Nike Indoor Nationals Preview - Friday Events

Only two events are being contested on Friday at the Nike Indoor Nationals as the meet has extended from its usual Saturday-Sunday two day format to accomodate the weight throw and 5000 meter run. The weight throw has stacked fields with the US leaders for both boys and girls and many of the US top 10 performances also present. Meanwhile, the 5000 meter run is definitely missing many of the considered elite distance runners in the country, but will be a good opportunity for a next tier of runners to step up and become Nike national champions.

Girls Weight Throw - 2:00 PM

Preview

The state of Georgia appears to be ready to dominate the first event of the Nike Indoor Nationals with the top four seeds led by US leader Lauren Chambers (pictured right by Tim Fulton). The Kell High School senior will be attempting to win two national titles on the weekend as she is also slated to compete later this weekend in the weight throw at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York. Chambers, who opened her outdoor season last weekend with a US #4 all-time performance of 191'11", has a season best of 61'7.25" in the weight throw, which ranks her six feet ahead of her fellow Georgian Jazmin Miller of Hiram High School at 55'3.50". Chambers could christen the return of the meet to Boston and the Reggie Lewis Center with a meet record (61'2") and potential national record (62'2") with a season best mark current in between the two records.

Karen Henning, the younger sister of past NIN champ Walter Henning, is the only returning All-American in the field from the 2008 Nike Indoor as the St. Anthony's NJ junior placed sixth last year and is ranked #8 in the US currently. It will be tough for Henning and others to break up the top four girls from Georgia as Patrice Gates (Villa Rica GA) at 54'6.75" and Katie Bragg (Starrs Mill) at 54'2.75" have also thrown for impressive marks this year.

Heat List

Event 42  Girls Weight Throw
===============================================================================
Friday 3/13/2009 - 2:00 PM
    National:     62-02  3/3/2008    Victoria Flowers, Classical, Providence,RI
        Meet:     61-02  3/15/2008   Victoria Flowers, Classical, Providence,RI
    Freshman:     57-03  2/2/2008    Katie Kraychir, Twentynine Palms, CA      
   Sophomore:  55-10.25  12/20/2008  Katie Kraychir, Twentynine Palms, CA      
      Junior:  60-10.50  1997        Maureen Griffin, Pocatello, ID            
      Senior:  61-00.75  12/28/2007  Victoria Flowers, Classical, Providence,RI
           Name                        Year School                          Finals
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1   1359 Leo, Jeanette                 10 Classical HS, Pr            
  2   1115 Brown, Cherrice               09 Bay Shore TC, Ba            
  3   2491 Elgar, Georgia                10 Smithfield T, Pa            
  4   3058 Turenne, Jerilyn              09 West Warwick, We            
  5   1922 Keene, Emily                  09 Let It Fly T, He            
  6   1358 Lauro, Catherine              10 Classical HS, Pr            
  7   1360 Louis, Parisha                10 Classical HS, Pr            
  8   2251 Thornton, Adrienne            12 O'Bryant TC, Dor            
  9   1123 Moreira, Elizabeth            09 Bay Shore TC, Ne            
 10   1602 Ordaz, Dorienne               12 Fransisc Brav TC            
 11   2094 Keller, Katy                  10 Milford Tc-Nh, M            
 12   2940 McFetters, Robyn              11 Una-Ri-Barri, Ba            
 13   3057 Silvestri, Bianca             09 West Warwick, We            
Flight 2  Finals
  1   2674 DuPont, Taylor                11 Throw1deep C, Ma            
  2   1357 Jones, Amber                  11 Classical HS, Pr            
  3   2942 Oakley, Rena                  10 Una-Ri-Wakef, Wa            
  4   2046 Young, Moriah                 09 McDonogh Sch, Ow            
  5   2874 Watt, Shannon                 09 Una-Nj-Jacks, Ja            
  6   1516 Read, Rosemary                09 Exeter-West, Wes            
  7   1641 Vannoy, Emily                 09 Gov Th Johnson-G            
  8   2685 Procopio, Alexandra           09 Toll Gate, Exete            
  9   1877 Power, Brittany               09 La Salle Aca, Wa            
 10   2490 Clark, Amanda                 10 Smithfield T, Pa            
 11   1879 Stowers, Kathryn              09 La Salle Aca, Cu            
 12   1302 Fernandes, Aleide             11 Centrall Fal, pr            
 13   1220 Walker, Ashley                09 Bloomfield TC, M            
Flight 3  Finals
  1   2673 Chambers, Lauren              09 Throw1deep C, Ma            
  2   2537 Henning, Karen                10 St. Anthony', Ki            
  3   2671 Bragg, Katie                  09 Throw1deep C, Ma            
  4   2678 Miller, Jazmin                09 Throw1deep C, Ma            
  5   1697 Okwara, Nnenna                09 Higher Power, Ch            
  6   1696 Halvorson, Aslynn             09 Higher Power, Ch            
  7   1916 Westover, Julia               09 Lebanon HS, Leba            
  8   2901 Clasen, Ashley                09 Una-Ny-Shore, Sh            
  9   2170 Pope, Charlotte               09 New Rochelle-G,             
 10   3184 Lawson, Brittney              09 Woonsocket T, wo            
 11   1361 Onye, Angela                  10 Classical HS, Pr            
 12   2676 Gates, Patrice                10 Throw1deep C, Ma            

MileSplit US Top 25 Ranked Athletes

Rank Time Athlete Name Team Affiliation C/O Date Meet
1. 61-7.25 Lauren Chambers GA Kell High School 2009 2009-02-06 New Balance Collegiate Invitational
3. 55-3.50 Jazmin Miller GA Hiram High School 2009 2009-02-15 Upstate Throws Fest 2009
4. 54-6.75 Patrice Gates GA Villa Rica 2010 2009-01-30 KTC Indoor High School Track Classic
5. 54-2.75 Katie Bragg GA Starrs Mill High School 2009 2009-02-15 Upstate Throws Fest 2009
8. 50-5.50 Karen Henning NY Saint Anthony's 2010 2009-02-06 New Balance Collegiate Invitational
9. 50-3.00 Charlotte Pope NY New Rochelle High School 2009 2009-02-22 Section 1 State Qualifiers
10. 49-2.25 Ashley Clasen NY SHOREHAM-WADING RIVER 2009 2009-01-14 Millrose Games Trials
17. 45-7.75 Lee Stowers RI La Salle Academy 2009 2009-01-09 Dartmouth Relays

 

Boys Weight Throw - 4:30 PM

Preview

Michael Gama is the returning Nike Indoor champ in the boys' weight throw, but he will be considered as the underdog against US leader Alec Faldermeyer with a season best over 75 feet. Gama, a senior at Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island, won the 2008 Nike title with a throw of 73'5.25".

The Rhode Island state champion will need to come through with an even bigger mark going against Faldermeyer. Faldermeyer, a junior at Minisink Valley High School in New York, was an All-American in the hammer throw as a sophomore with a sixth place finish at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Gama, ranked #4 in the US with a 71'1" season best, has been consistently building up and improving each meet this winter, so he still has a strong shot to repeat.

Nine of the top 11 nationally ranked athletes in the weight throw will be competing in the event on Friday including a pair from Georgia, New York, and Rhode Island.

Heat List

Event 41  Boys Weight Throw
===============================================================================
Friday 3/13/2009 - 4:30 PM
    National:  87-10.25  3/16/2008   Conor Mc Cullough, Chaminade, W Hills, CA 
        Meet:     87-05  3/1999      Dylan Armstrong, Westside, Canada         
    Freshman:  63-06.25  1/22/2005   Wes Wright, Villa Rica, GA                
   Sophomore:  75-00.50  2/26/2005   Walter Henning, St. Anthony's,S Hunt,NY   
      Junior:  87-10.25  3/16/2008   Conor Mc Cullough, Chaminade, W Hills, CA 
      Senior:  86-03.75  2/27/2007   Walter Henning, St. Anthony's, S Hunt,NY  
           Name                        Year School                          Finals
===============================================================================
Flight 1  Finals
  1   3069 Liguori, TJ                   09 Westerly HS, Wes            
  2   1355 Caballero, Joel               11 Classical HS, Pr            
  3   1108 Steele, John                  10 Barrington T, Ba            
  4   3055 Larkin, Richard               09 West Warwick, We            
  5   2559 McLeod, Chris                 09 St. John Bapt-B,            
  6   1130 Hall, James                   10 Beacon Tc-Wt, Fi            
  7   1771 Mottola, Teddy                09 Iona Prep Sc, Ta            
  8   1363 Reynoso, Gustavo              11 Classical HS, Pr            
  9   1226 Lipinsky, Alex                09 Boardman HS, Pol            
 10   2896 Albrecht, Kyle                09 Una-Ny-Pleas, Pl            
 11   1364 Washington, Meko              11 Classical HS, Pr            
Flight 2  Finals
  1   2644 Hessell, Christopher          09 Team Green T, Ne            
  2   1175 Maloof, Michael               11 Bishop Hendr TC,            
  3   2941 Grasso, Vincent               09 Una-Ri-Wakef, Wa            
  4   2551 Cleary, Simon                 09 St. John Bapt-B,            
  5   2482 Prendergast, Tyler            09 Shenendehowa, Re            
  6   1225 Linsley, Corey                09 Boardman HS, Boa            
  7   1362 Phok, Timothy                 10 Classical HS, Pr            
  8   1279 Brode, Dustin                 10 Canfield TC, Can            
  9   1116 Brown, Ed                     09 Bay Shore TC, Ne            
 10   1393 Gonzales, Johnny              09 Colton HS, Colto            
 11   1096 Franks, Anthony               09 Ballston Spa TC,            
Flight 3  Finals
  1   2672 Brentnall, Edward             11 Throw1deep C, Ma            
  2   2723 Bahrke, Cody                  09 Tri-Center H, Ne            
  3   1365 Winters, Gabre                10 Classical HS, Pr            
  4   2758 Simalchik, Stephen            09 Una-Ct-Danbu, Da            
  5   3152 Baillio, Hayden               09 Whitesboro T, Wh            
  6   2757 Guider, Robert                09 Una-Ct-Danbu, Da            
  7   2481 Palmer, Evan                  09 Shenendehowa, Re            
  8   2160 Days, Jeremy                  09 New Rochelle-B,             
  9   2677 Hardin, Bret                  10 Throw1deep C, Ma            
 10   1897 Cheek, Nathan                 10 Lancaster HS, La            
 11   2843 Morales, Brendan              09 Una-Md-Westm, We            
Flight 4  Finals
  1   2675 Freberg, Miles                09 Throw1deep C, Ma            
  2   2679 Mubarak, Nabil                09 Throw1deep C, Ma            
  3   2892 Faldermeyer, Alec             10 Una-Ny-New_h, Ne            
  4   1308 McCullough, Conor             09 Chaminade Hs-Ca,            
  5   1356 Faboyede, Joshua              09 Classical HS, Pr            
  6   2784 Stancombe, Benjamin           09 Una-In-Bloom, Bl            
  7   3200 Gama, Michael                 09 Bishop Hendr TC             
  8   2119 Ferguson, Lucas               09 Mount Vernon, Mo            
  9   2885 Levine, Michael               09 Una-Ny-Comma, Co            
 10   1913 Filiano, Dominic              10 Lebanon HS, Leba            
 11   2386 Janes, William                09 Rogers Tc-Ri, Ne  

MileSplit US Top 25 Ranked Entrants

Rank Time Athlete Name Team Affiliation C/O Date Meet
1. 74-8.75 Alec Faldermeyer NY MINISINK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2010 2009-01-10 Southern Tier
4. 71-1.00 Mike Gama RI Bishop Hendricken High School 2009 2009-02-22 Rhode Island Indoor State Championship
5. 69-11.00 Josh Faboyede RI Classical High School 2009 2009-02-22 Rhode Island Indoor State Championship
6. 69-11.00 Dominic Filiano NH Lebanon High School 2010 2009-01-09 Dartmouth Relays
7. 69-1.00 Nabil Mubarak GA Grayson High School 2009 2009-02-19 Simplot Games
8. 67-7.00 Ben Stancombe IN Bloomington South High School 2009 2009-01-24 Buckeye High School Qualifier
9. 66-1.75 Miles Freberg GA Walton High School 2009 2009-01-30 KTC Indoor High School Track Classic
10. 63-6.00 Lucas Ferguson OH Mount Vernon 2009 2009-01-31 Kent State HS Open #1
11. 62-4.75 Michael Levine NY COMMACK HIGH SCHOOL 2009 2009-02-06 New Balance Collegiate Invitational
14. 61-8.75 Will Janes RI Rogers 2009 2009-02-22 Rhode Island Indoor State Championship
17. 60-0.00 Nathan Cheek OH Lancaster 2010 2009-03-07 Buckeye High School Last Chance Qualifier
20. 58-11.75 Brett Hardin GA Harrison High School 2010 2009-02-15 Upstate Throws Fest 2009
22. 58-8.00 Evan Palmer NY Shenendehowa 2009 2009-01-30 Sec. 2 League Champs
24. 58-6.50 Mike Maloof RI Bishop Hendricken High School 2011 2009-02-22 Rhode Island Indoor State Championship

Girls 5000 Meter Run - 6:30 PM

Preview

Rebecca White from Natick High School in Massachusetts has the nation's fastest time from this indoor season with her 18:15.14 performance at the Boston Holiday Challenge held in December at the Reggie Lewis Center. White will have to make another drop in her time to maintain the US #1 time in the event though as several accomplished runners will be toeing the line for the first 5K races ever on the track.

The race features a Foot Locker finalist in Chelsea Oswald (pictured right by Fran MacLaughlin) from Walsh Jesuit High School in Ohio. Walsh, qualified for San Diego this past December with a third place finish at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional and has run a best of 17:36 5K. Other individual athletes to look out for her include Jordan Jenkins from New Oxford PA and freshmen Samantha Nadel from North Shore NY.

Only a ninth grader, Nadel has posted some impressive times this winter including a 9:51 3K and 10:49 2 mile. Jenkins has ran under 18 minutes for 5K and has one of the fastest 3200 PR's in the field at 10:45.

Start List

Event 48  Girls 5000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
Friday 3/13/2009 - 6:30 PM
    National:  16:43.02  3/4/2004    Brianna Jackucewicz, North MS,Farmingdale,
        Meet:  16:53.55  3/10/2007   Aurora Scott, Chesapeake, VA              
    Freshman:  17:42.61  3/1983      Wendy Sinclair, Green Mtn, Lakewood,CO    
   Sophomore:  16:52.48  3/1983      Cathy Schiro, Dover, NH                   
      Junior:  16:45.84  2005        Cassie Hintz, Old Town, ME                
      Senior:  16:50.80  2006        Cassie Hintz, Old Town, ME                
           Name                        Year School                          Finals
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  1   1209 Rivers, Teshika               09 Blazin Raide, Gr            
  2   1010 Calvarese, Allison            11 Adrenaline T, Wi            
  3   2103 Shegoski, Lara                10 Montgomery T, Be            
  4   2809 Halligan, Kelli               12 Una-Ma-Melro, Me            
  5   2420 Gonzalez, Stacey              09 Sanderson TC, Ra            
  6   2231 Siefert, Courtney             10 Northern Ken, Cr            
  7   2227 Vezza, Gabriella              13 North Shore, Mas            
  8   2937 Ballantyne, Emily             09 Una-Pa-York-, Yo            
  9   2489 Johnson, Brooke               09 Shoreham-Wad, Sh            
 10   1683 Emerson, Connie               10 Hanover TC, Norw            
 11   2796 Veit, Kristen                 09 Una-Ma-Easth, Ea            
 12   1170 Malloy, Kelly                 10 Bishop Eustace-G            
 13   1715 Zumbach, Lauren               09 Hinsdale TC, Hin            
 14   2798 Haake, Leah                   10 Una-Ma-Hadle, Ha            
 15   2331 McMahon, Julia                10 Poly Prep, State            
 16   2224 Caldwell, Elizabeth           13 North Shore, Mas            
 17   3093 De La Rosa, Kathryn           09 Western Bran, Ch            
 18   1966 Hunt, Kelsey                  09 Manchester W, Ma            
Section 2  Timed Finals
  1   2947 Kulesz, Melanie               09 Una-Tn-Oak_r, Oa            
  2   2764 Elkins, Maddie                11 Una-Ct-Stamf, St            
  3   2915 Oswald, Chelsea               09 Una-Oh-Medin, Me            
  4   2819 Gossels, Jennifer             09 Una-Ma-Sudbu, Su            
  5   1066 Hanson, Chelsea               09 Arlington, Clint            
  6   1698 Oram, Ally                    10 Highland Cit, Ma            
  7   2156 Jenkins, Jordan               09 New Oxford H, Mc            
  8   1702 Venables, Megan               11 Highland Reg, Bl            
  9   2206 Mossler, Emily                09 North Centra, In            
 10   1435 Neer, Waverly                 11 Culver Acade, Cu            
 11   2143 White, Rebecca                09 Natick TC, Natic            
 12   1510 Lanois, Emily                 09 Emerging El-ChHl            
 13   2949 Turner, Claire                10 Una-Tn-Signa, Si            
 14   2225 Nadel, Samantha               12 North Shore, Mas            
 15   2226 Nerud, Brianna                12 North Shore, Mas

Boys 5000 Meter Run - 7:15 PM

Preview

The boys 5000 meter run seems to be a watered down event without any major stars competing in the 25 lap event , but it opens the door for two Virginians who have been use to running in the shadows of stars in their homestate to potentially win a national title as a result.

Josh Hardin of Potomac Falls VA, competes in Virginia's 2A classification which had two Foot Locker finalists in Kyle Satterwhite and Alex Ott, a Millrose mile qualifier in Tyler Stutzman, and a national caliber cross country runner in Andrew Colley. Hardin surprised many including those in his own state by qualifying for Nike Cross Nationals this past fall with a personal best 5K performance of 15:14 at the NXN Southeast Regional. Hardin has experience racing 5000 meters on the track, but outdoors at Nike Outdoor Nationals last June in which he finished 21st overall in 15:21.

Western Branch VA junior Blake Theroux (pictured right by Ted Plunkett) has to compete in the same region as Bobby Peavey, who broke Alan Webb's state meet record in the 1600 two weeks ago with a 4:09 performance. Theroux was fourth in that same race with a personal best time of 4:16 and later came back in the 3200 for a fourth place finish as well. Theroux has a personal best of 15:26 on a 5K cross country course and finished 5th at the Virginia State Cross Country Meet this past November. Theroux has also ran 9:24 for a full 2 miles.

The seeding is peculiar for this event though with strong runners like Hardin and Theroux in section 1 and then another strong contigent in section 2 (of 3) with Nick Ross of Rhode Island and Mike Hickey and Max Straneva of New York.  Which section is the fast section? Each section has it share of legit runners then not so legit runners, so it would be wise for meet management to put those top runners altogether in one section to save for any confusion with runners being lapped on multiple occassions.

Nick Ross is definitely going to be lapping several runners after recently placing second at the New England Championships in the 2 mile with a lifetime best of 9:11. Theroux and Hardin will press each other in their section, but neither has dropped the 2 mile performance which Ross recently had as well as his 4:14 mile this season, which qualified him for the Millrose Games.

Max Straneva had a very strong cross country season to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals as an individual like Hardin and has taken off the indoor season and focused on the longer distance of 8K for the USATF Cross Country Nationals where he placed 36th place. Straneva has a best of 9:31 for 3200 meters. Hickey has ran 9:25 for 3200 meters.

Start Lists

Event 47  Boys 5000 Meter Run
===============================================================================
Friday 3/13/2009 - 7:15 PM
    National:  14:29.80  12/30/1984  Brad Hudson, South Eugene, OR             
        Meet:  14:53.83  3/15/2008   Solomon Haile, Sherwood, MD               
    Freshman:  15:51.71  2006        Doug Smith, Roxbury,Succasunna,NJ         
   Sophomore:  15:10.38  2006        Brandon Jarrett, St Benedicts,Newark,NJ   
      Junior:  14:53.10  2005        Mohammud Ige, South, Denver, CO           
      Senior:  14:29.80  12/30/1984  Brad Hudson, South Eugene, OR             
           Name                        Year School                          Finals
===============================================================================
Section 1  Timed Finals
  1   1896 Arnier, Jeffery               10 Lamar HS, Arling            
  2   2964 Hardin, Joshua                09 Una-Va-Sterl, St            
  3   2852 Wines, Matt                   09 Una-Mi-Pinck, Pi            
  4   2779 Selsor, Evan                  11 Una-Ia-Winte, Wi            
  5   1534 Whitelaw, Austin              11 Final Boss T, Mo            
  6   2867 Campbell, Zachary             09 Una-Nh-Nashu, Na            
  7   2290 Freyer, Brandon               10 Pawling HS, Pawl            
  8   2298 Redfield, Gregory             09 Penfield HS, Pen            
  9   2821 Bush, Jeff                    10 Una-Ma-Westb, We            
 10   1041 Brigham, Atticus              09 Amherst Reg TC,             
 11   1127 Lord, Brandon                 10 Baylor Tc-Tn, Hi            
 12   3131 Theroux, Blake                10 Western Bran, Ch            
Section 2  Timed Finals
  1   2934 Ayers, Reece                  11 Una-Pa-Tunkh, Tu            
  2   2762 Stoliker, Richard             09 Una-Ct-Shelt, Sh            
  3   2636 Curry, Sean                   09 Syracuse TC, Syr            
  4   2808 Galebach, Phil                09 Una-Ma-Medfo, Me            
  5   2810 Kramer, Alex                  09 Una-Ma-North, No            
  6   1136 Truedson, Erik                09 Bemidji Star, Be            
  7   2291 Hickey, Michael               09 Pearl River, Pea            
  8   2883 Straneva, Max                 10 Una-Ny-Bingh, Bi            
  9   2913 Wieferich, Mark               09 Una-Oh-Marie, Ma            
 10   1487 Ross, Nick                    10 East Greenwi, Ea            
 11   2849 Miller, Ben                   09 Una-Mi-Gross, Gr            
 12   2782 Verzbicas, Lukas              12 Una-Il-New_l, Ne            
Section 3  Timed Finals
  1   2894 Maher, Lucas                  09 Una-Ny-Patte, Pa            
  2   2443 Stern, James                  10 Set Goals No, Me            
  3   3045 Siegel, Daniel                11 West Egg TC, Gre            
  4   2439 Butler, Bret                  09 Set Goals No, Me            
  5   1203 Faherty, Brian                09 Blazin Raide, Gr            
  6   2367 Pagano, Marshall              11 Red Gremlin, Nis            
  7   3179 Bennert, Kevin                11 Woodberry Fo, Wo            
  8   1266 Staub, Burk                   09 Broughton HS, Ra            
  9   2232 Smith, Ryan                   10 Northern Ken, Cr            
 10   1796 Schilit, Jordan               09 Jesuit Hs-Fl, Ta            
 11   1285 Gallivan, Cameron             09 Canisius Hs-, To            
 12   2936 Keefe, Sean                   09 Una-Pa-Yardl, Ya            
 13   2502 Gorecki, Robert               10 Somers TC, mahop