Storyline #3: Sammy Watson Makes Her Season Debut in the 800
Even with a full year between indoor 800s, there's plenty of evidence that Watson is going to run extremely fast on Sunday. Coming in to New Balance last year, Watson's season bests in the 600 and 1000 were 1:34.84 and 2:47.27, respectively. That translated to a 2:08.13 and win in the 800 at indoor nationals in 2015. This year, she's gone 1:29.53 in the 600 and 2:45.32 in the 1000. Both of those times are junior class national records; the 600 is #3 all-time and the 1K is #2 all-time.
They also bode very well for Watson's hopes of running a historically fast time on Sunday. In 2012, when Ajee Wilson ran 2:04 against pros at Millrose and 2:06.58 solo at NBNI, she had run a 1:30 600 and 2:48 1k. In 2013 when Sabrina Southerland won NBNI in 2:03.59--#2 all-time--she came in with a 2:48 1K SB and a 4:51 mile PR. (Watson has gone 4:47 in the mile this season) When Tamieka Grizzle ran 2:04.90 in 1996, she had season bests of 1:31 and 2:48 in the neighboring events.
It's safe to say that Watson has a great shot at Chanelle Price's 2:04.96 junior class national record and Southerland's 2:03.59 meet/New York state record. Only five girls have ever broken 2:05.00 indoors, and Watson definitely can join that club Sunday.
Here's a tougher question, though: Is Mary Decker's 2:01.8 national record in jeopardy? Decker ran that in 1974, making her just one of three women who still holds a high school record set in the 1970s or 80s. Candy Young set still-standing marks in the 50 hurdles in 1979 and the 55H in 1980; Carol Lewis set the still-standing long jump record in 1981; Aleisha Latimer set the 55 record in 1996. Every other girls high school indoor national record has been broken since 2000.
Decker ran 2:02.4 for 880 yards in 1974, which converts to the 2:01.8 national record still on the books. She was fifteen years old and it was the world indoor record at the time. I couldn't find 600 or 1000 season bests for Decker from that season, but that record will be tough to break. Watson would probably have to come through 600 in 1:30.0 or so, a tall order with a 1:29.5 600 PR. But that 1:29 600 was on a flat track; it might be fair to knock off a second to a banked track. We'll see what she can do Sunday.
Whatever happens on Sunday, Watson might have one national record in her pocket from Saturday. Her Rush Henrietta Sperry squad set the national record in the sprint medley last year, and they have three of the four girls back from that lineup on Saturday. Their one graduation is key, though--Sammy's sister Ceara ran the 400 leg in 2015. Lanae-Tava Thomas will likely move up and run the 400 leg this weekend.
-Dennis Young
Marks to watch:
Watson's outdoor PR-- 2:03.54
Watson's indoor PR-- 2:08.13
High school national record-- 2:01.8, Mary Decker, 1974
Meet/New York state record-- 2:03.59, Sabrina Southerland, 2013
Junior class national record-- 2:04.96, Chanelle Price, 2007