By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Nike Outdoor Nationals are scheduled for June 16-19 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

WATCH LIVE WEBCAST JUNE 16-19 OF NEW BALANCE NATIONALS OUTDOOR

Here are 10 storylines to follow at one of the nation’s elite high school track and field competitions, hosted by New Balance for the first time at Franklin Field in Philadelphia:

Cade Flatt Is Going For It

After running the second-fastest 800 meters in prep history May 20 the Trials of Miles at New York's Icahn Stadium, Cade Flatt of Marshall County High in Kentucky has a better idea what it will take to break the national high school record. 

Flatt, who will attend Ole Miss, ran 1:46.51 under the lights in a field of post-collegians. The goal was, and remains, Michael Granville's 1996 record 1:46.45. 

"It's definitely super bittersweet," Flatt said. "I can't be mad and I can't be overjoyous about it. There were so many instances where I could have gotten under it, from getting cut off in the first 200 to swinging too wide on the final turn. Little things."

On June 4, Flatt made the most of his final Kentucky state meet and left a lasting impression by winning the 400 (47.66) and 800 (1:52.93) double and also elevating some his teammates to the top of the podium in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.  

At Franklin Field, Flatt will try to win his second national title of the year in the 800 meters. He made a splashy entrance to the national scene at New Balance Nationals Indoor in March, running 1:48.86 for No. 2 all-time on the indoor list at The Armory in New York. 

"New Balance Nationals is where people met Cade Flatt," he said.

Flatt has swagger and the talent to back it up.  

His 1:46.51 made him the ninth-fastest American this year. And he believes he can go after the record time without an elite field around him this week. 

"For sure, I think I can," he said. "I can push hard when I'm by myself. Just get me through one lap and I'll take it home."

In short, it could be one of the most exciting things to watch all week. 

Gary Martin's Finish Line At Home

With his status as a Philadelphia and Pennsylvania legend already firmly established with one of the best seasons in prep distance running history, there might not be a box Gary Martin hasn't left unchecked. 

Win his final race, the mile, this weekend and do it in front of friends and family at Franklin Field. It would be a perfect way to finish the season. 

"It felt like all the cards were aligning, after all of these cancellations," said Martin, a senior at Archbishop Wood Catholic, located less than 20 miles from downtown Philadelphia. 

"First it was Penn Relays, and my first big race at Franklin Field. And now I get to go back for one of the last races of my high school career." 

Martin broke the Penn Relays boys mile record with 4:01.04 on a perfect Friday afternoon at the storied meet.

After getting his first taste of Penn as a freshman in the 4x400 relay, Martin returned after two years of cancellations as one of the best runners in the country. 

He ran the fastest mile in a high-school only race when he ran 3:57.98 at the Philadelphia Catholic League Championships, one of the signature achievements of the year. And then, after pulling off an 800/1,600 double at the Pennsylvania state meet, he flew to St. Louis and ran an even faster mile, leading a pro field at the Festival of Miles before finishing fourth in 3:57.89. 

Whatever he does this week is icing on the cake. Martin will run for Virginia and head coach Vin Lananna in the fall.  

Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan A Throwing Triple Threat

Throwers with the ability to compete at a national level in three different events don't come around very often. 

Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan, a senior from Woonsocket RI who will join Flatt at Ole Miss, put together an unheard of 500 feet, 3.25 inches in combined distances from wins in the hammer, shot put and discus at the Rhode Island state meet. 

Nobody has ever done that before. 

The only 500-foot combination in three throwing events prior to Robinson-O'Hagan came from Oregon's Sam Crouser, and his marks included the javelin instead of the hammer. 

Robinson-O'Hagan's best event is the hammer (US#1 249-5/76.02m), which is No. 7 all-time. The national high school record (261-7/79.73m) is not out of the question this week. 

He is US#5 in the shot put this spring and has yet to match his 69-footer indoors. He could win that event this week, too.

His is also 36th nationally in the discus (187-10/57.25m) and has a great matchup looming in that event against freshman Benjamin Shue from Bergen Catholic NJ, who placed third in the discus at Penn Relays with a mark of 193 feet (58.82m). That broke the freshman class national record. Last weekend, Shue improved to US#13 198-5 (60.47m) at the New Jersey Groups championships.  

Gary Moore, Jr. of Hillhouse CT is another versatile thrower worth watching. At the Connecticut State Open, he won the shot put, discus and javelin. He's entered in the shot put, discus and hammer at NBNO. 

The girls entries in the throws point to an epic matchup in the shot put between NBNI champion Trinity Franklin of Bullis and Indiana state champion Hadley Lucas. The sophomore, Lucas, has thrown US#6 49-6 (15.08m) this spring; Franklin's best is US#7 49-5 (15.06m). 

In the discus, Lucas is  set to compete against Pennsylvania state champion Elizabeth Tapper. Both have thrown past 163 feet (49.68m) this season. 

The hammer field includes US#3 Olivia O'Connor from Hillhouse CT and US#4 Liange Calderon from Coventry RI, the Rhode Island state champion. 

Alyssa Jones' Range Of Talents On Display

Miami Southridge senior Alyssa Jones became the sixth girl to win four events at the Florida state high school track and field championships and will go into the record books as one of the most well-rounded athletes in state history. 

Jones, a Stanford commit, ran her season-best time in the 100 meters, 11.70, and a new personal best in the 200 meters, 23.49, on the way to state titles in both events. 

On top of her track speed, Jones also won the high jump competition for the third time in her high school career (a fourth was wiped out in 2020 by COVID-19), clearing 5-9.75 (1.77m). 

In perhaps her best event, the long jump, she broke the state meet record with 20-11.50 (6.38m) on the way to defending her title. 

At New Balance Nationals, Jones is scheduled to compete on Southridge's top-seeded 4x100, 4x200 and SMR (100-100-200-400) relays, the Swedish relay, and is at the top of the lists in the high jump and long jump.  

In March, after the outdoor season had begun in the Sunshine State, Jones traveled to New York City for New Balance Nationals Indoor and jumped a personal-best 21-0.75 (6.41m) to puncture the 21-foot barrier for the first time.

Jones may not end up in all of those relays. It'd be six events if she does them all. But an indoor-outdoor long jump sweep and a potential high jump title could be coming. She is US#7 in the high jump with 5-11.75 (1.82m). 

In the high jump, she faces competition from New York state champion Camryn Cole of Webster Schroeder High, who has best this season of 5-11 (1.80m). Nene Mokoncho (Spring Ford PA) and Lillian Hodge (West Jessamine KY) have both made 5-10 (1.77m). 

Angelina Perez Can Make A Final, Lasting Statement

Lakeland Regional NJ standout Angelina Perez lowered her own New Jersey all-time best in the 3,200 meters last weekend at the NJSIAA Groups Championships by running US#3 9:53.29. 

Perez has made a lasting impact on high school running in her home state and across the country with her exceptional running and her open, transparent conversations about nutrition and disordered eating. For all of that, she should be celebrated. 

And at Franklin Field, Perez will have a chance to leave another impression. Already a Penn Relays champion in the 3,000 meters (US#1 9:18.11), her time last weekend in the eight-lap event left her only five and a half seconds short of Katelyn Tuohy's national high school record (9:47.88). 

Perez won her race by 23 seconds last weekend. This week she could have company longer in the 2-mile championship race. Pennsylvania's Jenna Mulhern is a strong competitor who may be ready to run sub-10 for the first time and Kayla Werner from Virginia won the RunningLane Championships 3,200 in 10:07.80. 

Bullis Relays Set To Chase National Titles

With a single weekend at Penn Relays in April, the boys 4x400-meter relay team from the Bullis School in Maryland took a big step forward and showed that it is not rebuilding after all.

Bullis stepped up against the top Jamaican schools and finished second in 3:11.90 in the Championship of America final. Two months later, that is still the US#2 time.  

"We've been running 3:20s all year, but that was shaking the rust off," lead-off runner Luke Schroeder said after Penn Relays. "But the Bulldogs are back."

Bullis' school record of 3:09.86 may be within reach. 

Myles Pendarvis, the relay's third leg, would love to see his team run that fast or faster. His older brother Jay was on the 2019 team that ran 3:09, the 19th-fastest team in U.S. history. 

"That would mean a lot to me," Pendarvis said. "It would give me bragging rights in the house, which is a big thing. We did better than they did at Penn Relays, but I want the best time out there."

The Bullis girls, like the boys, were the fastest team in the Penn Relays Championship of America 4x400, running a US#1 time of 3:40.88. Competition should come from US#5 Paul Robeson NY (3:43.58). 

Bullis is also prepared to go after titles in the Swedish (100-200-300-400) relays. 

And it wouldn't be a nationals without a showdown in the hurdles between Bullis and the Motor City MI girls in the 4x100 shuttle hurdles. Both groups take great pride in that hurdles relay. 

Boys 100 Includes Nyckoles Harbor II, Rodrick Pleasant, T'Mars McCallum

Nyckoles Harbor II from Archbishop Carroll DC has been rated the No. 1 athlete in college football recruiting for the Class of 2023 and it's easy to see why. 

Harbor stands 6 feet 5, weighs 235 pounds, and runs the 100 meters in 10.28 seconds.

There is a worthwhile comparison to be made with Florida's sensational NCAA champion Joe Fahnbulleh. When they reach top speed, rounding a curve or on the straightaway, they roll like runaway trains. 

Harbor has a busy week ahead and is entered in the 100 and 200 and also the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. 

Last weekend, he raced in the Maryland AAU District meet and posted times of 10.51 and 20.95. 

Rodrick Pleasant, a four-star football recruit, swept the 100 and 200 sprint finals at the California state meet with 10.30w and 20.56w. But he made headlines by breaking the all-time California (and West Coast) record in the 100 meters with a wind-legal US#3 10.14 and also owns the US#1 in the 200 with 20.40. 

The sprints at New Balance feature more than these two. Ian Myers from South Carolina (Brookland-Cayce) is someone who could be poised for a breakout moment. He is undefeated in the 100 meters this spring and won the South Carolina 3A title by running 10.27 into a headwind. He also ran 20.66 in the 200 meters. 

A late addition is US#1 and South Carolina Class 5A champion T'Mars McCallum, who ran an all-time state best 10.13 at the state meet. His arrival in the meet elevates the boys 100, in particular, into one of the best events of the weekend. He is also entered in the 200 and long jump. 

“I am definitely looking forward to the crowd and the atmosphere that will surround us, athletes,” McCallum told DyeStat's Todd Grasley. “To think I’ll be running at Franklin Field, a historical track on which many great athletes have competed is exciting. Competition is one thing that I look forward to the most. Going head to head with the best in the nation is something I can’t wait for.”

Union Catholic Middle Distance On Display In Relays

The well-rounded track and field program at Union Catholic in Scotch Plains, N.J. has a storied history at the national championships and one of the most decorated track alums of all-time with Sydney McLaughlin. 

But the current group at Union Catholic has become especially strong in the middle and long distances and there are boys and girls relays coming together that are among the favorites in the 4xMile and Distance Medley (boys) and 4x800 (girls). 

Senior Shane Brosnan and sophomore Jimmy Wischusen are the two best distance runners in school history and are at the heart of the team's efforts to win the 4xMile and the DMR. Caudell Cajuste and Myles Plummer (4xMile) and Nick Givan (DMR) are also important pieces. 

Although Purple Track Club of Michigan remains the top seed in the girls 4x800 relay, the absence of anchor Rachel Forysth can't be overlooked. Union Catholic's lineup, which includes Kaleigh Gunsiorowski, Peyton Hollis, Maameyaa Nyinah and Asydiah Pray-Brown should be ready to dive under nine minutes and compete with Purple TC for the title.  

Kaila Jackson vs. Shawnti Jackson In The 200

Any time Shawnti Jackson makes an appearance, it's worth paying attention. 

The daughter of Bershawn 'Batman' Jackson has become one of the hardest-work and most dedicated high school sprinters in the country and has shown a willingness to compete against pros with confidence and poise. 

Jackson (Run U Xpress NC) broke the national high school record in the 60 meters at NBNI. 

In Philadelphia, she's entered in the 200 meters and faces the prospect of a great matchup with Kaila Jackson from Track Life U (Michigan). 

Both are chasing their PRs from 2021. Kaila Jackson ran 23.01 last year for No. 20 all-time and Shawnti Jackson ran 23.06. Their competition this weekend could produce the national leader. 

Virginia Class 4A state champion Madison Whyte (23.30) is also one to watch in the 200. 

Gregory Foster, Jr. Seeking Jumps Double

One of the best combo horizontal jumpers in the country this year, Gregory Foster, Jr. from Lawrenceville NJ could be in position to match his double wins from Nike Indoor Nationals in March. 

Foster, a Princeton commit, jumped 25-4.50 (7.73m) in the long jump and 49-9.25 (15.17m) at Ocean Breeze and those marks remain his personal bests. He won the Penn Relay long jump title in April with 24-11 (7.59m). 

Ryan John, who just won the New York state title in the triple jump with 49-8.75w (15.15m), could also be a co-favorite. 

McCallum, who has a best of 24-8.50 (7.53m), is also in the long jump.