Nike Indoor Nationals is going to excite this weekend regardless of which events are your favorites. Match-ups up and down the start lists are exciting, with some deep and impressive fields in a few events specifically. See who we think are the top events and athletes to keep an eye on in Maryland.
Best of the Best at Nike Indoor Nationals
1. Boys Two Mile: How Low Can They Go?
Doug Smith (#97) and Brian Leung (#451) lead a stellar two-mile field
(Photo from NJRunners.com)
Whoever you ask this weekend, the top event in terms of up top talent and depth is the boys two-mile field. Lets look at who's competing. Brian Leung (NJ) was the first athlete this season to break nine minutes for 3200m, when he edged Doug Smith (NJ) at the New Jersey Meet of Champions 8:59.77-9:01.86. Both Leung and Smith are in the field and are the top ranked athletes in the event nationally. Peter Dorrell (VA) is also in the field with his 9:06.30 effort in the 3200, while Brandon Jarrett (NJ) ran 9:05.35 for the two-mile back in mid-February. Also in the field are the top two ranked milers in Luke Puskedra (UT) and Colby Lowe (TX). The two athletes placed 1-2 at the Boston Indoor Games in 4:08.77 and 4:08.99. Puskedra and Lowe both finished in the top five at Foot Locker Nationals as well, proving their distance domination. Two other chief comeptitors are Bobby Aprill (MI), who ran 9:10.00 in February and Sean Keveren (TN), who is the top ranked returnee in the two-mile from 2007. This field is loaded and each of the eight athletes have a great shot to finish under nine minutes.
2. Girls Shot Put: A Battle of Titans!
Becky O'Brien (ME) is the pre-meet favorite in the girls shot put
(Photo by Don Rich)
For weeks now, shot put fans have anticipated the dual between U.S. #1 Becky O'Brien (ME) and U.S. #2 Karen Shump (PA) taking place at Nike Indoor Nationals. These two athletes have switched off being ranked U.S. #1 a few times this season, twice earning changing hands within the same day. O'Brien is fresh off of her USATF Indoor T&F Championships sixth place finish among professional athletes, while Shump won the Pennsylvania indoor championships easily two weeks back. O'Brien and Shump are leagues above the rest of the competition, each posting indoor PR's over three feet ahead of the competition. Both athletes indicate they will be shooting to beat the other, with national bragging rights at stake.
3. Girls Pole Vault: #1 v. #2!
Shade Weygandt (TX) looks to near the 14 foot mark this weekend
(Photo from PoleVaultPower.com)
U.S. #1 Rachel Laurent (LA) and U.S. #2 Shade Weygandt (TX) are the two best vaulters in the nation. There is no way around it, as no other vaulters have shown this season that they can contend with Laurent or Weygandt and the heights the two athletes constantly soar over. These two met earlier in the winter at the Simplot Games in another anticipated U.S. #1 v. U.S. #2 match-up, but Laurent failed to clear a height while she was battling some bad luck. Weygandt went on to win the event, while Laurent went back to Louisiana with a chip on her shoulder. Since then, Laurent has vaulted over 13-09.25 indoors at her state championship and earned a 13-10 mark last weekend outdoors. Both athletes will look to push the magical 14 foot barrier, and with loads of competition that mark is certainly possible.
4. Boys Shot Put: How Many Can Break 62 Feet?
Brandon Pounds (IN) leads the way in the boys shot put
U.S. #2 Brandon Pounds (IN) and U.S. #3 Mike Alleman (NJ) lead the way in the boys shot put, an event that is loaded with depth and 60+ foot throwers. With both Pounds and Alleman in the field, which also includes U.S. #5 Dan Kwiatkowski (PA) gives NIN three of the top five throwers in the land, each throwing 63+ feet. Other notable challengers are Michael Barbas (TX) and Tyler Hiatt (IN), who've also broken the 60 foot barrier and rank in the top ten nationally. Shot put is perhaps the premier event in indoor track and field professionally, and it might well be at the prep level as well.
5. Boys 60m Hurdles: Can Wayne Davis Finally Break the National Record?
7.62 seconds. That is the national record for the boys 60m hurdles. No one has touched that record since Rickey Harris (VA) tied it back in 2000. However, this year another hurdle superstar is on the horizon, ready to take down that mark and make a bid to become the greatest short hurdler ever. Wayne Davis (NC) has tried this season to break that record. Numerous times. The senior star has run 7.63 in the event, leaving him within a hair of tying the record. This weekend one can bet the record is Davis' top priority, as he has one last shot to put him name in the record books.
6. Boys High Jump: Soaring High!
Watching someone clear seven feet in the high jump is something you'll never forget. I remember back in 1998 when I saw my first seven foot leap. It took place at the state qualifying meet a town over from where I grew up, and I watched Quiande Moore jump seven feet on the dot. It was amazing! It's a true art form to see someone clearing such heights, and fortunately for all involved this weekend with Nike Indoor Nationals there are two athletes competing that have cleared seven feet. Erik Kynard (OH) is the top ranked high jumper in the nation, with his 7-03.75 jump from mid-January. However, since then, Kynard has cleared seven feet no less than four times. Along with Kynard, Chris Copeland (VA) is in the field with his seven foot clearance, while Mitchell White (MI) is the third ranked leaper in the field with his 6-10 effort last month.
7. Girls 60m Hurdles: Coward v. Stowers, Part III
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Jacquelyn Coward (TN) looks to improve upon her national record
(Photo by John Herzog)
Jacquelyn Coward (TN) is the best girls 60m hurdler ever. Since the Tennessee star broke the national record in the event at the Simplot Games back in February, she has laid low, only competing in a few competitions. However, one of those competitions came a few weeks ago when she took on super sophomore Jasmin Stowers (SC). Stowers beat Coward earlier in the season, but Coward got revenge this time around. Well, these two athletes face each other a third time this weekend in Maryland, and the results will be fun to watch. Coward is the established veteran and the best ever, while Stowers continues to improve and show she is the future in the event. The present vs. the future is always an intriguing story line, and one that will rock the track this weekend.
8. Boys Pole Vault: The Line-Up
While U.S. #1 Nico Weiler (CA) will be showing his pole vaulting prowess up at the NSIC this weekend, the boys pole vault field is certainly one of the premier events at Nike Indoor Nationals even without the German exchange-student (Weiler). Numerous 16+ foot pole vaulters are on the start lists, including U.S. #2 Joe Wesley (MI) and U.S. #3 Scott Houston (NC). Both Wesley and Houston have cleared 16-10, and both plan on pushing their heights towards the 17 foot barrier, as only Weiler has cleared that mark so far this season. Meanwhile, Jason Pelletier (AR), Corey Shank (IN) and Codi Mattix (MI) are entered in the field. Shank is someone to keep a close eye on as he cleared 17 feet last year as a sophomore. The talent in the field is tops and the depth will impress. Watch these young men soar high!
9. Girls Weight Throw: Victoria Flowers is the Best Ever!
Seeing the best athlete ever in an event is rare to observe. Luckily for all in attendance this weekend in Maryland one gets a chance to see the best female prep weight thrower of all time. Senior Victoria Flowers (RI) isn't just the greatest ever, she has put up results this year in awe-inspiring fashion. Flowers threw 62-02 a week ago, and seems to be in the rythm of throwing at or over 60 on a consistent basis. While she doesn't have competition within five feet of her, she doesn't seem to need the push some athletes need to reach their best. Fans of the sport need to appreciate the greatness Flowers possesses in this event and watch each throw this coming weekend.
10. Boys 800m Dash: Sub-1:52?
Jared Hall (OH) faced a furious pace in late-February at the Akron Rubber City Open from Isaiah Ward (MI) in the 800m dash. The pace went out fast, maintained pace and closed fast. It's rare to find a high school 800m race as intense, but in the end Hall showed his strength in the event with a new U.S. #1 time of 1:52.19, .02 ahead of Ward. Winning close calls like that are events that create champions. This weekend Hall gets a shot to become a national champion, but he won't be able to relax for a single second. Andrew Perkins (WI), U.S. #4 in the event currently in 1:53.32 and the U.S. #2 returnee in the event from 2007 is Hall's primary competition. These two should battle and the results may be something fierce. While it is still a few seconds away, one of the top questions of this event is whether or not these two can push the national record of 1:50.55 set by the great Michael Granville back in 1995.