Yes, this is only the third year that Brooks has put on the Brooks PR meet from The Dempsey at the University of Washington, however, a truly unique stat has emerged this year. Four girls will represent their team in three different events, two of them are twin sisters, and one of them is a defending champion who will run half the distance this year in pursuit of another title.
Grosse Pointe South, MI is the team and the athletes are Hannan Meier, Haley Meier, Ersula Farrow and Kelsie Schwartz. Hannah won the Mile last year with a time of 4:43.28 but will compete in the 800m run this year. Ersula will join her in the 800m field. Haley Meier will go after the Mile title that her sister won last year and that she finished 3rd in with a time of 4:48.10. Kelsie will compete in the 2 mile run. And just in case you are asking, yes, all 4 deserve to be here among the nation's best. This foursome won the NBIN DMR last March with a blazing time of 11:39.29. Wow!
Not to be outdone, all of the races feature top-notch talent and each race is previewed below!
Marybeth Sant at the Simplot Games.
60m: Five returners make up this stellar sprint field. Kali-Davis White was 4th last year in 7.44 and should challenge for a top spot once again. Marybeth Sant was 7th last year in 7.48 but has rocked a time of 7.30 so far this winter, and stands a solid shot of walking away with the win. Hannah Cunliffe was in the race last year and was 6th in 7.48, Kennadi Bouyer was 9th in 7.58 and Deanna Hill was 10th in 7.74.
Aaliyah Brown Frankfort IL SR
Kali Davis-White Lauderdale Lakes FL SR
Ariana Washington Long Beach CA JR
Kennadi Bouyer University Place WA SR
Marybeth Sant Highlands Ranch CO SR
Rushell Harvey Richmond TX SR
Hannah Cunliffe Federal Way WA JR
Chyna Ries Denver CO JR
Deanna Hill Orlando FL JR
Jada Martin Lithonia GA SR
Dior Hall has been dominate in the hurdles this winter.
60mH: Can anybody beat Dior Hall over hurdles in her quest to repeat as Brooks PR champ? That is the question we all can't wait to be answered on Sunday! Hall has gone 8.17 seconds in the 60H this winter, just .01 off of the National Record of 8.16 by Jacquelyn Coward from 2008. With that type of form, and Hall's consistency we could see an attempt at the National Record that would leave all others in the race running for 2nd place. Not to diminish their talent in the slightest, as Sasha Wallace boasts an 8.31 clocking over 60m Hurdles and Kendell Williams has gone 8.39, and either could take advantage of a misstep by Hall. Returners with experience in the race are Skylar Ross-Ransom, who was 4th in 8.50 and Jordan Munford, who was 5th in 8.68.
Dior Hall Denver CO JR
Sasha Wallace Castro Valley CA SR
Kendell Williams Marietta GA SR
Jordan Munford Rancho Cucamonga CA SR
Mollie Williams Clayton NC SR
Skylar Ross-Ransom Houston TX SR
Samantha Michell Reed City MI SR
Pattriana Perry Vacaville CA JR
Deshaunda Morrison Calgary CAN SR
Parrish is fast, but is she fast enough?
400m: Two returners are in this one, Precious Holmes, who was 2nd last year in 53.53 and Sydnee Over, who was 6th last year in 55.61. But both could be threatened by Deja Parrish, a junior with 23.94 and 53.20 creds behind her.
Precious Holmes New Haven CT SR
Deja Parrish Plantation FL JR
Sydnee Over Windsor CT SR
Shamier Little Chicago IL SR
Kendall Ellis Ft. Lauderdale FL JR
Hannah Derby Tacoma WA SR
Meier (blue&white) won the NBIN Mile last year.
800m: There are two experienced returners in this race but also some dangerous newcomers to be on the alert for. Kellie Davis was 3rd last year with a sterling time of 2:12.89 and Reagan Anderson was 6th with a clocking of 2:14.03. Among the newcomers Emma Gallagher has to be a favorite with 55 second 400 speed and a 1:30.35 600m and 2:09.80 800m PR's under her belt. She is also quite race savvy and shrugs off intimidation. Hannah Meier is also among the girls to be in the hunt at the end of the race. Hannah boasts a 2:06.80 in the 800m run and 56 second 400 speed. She also recently won a mile in 4:44 and was last year's mile champ here. Hold onto your horses as 800m indoors goes really fast!
Hannah Meier Gross Pointe Farms MI SR
Therese Haiss Solon OH SR
Nikki Hiltz Aptos CA SR
Stefanie Kurgatt Tallahassee FL SR
Emma Gallagher Garden City NY SO
Ersula Farrow Gross Pointe Farms MI SO
Reagan Anderson Greenville DE SR
Kellie Davis New Haven CT SR
Katie Willard Woodlands TX JR
Courtney Clayton Rockton IL SR
Jamie Morrissey Rochester Hills MI SR
Neale was runner-up last year, can she get it this year?
MILE: This is going to be a great race with 5 experienced returners from last year. Haley Meier was third, as mentioned above, and will definitely be in the hunt for the title. Amy-Eloise Neale was 2nd last year with a time of 4:44.03 and has to be the favorite going into the race, with the experience and footspeed. Carmen Carlos was 4th last year with a time of 4:48.28 and should be considered dangerous as well. Heather Bates finished 7th last year with a time of 4:54.18 and Kelly Lawson was 11th with a time of 5:03.61. Some notable newcomers to the race include Maddy Berkson from RI, Rebekah Topham from IA and Kennedy Weisner from PA.
Maddy Berkson Providence RI JR
Amy-Eloise Neale Snohomish WA SR
Haley Meier Gross Pointe Farms MI SR
Sydney Leiher Beavercreek OH SR
Anna Maxwell Felton CA JR
Kelly Lawson Carlsbad CA SR
Kennedy Weisner Saint Marys PA JR
Rebekah Topham Griswold IA SO
Carmen Carlos Mobile AL SR
Heather Bates Colorado Springs CO SR
Courtney Kriegshauser Southlake TX SR
Paige Rice Portland OR JR
Could Finn and Frazier provide the epic duel of the night?
2 MILE: The mile is special as always, and the sprints should be edge-of-your-seat thrilling, but wow! This 2 mile field could steal the show! The NBIN 5k champ and National Record holder Erin Finn is in the race, coming off a mile tune-up in 4:47.74. Erin was 3rd last year and boasts PR's of 10:18.82 over 2 miles and 16:19.69 over 5k, the NR. Also in the race is Wesley Frazier, the superstar from NC who is just as good as Finn. Frazier has gone 4:42.78 for the mile and 10:10.86 for 2 miles and was 4th here last year. Katie Knight, the WA star, is also in the race and was 6th last year in 10:28.50. Also returning are Chandler Olson and Emma Abrahamson. New to the field are Maria Hauger, Jordyn Colter and Alexa Efraimson, who is dangerous with 4:42 mile and 2:08 800m creds to her record. Also in the race is Wesley's younger sister Ryen Frazier.
Madi McLellan The Woodlands TX JR
Erin Finn West Bloomfield MI SR
Wesley Frazier Raleigh NC SR
Katie Knight Spokane WA SR
Chandler Olson Woodinville WA SR
Maria Hauger Shakopee MN SR
Jordyn Colter Greenwood Village CO SO
Emma Abrahamson Carlsbad CA JR
Katie Jensen The Woodlands TX SR
Ryen Frazier Raleigh NC SO
Julie McConville Hingham MA SR
Kelsie Schwartz Gross Pointe Farms MI JR
Alexa Efraimson Camas WA SO