Storyline #8: Girls 60m Hurdles is Unpredictable... and could Tara Davis Triple?
Three girls on the U.S. All-Time List headline this field:
| NAME | SB | 2016 RANKING | ALL-TIME PR | U.S. ALL-TIME RANKING | NATIONALS 2015 PLACEMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Cockrell (Providence Day, NC) | 8.24 | US #1 | 8.21 | No. 5 All-Time | 2nd, NBNI 60mH; 3rd, NBNO 100mH; 3rd, NBNO 400mH |
| Chanel Brissett (Cheltenham, PA) | 8.25 | US #2 | 8.25 | No. 7 All-Time | 39th, NBNI 60m Prelims |
| Tonea Marshall (Arlington Seguin, TX) | 8.28 | US #3 | 8.28 | No. 9 All-Time | 2nd, NBNO 100mH |
Cockrell (pictured above, center) returns as the top seed and the runner-up from last year but she, Brissett and Marshall (pictured above, left) are only the tip of the talent in this stacked event.
Marshall almost raced the No. 4 and No. 5 ranked girls in the nation, Tara Davis of Agoura, California and Alexis Duncan of Desoto, Texas, earlier this year at the Texas A&M HS Invitational, but she and Duncan chose not to contest the finals. Davis won the final there and also won the Simplot Games.
The multi-talented junior Davis (pictured below) will also compete in the long and triple jumps here -- and has a legitimate shot to win all three; she's ranked U.S. #1 in the long jump (20-10.75) and U.S. No. 3 in the triple jump (41-3.75).
But, back to the hurdles! Davis ranks No. 6 in the 55mH (7.88) and No. 4 in the 60mH (8.34); Duncan ranks No. 5 in the 60mH (8.41).
Want a sleeper pick?
Georgia's Tia Jones won New Balance Nationals Outdoor in the 100mH last year as an eighth-grader! She's entered here and ranks No. 10 in the 60mH (8.52).
Also of note, defending champion Sydney McLaughlin will not compete. The junior ranks No. 4 All-Time in this event, but will contest the open 400m. Watch her 2015 winning race below: