Comparing the NSIC and NIN is like comparing two seperate Super Bowls. Each major indoor championship offers fans spectacular fields to follow and the NSIC has some of the best athletes as well. See which events and what top athletes to keep an eye on this weekend in New York City.
Best of the Best at the NSIC
1. Boys 400m Dash: Star-Studed Field
The deepest and most talented field in either championship this weekend is hands down the boys 400m field in New York. This field has an outdoor national championship feel to it, with the top four returnees from '07 and seven of the top ten ranked indoor quarter milers amongst its ranks. Indoor U.S. #1 William Wynne (GA), U.S. #2 Dominick Roberts (CO) and U.S. #4 Christian Taylor (GA) lead the charge, followed closely behind by U.S. #1 returnee Robert Simmons (TX) and U.S. #2 returnee Bernard Goodwyn (DE). Taylor ran a U.S. #1 47.39 outdoor last weekend, while Simmons also broke the 48 second mark last weekend outside. These five alone would make for a stellar field, but U.S. #7 Khalif Featherstone (PA), U.S. #8 Akinto Boone (NY), U.S. #9 Dennis Scruggs (NY) and U.S. #10 Garrett Ellis (NJ) are also in the field. With so much talent and speed in one event, it would not be unreasonable to see all eight dip under the 48 second barrier, and see a few of them dip under 47 seconds.
2. Girls 200m Dash: Burning Up the Track
The top two ranked female athletes in the U.S. currently for 200m will compete in the one lap race this weekend in New York. U.S. #1 Ashton Purvis (CA) and U.S. #2 Chalonda Goodman (GA) each have the strength, speed and talent to win the event, but they will not be without some other notable competitors. Texas stars Victoria Jordan (TX) and Ashley Collier (TX) are also entered, giving the field the top four returnees from the '07 performance lists. While Allyson Felix' 23.14 national record might be a bit out of reach, having one or two athletes dip under 23.30 is certainly not out of the question. Two other notable entries are Erica Alexander (TX) and Akawkaw Ndipagbor (CA), both of whom should dip under 24 seconds.
3. Girls 60m Dash: Much Like the 200m Dash
As if the girl's sprints couldn't get any faster from the 200m dash, they are equally as strong in the 60m dash. Eight of the top ten nationally ranked short sprinters are in the field, led by U.S. #2 Victoria Jordan (TX). Jordan, U.S. #3 Ashton Purvis (CA), U.S. #4 Chalonda Goodman (GA), U.S. #5 Erica Alexander (TX) and U.S. #6 Ashley Collier (TX) are all in the field and have all dipped under 7.50 seconds in the race at least once this season. Meanwhile, U.S. #8 Takeia Pickney (GA), U.S. #9 Alex Pegram (TX) and U.S. #10 LaKeidra Stewart (TX) have each run less than .10 off of 7.50 seconds. This race will most certainly come down to a photo finish, which could very well take hours to decide.
4. Vashti Thomas: The Best Female Trackster in the Country
Vashti Thomas (CA) attempts to win three events this weekend
(Photo from EliteRunning.com)
Vashti Thomas (CA) is a true talent. The senior sensation is slowly setting up her final prep season to be one of the greatest we have ever seen from an all-around perspective. Thomas returns as the top long jumper and #2 triple jumper from '07. She also returns as the top 100m hurdler outdoors. Before she can go about her outdoor season, she has some unfinished business indoors, where she'll compete in the two jumps and the 60m hurdles at the NSIC. Thomas may pull off the trifecta, and you can bet if she does she'll be labeled as one of the greatest performers ever in the championships.
5. Christian Taylor: The Best Male Trackster in the Nation?
He's not just a jumper, but a sprinter too. Christian Taylor (GA) has made his name this indoor season in the long and triple jump, with U.S. #1 rankings in each event. Taylor soared 25-00.5 in February at the University of Kentucky, while leaping 52-00 at Tennessee State University in early February. The consistency the Florida-bound senior has found is taking him to another level. He now sits only 7.5 inches off of the national indoor triple jump record, which has not been touched since 1988. One perfect leap this weekend could make Taylor the best all-time in the event. One aspect of the stars credentials that flies a bit under the radar are his track successes. Taylor currently ranks in the U.S. top five for 400m, clocking a 48.01 performance at the University of Kentucky earlier in the season, and the U.S. #1 outdoor time so far this season last weekend in GA, running 47.39. It's not every day one can find a U.S. #1 jumper and sprinter, but in Taylor you have just that.
6. Boys Pole Vault: How High Will Nico Go?
Nico Weiler (CA) decided to stay in the U.S. for his senior year of high school, and boy is that decision paying off. Weiler has already vaulted 17-02 indoors and seems consistent in soaring over the 16-06 barrier. Consistency is what wins championship meets in the pole vault, and Weiler has shown time and again that he has found his rhythm. The German exchange-student still sits 4.5 inches off the indoor national record of 17-06.5 set back in 1986, but if anyone has a shot to get extremely close to it this year it is most certainly Weiler. In fact, he is the only vaulter to clear the 17 foot mark thus far. How high will Nico go is the question surrounding this event in New York.
7. Girls 800m Dash: Once More 800 for Price
Chanelle Price (PA) should add to her legacy this weekend in NY
(Photo by Don Rich)
Perhaps the best 800m runner this country has ever seen at the prep level has one more indoor competition to win. Chanelle Price (PA) amazed fans all indoor season, capturing the 500m national record and dominating her staple 800m event. Price qualified for USATF Indoor Nationals and has set up her training this season to hopefully peak at the Olympic Trials, where she'll have a very realistic shot at making the Olympic team. The Tennesse-bound senior is in a league of her own this weekend, which means she'll have to set up her own race once again and push herself to whatever time she is shooting for. For those in New York that plan to attend the meet, keep an eye on Ms. Price, she'll be a force in this sport for years to come.
8. Girls 60m Hurdles: California Stars Take Over!
While many of the top hurdlers compete at Nike Indoor Nationals this weekend, or simply aren't competing in an indoor national championship, a few stars in particular will be competing in the NSIC girls 60m hurdles. The California trio of Vashti Thomas, Julian Purvis and Dahlys Marshall give the western state a potential 1-2-3 finish. Currently the three superstars are ranked U.S. #2, U.S. #4 and U.S. #5, but with so much talent, the end of the day could see one of them sitting a top the national rankings. That would mean one of them would have to set the national record in the process, as U.S. #1 Jacquelyn Coward ran 8.16 at the Simplot Games earlier this year to set the national record. Along with the California triple threat, U.S. #7 Brianna Patton (CO) is also a title contender and should keep the trio on their toes.
9. Girls Long Jump: Another Deep Field
With the top two ranked long jumpers in the nation competing in this event, in U.S. #1 Jennifer Clayton (NY) and Tynita Butts (VA), that alone would make this one of the best girls field events to watch. However, throw in U.S. #5 Vashti Thomas (CA) and U.S. #6 Nyosha Bryant (NC) and you have one of the top jump fields assembled in some time. Clayton and Butts have both soared past the twenty foot barrier, while Thomas and Bryant are within less than a foot of that mark. All four athletes should put on quite a show for those sitting near the jump pits.
10. Boys 800m Dash: Ferris v. Ward
Dylan Ferris (NC) looks to rock the 800 this weekend
(Photo by John Herzog)
Just like at Nike Indoor Nationals, the 800m dash brings forth an intriguing dual between two speedsters. U.S. #1 returnee from 2007 Dylan Ferris (NC) takes on U.S. #2 currently Isaiah Ward (MI) in a clash that could see a new U.S. #1 time. And just like the NIN match-up between Andrew Perkins (WI) and Jared Hall (OH), this clash may produce one of the fastest times ever indoors. The national record was set back in 1995 by Michael Granville in 1:50.55. Ward has already run under 1:53 this season, while Ferris has posted the results this winter to show he is in at least 1:52 shape.