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Miami Havana (FL) sets DMR National Record on Day 3 of the 2026 Nike Indoor NationalsPublished by
Contact Information: Release Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Miami Havana (FL) sets DMR National Record on Day 3 of the 2026 Nike Indoor Nationals New York City, NY - Miami Havana (FL) foursome of underclassman Armando Cruz (Jr), Carlos Benitez (Fr), Jack Michalak (So) and Marcelo Mantecon (Jr) crushed the national record Saturday to highlight day 3 action at the Nike Track and Field Center at The Armory. A week ago, Miami Havana coach, Carlos Jimenez had inquired about the teams entered to find the best competition for his young team. He was given the choice of the high school championship or state distance medley relay. After conferring with his team, the decision was made to enter the high school championship. On Saturday night, they ran unbridled. Cruz cranked out a series of 60 second laps to come home ahead of Great Strides TC’s (CO) Ayuub Hassan 3:00.03 to 3:00.40. Dreamville TC (FL), who were bumped into the fast section after their second place finish in the 4 x 1 mile relay got a strong leg from senior Davis Garrett to take the third position in 3:01.47. The next leg saw Great Strides TC take the lead as McCallie (TN) moved into third place. A 1:51.49 800 meter leg from 800 meter third placer Jack Michalak put the race out of reach. It was left to 5,000 meter and 2 mile champion Marcelo Mantecon to bring the team home. Mantecon showing no ill effects from his past two days efforts streaked out to sub 60 pace checking the scoreboard as he rounded the oval. The final stretch saw him slow as the finish line banner was unraveled at the last moment as Mantercon motioned to lift the banner. He took a few additional strides to take a baseball batter swing pose as he crossed the line. Their final time was 9:47.01 and Mantecon’s final split was 4:04.73. The time lowered Ridge’s (Basking Ridge, NJ) record of 9:53.40 set in 2022. It was also the third fastest time indoor or outdoor behind Crater’s (Central Point, OR) 9:44.30 and Ridgefield’s (CT) 9:44.44. Great Strides TC finished in 9:56.61 which moved them to US #7 All-Time. McCallie (TN) finished third in 10:00.44 which moved them US #12 All-Time. In the girls DMR, Real Training Colorado (CO) battled with last year's runner-up South Lakes TC (VA) for three legs. A strong anchor leg by Addy Ritzenhein was enough to hold off a sizzling 4:33.23 anchor leg from 5,000 meter champion and Lawrenceville TC (NJ) anchor, Blair Bartlett, as they finished in 11:37.89 and 11:40.00. In the boys shot put, US #1 CJ Williams (Momentum Throws, TX) picked up the win Friday night at the New Balance Indoor Nationals Friday night. A delay in the awards ceremony got him into New York at 12:00am. He was a heavy favorite coming in 6 feet better than US #2 Hudson Sveadas (Momentum Throws, TX). Chris Marcell (Marathon, WI) had different plans. The Oklahoma signee has been bulking up. Since June, he's added 40 pounds going from 205 to 245 pounds on a steady diet of 5,000 calories a day. The added weight and power paid dividends as he bettered his previous best of 61 feet 6 ½ inches on each of the first four throws culminating in a leading mark of 65 feet 9 inches. Williams responded with a huge mark of 69 feet 9 ¾ inch to take back the lead. Marcell responded with his winning mark of 69 feet 2 inches to take back the lead. Williams, who had hurt his elbow in the first round, could only muster a 67 feet 2 1/4 inch throw. In the boys' pole vault, US #2 Victor Olesen (XTreme Heights PV, VA) defended his title with a 16 feet 8 inch clearance. Second place went to US #3 Luke Beattie (Warwick Valley, NY) who finished with a 16 feet 4 inch mark. In the girls 800 meter final, US #2 Ellie Barada (Bloomington, IN) scored a win over Natalie Dumas (Voorhees, NJ). The senior followed Dumas, who arrived in NYC at 3:00am after a week in Walt Disney World, through 400 meters 61.52. With 400 meters to go, Barada bolted to the lead and closed in 62.55 to win in 2:04.32. “ In my past races, I felt like I wasn’t running out of gas, I was running out of track,” said Barada, who finished runner-up last year in 2:06.48. “All these races leading up to today, I’ve learned a lot from them and left the races a little frustrated. Although they were really good time wise, I like to win. I like to know that I made smart racing decisions. I knew today that I needed to make that move earlier and be decisive about it.” Dumas finished second in 2:05.30 and sophomore Olivia Solomon (New Rochelle TC, NY) finished third in 2:07.11. The boys 800 meter championship saw athletes from several different heats make the podium. In the third fastest heat, sophomore Jack Michalak (Miami Havana, FL), the cousin of distance star Sophia Rodriguez (Mercer Island, WA), set the tone with a 1:51.32 win. Evan Kingsmith (Calgary, CAN) finished second in 1:52.30. Those two would eventually finish third and sixth. In the second fastest heat, Quinn Sullivan (Real Training TC, CO) smoked the first 600 meters in 1:21.75, the fastest of all the 800 meter competitors, before finishing in 1:51.57, a new personal best. The final heat saw Greg Myers (Lab TC, MI) blaze the first 200 meters in 25.83 surprising favored US #6 Joshua Cooper (WS Storm TC, NC). By 400 meters, Cooper drew closer by 400 meters and by 600 meters he claimed the lead as he held off fast charging Jayden Lloyd McKenna (Pearl River TC, NY) to win in 1:50.59. McKenna finished second in 1:50.92 and Lucas Alberts (Sacramento, CA) third in 1:52.13. Alberts would be moved to fifth overall after tallying all the times from the previous races. In the boys 4 x 400 meter relay, DeMatha Catholic TC (MD) set a meet record of 3:14.33 to hold off McNamara Mustangs TC (MD) who finished in 3:15.79. The splits were: Larry Jordan III, 49.24 ; Jalen Stubbs, 48.69; Michael Price, 48.72 and Myles Dixon 47.69. The previous record of 3:15.00 was set by New Bern (NC) in 2009. The McNamara foursome of Kaiden Woodhouse, Terrence Dorsey, Matthew Lyons, and Jayden Smith moved into fifth best in meet history. In the girls’ 1 mile race walk, Maya Piesik (Burnaby, CAN) outleaned Samantha Benson-Tyler (Port Fitness Elite TC, NY) 7:05.34 to 7:05.37. Their times moved them to seventh and eighth fastest in meet history. The boys’ 1 mile race walk was not as close. Hansen Hsu (Burnaby, CAN) claimed the title with his 7:46.57. Joshua Rothery (Urbana TC (MD) finished second in 7:50.46. The high jump competition were the scene of two spectacular competitions. In the boys high jump, Jordan Randall (Warsaw, IN), Chase Hunter (Durham, NC) and Miles Nesmith (Youth TF of Memphis, TN) staged a heart thumping competition. Each cleared 6 feet 10 3/4 inch with Randall holding a slight edge on the count back over Hunter and Nesmith. Both Randall and Hunter cleared 7 feet 1/4 inch. Nesmith cleared himself, but as he was celebrating his clearance, the bar dislodged eliminating him from the competition. Randall won his second consecutive title with his 7 fee 1 3/4 inch clearance. In the girls' high jump, Nia Harrison (Major Impact TC (TX) and Bailey Hensgens (St. Louis, MO) both cleared personal bests of 5 feet 11 1/2 inch to tie. The two had an opportunity for a jump off, but they were both exhausted so decided to accept the tie. They moved to #4 in meet history. Sunday’s Championship Finals Field Schedule ### More news |
