Merrill Clocks 4:50.87 At New Balance Grand Prix!


Nikki Merrill continues to excel on the national stage.

The Portsmouth High junior came less than a second from breaking the state mile record at Saturday's New Balance Grand Prix. Merrill finished third overall in the Junior Mile, crossing the line in 4 minutes, 50.87 seconds. The current RI mark for the mile is 4:50.11 by former Classical star Maddy Berkson in 2014.

The race was won by Saratoga Springs' Kelsey Chmiel, who was timed in 4:44.84. Gabrielle Wilkinson of Friends Central was second in 4:46.95. At last week's high school mile at the Millrose Games. Wilkinson and Chmiel placed 1-2 respectively.

Merrill's effort is her latest of national-level performances this winter and a PR by nearly six seconds! At last year's New England Championships, she won with a previous best of 4:56.09.