointed that he won’t be fit enough to compete for another title. The defection of Donovan Brazier (US#1 1:48.07) to the Brooks meet opens the door even further. Pennsylvania state record holder John Lewis of Cheltenham (US#2 1:48.72) leads a deep field that includes US#6 Drake Gauthier of Grand Blanc MI, US#7 Elijah Inuwa of Central Academy of Technology NC, US#10 Sam Ritz of Germantown Academy PA, US#13 Lucas Trapp of Elk River MN, US#14 Rey Rivera of Old Bridge NJ and US#15 Eric Brown of Milwaukee Lutheran WI. If there’s a co-favorite, along with Lewis, it’s got to be Myles Marshall of Kingwood TX, who ran 1:48.43 last year.  

 

Boys Mile

The biggest of this year’s big names are absent, but there is a field ready to go that is capable of driving the pace down below 4:10. Sam Ritz of Germantown Academy PA, Dajour Braxton of Centennial NV, James Burke from Port Jefferson NY, Ben Hill of Royal Oak MI, Jeremy Spiezio of Greenwich Central NY and Carter Blunt from Frisco Independence TX should all be in the mix for this one.

 

Boys 2-Mile

The heat and humidity could take a toll on the guys running at 7 p.m. on Saturday, but the competition could definitely push this race under nine minutes. Ben Veatch of Carmel IN may have been an odds-on favorite here but he has scratched with an ankle injury. Texas champion Carter Blunt, Ohio champion Kyle Mau (of Hudson), La Salle RI duo Matt Bouthilette and Jack Salisbury, Alex Corbett (Lake Braddock VA), Marco Pompilj (Collegiate NY) and Alex Rogers (New Braunfels Canyon TX) are all strong contenders. Also, keep an eye on Viraj Deokar of Middlesex School MA, who ran 8:25.31 for 3,000 meters on June 6.

 

Boys 5,000 Meters

This race is also sure to put a strain on anyone not accustomed to the heat. Alex Ostberg of Darien CT would rate a considerable favorite if he had been able to make this trip like he intended. But an injury prematurely ended his season. Robert Brandt is US#1 in this seldom-run event, with 14:29.75. Brandt could be tested, though, but a field that includes Sioux Falls Lincoln SD’s Will Lauer, David Principe of La Salle RI, Conor Lundy of Fordham Prep NY and Zach Brehm of Carlisle Area PA.

 

Boys 110 Meter Hurdles

At New Balance Nationals Indoor, Grant Holloway of Grassfield VA edged out Chad Zallow of Kennedy OH by less than a hundredth of a second in the 60-meter hurdles. The rivarly will be renewed over 110 meters this weekend and a host of others will challenge them for the top spot on the podium. Zallow ran the US#2 time of 13.50 at Arcadia back in April. Chevis Armstead of DeSoto TX ran US#4 13.64 all the way back in late March at Texas Relays. Holloway’s best this spring is 13.61, which was a wind-aided effort at the Virginia state meet. Others to watch are Charles Graham of Phoebus VA (13.53w/13.79), Daniel Roberts of Hampton GA (US#6 13.68) and Norman Grimes of Canyon TX (US#9 13.71). Michael Dickson of Beaufort SC owns the fastest all-conditions time this spring with 13.30 (but his second-best time is 13.92). 

 

Boys 400 Meter Hurdles

Three names jump out in this one: Rai Benjamin of Mt Vernon NY, Taylor McLaughlin of Union Catholic NJ and Norman Grimes of Canyon TX. Benjamin is the New York state record holder and US leader at 50.45 seconds. Grimes, a junior, is US#2 after running a PR 50.80 at the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational in Cuba. And McLaughlin what is now US#3 51.73 at his New Jersey Group championship. The last time that Benjamin and McLaughlin tangled in a New Balance Nationals final it was during the indoor 400 meters final – where McLaughlin initially won but was later disqualified – and Benjamin ended up with the title. (It was also the race with the big wreck at the finish line). 

 

Boys 2K Steeplechase

 

All eyes are on Jack Jibb of Monroe-Woodbury NY, who ran US#5 all-time 8:57.34 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the New York state meet last weekend. Last year in this meet, Bailey Roth of Coronado CO broke the national record with 5:41.67 and then went on to break the 3K steeple record later in the summer at World Juniors. 

 

Boys 4x100 Relay

TC Williams VA was the fastest non-Texas/non-California outfit in the rest of the country this spring thanks to the Lyles brothers. The team ran US#12 40.84 at the Penn Relays. If Josephus Lyles can’t go this week due to illness, that could change this team’s prospect drastically.

Newburgh Free Academy NY, the New York state champions coming off a season’s best 41.24, also drew a Lane 4 seed. Western Branch VA (41.58) is a threat as well.

 

Boys 4x200 Relay

The Kentucky champions from Henry Clay rank US#16 nationally and are one of the favorites here. This squad has run 1:25.78 for a new all-time state best. CH Flowers from Maryland is also one of the top entrants.

 

Boys 4x400 Relay

National leaders Banneker GA, with Ryan Clark on the anchor, has run 3:12.03 this spring. The biggest challenge will come from Union Catholic NJ, which is ranked US#20 with 3:14.64. UC ran that just last week at the adidas Grand Prix in New York. The Nevada state champions, Centennial, are also entered and boast a best time of 3:16.48.

 

Boys 4x800 Relay

US#3 Saline MI is one of three teams in the country to break 7:40 this spring and has the fastest time of any team in the event. Logan Wetzel is a primary cog for this group (aka Spirit of Pre). Shenendehowa NY just ran 7:40.55 for US#4 last weekend so that group could be primed for something big this weekend, too. US#5 Pennridge PA is entered and don’t lose sight of Kingwood TX, which has Myles Marshall on the anchor.

 

Boys 4xMile Relay

Although there doesn't appear to be any super team entered this year, West Springfield VA, West Lafayette IN, Lancaster OH, Shenedehowa NY and Ridgefield CT should all be in the mix for the national title in this one.

 

Boys 800 SMR/1000 Swedish/1600 Sprint Medley Relay

There have been thoughts in Dayton, Ohio about going for a national record in the SMR based on Dunbar’s indoor record in March. The same lineup is entered for the outdoor championships but anchor Brian Bell is probably unavailable due to his recent hospitalization for pneumonia. Centennial NV, Saline MI, Chantilly VA and Old Tappan NJ are the teams to watch.

 

In the shorter 800-meter medley, Western Branch VA and Central Dauphin East PA have drawn the best lanes. In the Swedish medley, Union Catholic NJ, Western Branch VA, Half Hollow Hills West NY and Kentwood MI are the top entrants.

 

Boys Distance Medley Relay

Tappan Zee NY, home of miler Luke Gavigan, comes in with the fastest time (US#5 10:09.09) on the strength of its win at the Loucks Games. McDonogh School of Maryland, runner-up at the Penn Relays, is US#9 with 10:12.19. Collegiate NY (Riverside Runners) is US#12 with 10:12.94 and has Marco Pompilj on the anchor. Fordham Prep NY, with Conor Lundy on anchor, has run 10:13.36. 

 

Boys Shuttle Hurdles Relay

Who has the best hurdles training group? The four teams that drew spots in the final timed section are Western Branch VA, Berea-Midpark OH (featuring Caleb Samol), Andover MA and I.C. Norcross VA. In the second-fastest section is Union Catholic NJ.

 

Boys High Jump

Jaron Brooks of Henry Clay KY won New Balance Nationals Indoor and last week jumped 6-11.50 at the CSI meet in Havana, Cuba. He also has an indoor PR of 7-1. But his outdoor season best is US#18. Most of the names listed ahead of him aren’t entered, but 7-0 jumper Shelby McEwen of Oxford MS could give Brooks a battle.

 

Boys Long Jump

Grant Holloway owns the US#1 spot with his 25-8.75 mark at the Virginia state meet and could be primed to win a national title in the event. Indoor champion Ja’Mari Ward from Cahokia IL is not entered after injuring his ankle last weekend in Cuba. So Holloway’s primary competition should come from Saahir Bethea of Cheltenham PA, who has gone 25-5.75w, and Rayon Grey of Beacon NY, who has jumped wind-legal 24-9.75.

 

Boys Triple Jump

Armani Wallace from Colonial FL has a wind-aided best of 51-2.50, which is the best in the field, but he has “only” jumped US#10 49-6 wind-legal. DaJuan Seward of Brunswick VA has gone 49-9.25nwi and South Carolina champion D.J. Ledell is US#6 with a best of 49-8.50. Marcellus Fletcher of William Byrd VA was the runner-up at New Balance Nationals Indoor but has yet to go 50 feet outdoors. 

 

Boys Pole Vault

This meet has a spectacular lineup, just like it did for the indoor championship. National leader Deakin Volz from Bloomington South IN (17-8) will take on a cast of characters that includes five of the top six vaulters in the country. That means Brandon Bray (China Spring TX), Paulo Benavides (Franklin TX), freshman Mondo Duplantis (Lafayette LA) and Tommy Dial (Jenks OK) are all in it. All but Voltz competed together at Great Southwest two weeks ago and there was a three-way tie at 17 feet (Dial won the tiebreaker). 

 

Boys Shot Put

Four of the top six throwers in the country are signed up, including New Balance Nationals Indoor champion Willie Morrison of Leavenworth KS (US#2 69-4.50). For Morrison to complete the New Balance sweep he’ll have to beat New York state meet champion Eric Favors of North Rockland (US#5 65-11.25) and talented sophomores Jordan Geist on Knoch PA (US#3 69-1) and Adrian Piperi of The Woodlands TX (US#6 65-5.25).

 

Boys Discus

Christian Smith of McDonald OH threw US#3 203-9 way back on April 30 but he won the Ohio Div 3 state title and comes into nationals with the best throw in the field. David Lucas of Warwick PA is US#5 with 199-7 and David Schall of Avon IN is US#7 with 195-0. Willie Morrison of Leavenworth KS, the shot put favorite, is also in the mix here. He is US#10 with 193-9.

 

Boys Javelin

Drew Hess of Wilson Area PA is US#3 with a best throw of 206-9 this season. Other 200-foot throwers in the field are Evan Sing of Penncrest PA, Mike Marsack of Stroudsburg PA, Michael Biddle of Williamsburg PA, Grayson Hill of Cathedral Prep PA and Skyler Mason of West Allegheny PA.

 

Boys Hammer

 

This is the meet where the Rhode Island crowd of hammer throwers gets to go head-to-head with the Throw 1 Deep group from Georgia. Barrington RI teammates Bobby Colantonio, Adam Kelly and Mike Alvernaz rank 1-2-19 nationally. Throw 1 Deep club members Seth Whitener, Kenneth Brinson and Isaiah Rogers are 6-9-11 nationally. Along with Colantonio and Kelly, however, Owen Russell of Moses Brown RI is the only thrower in the field with a best throw over 230 feet.