As 2015 draws to a close, MileSplit revisits the Top 10 Upsets of the Year... Stayed tuned to this page as the countdown continues every day this week.
9. Unseeded Brian Bell Sets National Record, Wins Two National Titles At 800m
Brian Bell's outstanding weekend at the 2015 New Balance Nationals Indoor started on Saturday afternoon in the Sprint Medley Relay.
Cheltenham High School of Pennsylvania entered the event as the favorite; the foursome owned the fastest time in the nation at 3:26.11 and made clear their ambition to take down the 3:24.69 National High School Record. No. 2 ranked Boys & Girls of New York also had a sub-3:30 credit to their name by the March national championship, but Cheltenham looked unbeatable on paper with the No. 1 ranked 800m runner in the nation on their anchor -- 1:50 performer John Lewis, who was bypassing a shot at an individual title to focus on his squad's relay ambitions.
Enter Dunbar High School of Ohio. The quartet kept within striking distance of early leaders Cheltenham and anchor Bell, a senior, somehow looked stronger than national leader Lewis with both on the anchor. He powered past Lewis by splitting a monster 1:49.46 leg. Dunbar not only won the national title, but set a new National High School Record in 3:24.16.
Watch the race:
Post-race interview with Dunbar High School:
Bell had scarcely 24 hours to recover for the 800m Championship Final on Sunday afternoon. The Ohio state champion was undefeated within his state, but largely unknown outside of the region and was originally seeded in a morning heat. But after Bell's national record-breaking 800m SMR performance, NBNI meet officials added the senior to the afternoon Championship Section.
Bell was the only major player in the final who was not fresh on the start line, as neither Donavan Brazier, the defending NBNO 800m champion, nor 1:50 man Terrell Jackson, of "The Staredown" fame, raced on Saturday. On the track, Bell was fearless in running for the lead -- though it was quickly shared by Jackson, with Brazier moving up on the outside. In the end, Bell controlled the final 100m of the race and ran through the line in 1:51.08 for the win.
Brandon McGorty of Chantilly, Va. was another upset in this event -- he ran 1:51.5 for runner-up honors out of the morning session -- as Brazier settled for third (1:51.57) and Jackson faded to eighth (1:52.63).
Watch the race: