Williams' U.S. leader in 200 highlights New Balance Boise Indoor

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

It was a showcase of hometown heroes.

It was a renewal of acquaintances for two of the nation’s elite prep sprinters.

It was a distance double achieved in impressive solo fashion by a cross country All-American.

And it was the emergence of a middle school star at one of the country’s top indoor high school meets.

This year’s New Balance Boise Indoor produced nine meet records Friday and Saturday at Ford Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho, including a national-leading mark by Oaks Christian junior Lauren Rain Williams in the 200 meters for the second year in a row.

Williams, who set the national sophomore indoor record last year by clocking 23.39 seconds, prevailed in her first 200 showdown with Rio Mesa senior Zaria Francis since the California outdoor state meet in June.

Williams ran 23.47 to hold off double state champion Francis, who ran U.S. No. 5 24.10, improving on her previous-best 24.19 from last year’s New Balance Indoor Nationals.

Francis earned a split decision in the 60-meter final, relying on a strong start to clock a personal-best 7.40 to briefly take over the national lead, before Cassondra Hall of Warner Robins (Georgia) ran 7.36 at the Vanderbilt High School Invitational.

Williams was second in U.S. No. 5 7.48, the fourth time under 7.50 in her career.

Francis and Williams are scheduled to return to Idaho for a rematch Feb. 18-20 at the Simplot Games at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena.

Garek Bielaczyc of Salt Lake City East (Utah) captivated the crowd with his effort in the 2-mile race, lapping every competitor in the event to clock U.S. No. 2 9:00.07.

Bielaczyc, who placed fourth at Foot Locker Nationals in December and was the second-fastest American in the junior men’s 6-kilometer race Jan. 9 at Great Edinburgh XC in Scotland, also prevailed in the mile in U.S. No. 6 4:14.29.

Local star Michael Slagowski of Rocky Mountain High, representing YMCA Team Idaho, ran an indoor-best 1:52.74 in the 800 to edge teammate Garrett Calhoun of Timberline, who produced U.S. No. 5 1:53.65. Slagowski briefly held the national lead, before Terrell Jackson of Memphis University High clocked 1:52.28 at Vanderbilt.

Slagowski also anchored YMCA Team Idaho to a 7:48.94 in the 4 x 800 relay, the fastest time in the country this year. Since the relay was comprised of athletes from three Idaho schools, including Calhoun, YMCA Team Idaho is not eligible for a U.S. No. 1 ranking.

Another YMCA Team Idaho talent, Lexy Halladay of Lake Hazel Middle School, swept the 800 and mile by producing the fastest eighth-grade times in the country.

Halladay ran U.S. No. 10 4:54.73 in the mile and returned to clock U.S. No. 15 2:15.70 in the 800.

Courtney Wayment of Davis (Utah) was second in the mile in U.S. No. 18 4:56.94, in addition to anchoring her team to a victory in the 4 x 800 relay in U.S. No. 9 9:20.18. Davis added another victory with Abi Waddoups winning the 2-mile race in 11:35.67.

Harrison Schrage of Grant High (Oregon), representing Step Ur Game Up, doubled in the long jump with a leap of 24-7.25 – just off his U.S. No. 2 24-11.25 from the Jan. 16 Arkansas High Invitational – and capturing the 60-meter dash title in 7.02.

Step Ur Game Up received additional victories from Carter Bracken of Lake Oswego in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.11, just off his brother Connor’s meet-record 8.08, along with Cameron Russell of Lakeridge in the 200 in 22.19 and Karina Moreland of Tualatin in the triple jump with a leap of 37-8.75.

Bracken and Schrage helped Step Ur Game Up take second in the 4 x 200 in 1:31.57, with YMCA Team Idaho winning in 1:30.65.

Dejan Nikolic of Centennial (Idaho) gave YMCA Team Idaho another win by clearing 6-0.75 in the boys high jump. Delaney Bahn of Bozeman Track Club in Montana equaled the meet record by clearing 5-5.75 in the girls high jump.

Elsja Mecham of Summit Academy (Utah) won the 400 in 56.69, edging Mission Viejo’s Kennedy Gillian (56.77). Gillian helped Orange County Heat win the 4 x 200 relay in 1:42.38.

Cidnee Davies of Syracuse (Utah) won the girls 60-meter hurdles in 9.18, in addition to finishing second in the long jump with a leap of 17-8. Katherine Jackson of Rodriguez won the long jump with an effort of 17-11-5.

Logan Blake of Bend (Oregon), representing Mondo Track Club, won the 400 in 49.80, just ahead of Ivan Burnham from Damonte Ranch (Nevada) in 49.81.

Zachary Andrew of Bishop Kelly (Idaho) won the men’s weight throw with a mark of 59-10.5 and Maia Garren of Logan (Utah) prevailed in the women’s weight throw with an effort of 51-3.5. Garren doubled in the shot put with a performance of 44-6.75 and Sebastian Barajas of Hood River Valley (Oregon) captured the boys shot put with a mark of 51-5.75.

Cardinal Track Club produced a pair of winners with Mt. Pleasant star Darius Carbin, the national indoor leader in the high jump at 6-10.75, winning the triple jump at 45-1 and teammate Justin Navarro winning the pole vault by clearing 14-5.25.

Makayla Linebarger of Reed (Nevada) cleared 11-11.75 to win the girls pole vault.