New Balance Nationals Outdoor builds to a big finish

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Sydney McLaughlin won her 12th New Balance Nationals title. The Bullis School of Maryland rose up to become the dominant sprint program in the land. Sammy Watson and Kate Murphy and Lynna Irby went out winners.

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And the New Balance Nationals Outdoor ended in similar fashion to the NCAA Championships the week before -- with the exclamation point of a dramatic 4x400 finish.

As some of the top teams in the country battled around the final turn, Thomas Burns of Miami Northwestern was fourth. But the 400-meter hurdles champion drove past one guy, caught another with an inside pass, and then pitched forward over the finish line in an effort to catch Akeem Lindo of East Orange NJ.

Burns split a jaw-dropping 44.58 seconds on his carry and came up 0.02 seconds short as he and Lindo came crashing to the ground. It was 3:11.69 to 3:11.71 for East Orange.

The final breathless session of New Balance Nationals was affected, to some extent, by a breeze blowing up the homestretch. It was in the face of McLaughlin, who ran 54.22 to win the 400 hurdles but felt capable of something in the 53s and later called her race “sloppy.” It was in the face of Watson, who ran 2:05.70 to win the 800. It was in the face of Tyrese Cooper, who won the 200/400 double with 20.99 and 45.81.

In the field events, where the outcomes generally adhered to the national rankings, there was a surprising – and surprised -- winner of the girls high jump.

Freshman Jenna Rogers of Rutherford NJ, who came into the weekend with a personal best clearance of 5 feet, 8 inches, found something extra in the finals of the national championship. She cleared 6-0.50 and took attempts way over her head at 6-2.25 on the way to her victory.

Turner Washington continued his 2017 mastery of the discus, firing off a winning sixth-round throw of 223-2.

Alyssa Wilson completed a shot/discus double by putting 54-10.50.

Irby of Pike IN ran 52.83 to win the girls 400 championship.

Texas state champion Kynnedy Flannel of Alvin TX won the 200 in 23.72 (-1.6w).

The Bullis School of Maryland was sensational all weekend, particularly on the girls side. The Bullis 'A' squad won the 4x100 relay in meet record time of 44.88 seconds (Masai Russell, Ashley Seymour, Shaniya Hall, Ashley Phillips) and the 'B' squad, incredibly, was fourth in 45.70.

“I am extremely impressed, I’m beyond impressed,” Bullis coach Joe Lee said. “I tell the kids all the time it’s hard for them to exceed my expectations, but this weekend they did.”

Bullis also placed first (1:35.63) and fifth (1:38.29) in the 4x200 finals, and first in the 4x400 (3:39.30).

Another outfit that rose up to dominate the sprints was the Parkview (GA) Express boys, who won titles in the Swedish Medley Relay (meet/national record), the 4x100 and the 4x200. They also placed third in the 800 Sprint Medley. The team had five athletes competing in championship events and totaled 16 All-America citations.

Murphy, who had a tough year dealing with injury after a brilliant 2016, finished the season on a high note. She anchored Lake Braddock VA to a victory in the distance medley relay in 11:49.62.

Paralympian Hunter Woodhall competed on both coasts. On Saturday, he ran in the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle and after an overnight flight to North Carolina, he ran in the 400 final (47.09 for fifth) and also anchored the Syracuse UT boys in 46.19 in the 4x400 (3:17.98 for ninth).

For Woodhall, the ambitious weekend was about testing himself against the best and also sharing his story. The Arkansas recruit will become the first double amputee to compete for a NCAA Division I track and field program.

Some of Sunday's stars will make a cross-country trip to Sacramento to compete in the U.S. Track and Field Championships -- seniors, juniors, or both.

McLaughlin, who posed for at least 100 photos with fans this weekend, is entered in the women’s 400 hurdles at the USATF Championships and will attempt to make her second global championships team. Watson is entered in the women’s 800. Cooper is looking forward to a date with NCAA champion Fred Kerley in the first round of the men’s 400.

Most of the others who competed in Greensboro will stop, relax, reflect, and move on – to college or to summer track.