Championship 5Ks Took Center Stage On Day 2 Of NBNO

It was decision time.

With three laps to go, Sydney Masciarelli made her move toward a second national title. 

By then, the Marianapolis Prepatory sophomore and reigning Foot Locker Nationals champion had sat on the heels of Saratoga Springs' Kelsey Chmiel for much of the race. 

But winning favors the bold, so Masciarelli continued.  

And by the end of the championship girls 5K at New Balance Nationals Outdoor on Friday in Greensboro, North Carolina, Masciarelli had won her second national title across her sophomore campaign, winning in a new sophomore class record of 16:16.20. 

Chmiel, who was on Masciarelli's heels after her move with less than a mile to go, was second in 16:87.57. Friends Central's Lydia Russell was third in 16:18.72. 

It was a steady and measured race from the Massachusetts native, who ran much of the spring season across small meets, some in her Connecticut private school conference and others on the road at local colleges, though she still picked up nation-leading times in the 3K and 5K.  

Friday was Masciarelli's chance to show the country that her fitness was among the best. She's also entered in the 2-mile later in the weekend. 

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Cozean Takes Over: 

Maybe it was a day for Connecticut long distance runners to shine. 

Because they straight up dominated the 5K. 

Xavier's Robbie Cozean, who was coming off a Connecticut Open State Championship in the 3200m a few weeks ago, made a strong move late in the boys championship and with a lap to go held on and went for a sub-60 last lap against strong charges. 

Cozean posted a career best on the track at the distance by 14 seconds, hitting 14:26.18 on the clock to win over Caleb Futter (14:28.95) and James Gedris (14:29.92). 

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Bullis Gets Its National Title: 

For so long, the Bullis boys had been on the cusp of a national title. 

But on Friday, the Maryland powerhouse squad finally came up with their first in program history, winning the 1,000 meter Swedish Relay (100-200-300-400) with a winning time and meet No. 2 time of 1:52.41.

Ashton Allen, a junior hoping for individual titles in the 200m and 400m this weekend, posted a 46.40 second anchor on the last leg to help the Bulldogs to the line. 

Meanwhile, the Bullis girls won their eighth overall title, taking the Swedish Relay in 2:09.38. Bullis sophomore Ryan Willie also won an Emerging Elite title in the 400m in 47.32 seconds. 

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Nation's Best Javelin Thrower Continues Torrid Form:  

A national title had eluded Skylar Ciccolini over the last two seasons as the Mifflin County (PA) thrower shot up the rankings and fallen to No. 2 all-time on the high school charts. 

She had earned big wins at her PIAA Class AAA Championships, winning two straight titles. She had won a USATF National Junior Olympic title. She had finished first in a Caribbean-based competition. 

But no domestic, high-school aged national title. 

That changed on Friday. 

Ciccolini tossed a winning heave of 161 feet, 10 inches to win the girls championship by more than 12 feet. It was her sixth throw this season of over 160 feet, though off her personal record of 184-2, which helped her win a Penn Relays title in April. 

Emerging Elites

Future Bruins Star: 

Western Branch's Na'Taja Ballard continues to shine in her sophomore season, and may be in line to pick up program's reigns following her sister's Shadajah's graduation. 

Na'Taja won the Emerging Elite 100mH title in a wind-legal 13.78 seconds (+1.2), which currently ranks just over the nation's top 20 short hurdlers. 

Triple Jump Punch: 

Bloomfield sophomore Korey Steele unfurled for a winning leap of 48 feet, 8 inches in the Emerging Elite Triple Jump. 

Steele's mark, a No. 4 mark over the sophomore class currently, was a half-inch PR. 

Related Links: 

• NBNO Results
• Young Athletes Shine On Day 
• NBNO Interview Hub