There were plenty of standout performances in the championship and emerging elite sections on Day 3 of New Balance Nationals Outdoor.
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By Denise Spann - MileSplit Correspondent
Kurt Powdar was in a league of his own on Saturday in his signature event.
While the future University of Florida Gator had to battle slight headwinds in the prelims, he headed into the final ranked third, behind Sincere Rhea of St. Augustine Prep and Andre Turay of Bullis.
Maybe he wasn't the favorite.
But after helping Track 757 win the boys championship Shuttle Hurdle Relay, Powdar's confidence surged as he returned for the final.
He was the first one out of the blocks and began to pull away after the fifth hurdle, crossing the finish line in a time 13.27 for a new PR, a new US No. 1, passing national leader Jamar Marshall at US No. 1.
The new PR pushed Powdar up to No. 3 all-time, right behind University of North Carolina's Marcus Krah.
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Taylor Ewert Becomes No. 6 All-Time in the 2K Steeple:
The girls championship 2K steeplechase was stacked with competition.
Eight girls were ranked in the top 15 of the national rankings and the race's biggest battle was expected between last year's champion Taylor Ewert and national record holder Sarah Trainor.
Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be.
While Trainor didn't line up, Ewert was dominate from start to finish, scoring a new meet record of 6:33.61. Ewert previously was No. 14 on the all-time list but with this new personal best she's boosted herself to No. 6.
Ewert brought the pack through the first lap in 1:17 and opened up a gap that would lead her to a new meet record. The junior will return to the track tomorrow to race in the championship mile.
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Chloe Cunliffe attempts to break her own national record:
Cunliffe continued her year of dominance with a win in the championship pole vault.
The US No. 1 and Washington State University signee came into the competition at 13-5 and cleared it to take the lead. After a series of makes, Cunliffe finally ended her run on a final height of 14-4.75, on her last attempt, and set a new meet record.
Cunliffe decided to go after her own national record of 14-8.25, which she set this year at the Arcadia Invitational, but was unable to clear it.
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Tamari Davis pulls up in the Championship 100m Prelim:
Davis was the obvious favorite heading into the prelims of the championship 100m on Saturday, as the junior held the New Balance Nationals Outdoor freshman and overall meet records in the championship 100m and 200m.
But Saturday wasn't meant to be.
Despite coming out with a slight lead out of her drive phase, Davis pulled up with 50 meters left and went down. She had to be carried off the track due to injury. There's been no update on what her exact injury is, though her head coach, Gary Evans, believes the injury isn't severe.
Her absence in the final opened up the opportunity for a new champion.
University of Miami commit Jacious Sears ran new US No. 4 time of 11.41 seconds to win, while Talitha Diggs was second in 11.52, which was a US No. 8 mark.
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Sydney Masciarelli Achieves the Distance Double:
Masciarelli made a bold move late to win over Saratoga Spring's Kelsey Chmiel on Friday in the championship girls 5K.
Saturday wasn't much different.
Masciarelli once again made a big move in the championship 2-mile, making a swift, race-setting adjustment just after the mile and went on to win her second event in two days, scoring a US No. 4 time of 10:11.99.
The Marianapolis Preparatory sophomore sat within a lead pack of nine girls for the first four laps until she began to pull away, pushing the pace after a conservative first mile.
With less than a mile left in the race, Masciarelli had a 30 meter gap on the chase pack.
Finishing with a 74 second last lap, Masciarelli scored her second straight title.
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Halls TC Wins the Boys Championship 1600 Sprint Medley Relay:
It was an all-around effort for boys of Halls Track Club (CT) in the 1,600 meter SMR championship.
The Connecticut program handed off baton in fourth-place headed into the 800m leg. But with one lap to go, Hall, Union Catholic, Ridgewood Track Club and the So Cal Wildcats were all in a pack chasing the title.
With a little over 200 meters left in the race, Hall's Miller Anderson made a big move to separate himself around the final turn. Elijah Brown of Union Catholic went with Miller to battle on the home stretch, but Anderson inched away for the title.
Anderson split 1:51.05 in the 800m to help his team win.
SATURDAY'S MVPS
Kurt Powdar, Track 757 (VA)
He played a big role in Track 7-5-7's win in the boys championship shuttle relay, he then turned around and defended his title in the 110mH. He ran 13.27 for a new PR, US No. 1 and US No. 3 all-time.
Taylor Ewert, Beavercreek (OH)
She won the 2K steeplechase with a US No. 2 and No. 6 all-time. She also ran the third leg on her team in the championship 4x800m and split 2:11.99 to help her team get second place.
UNDERCLASSMEN STANDOUT
Jack Miller, Wilson West Lawn (PA)
He won the emerging elite boys shot put, breaking the old meet record set last year (57-10 ΒΌ). Miller threw 58-10 on his second attempt for a new PR.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"We trusted each other through the whole race and when we put out blocks down it was set and we were ready to go, no matter what happens. It's a little stressful, but when you have your teammates right their it kind of deviates some of stress." - Bullis' Leah Philips on her team's Shuttle Hurdle Relay win
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