* Morgan Smalls is going for a haul this weekend at the NCHSAA State Indoor Championships
Photo Credit: Dan Loughlin/NC Runners
MileSplit breaks down a selection of the country's top athletes racing this weekend across the country.
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Athing Mu, Trenton Track Club (NJ), 800m
USA Track and Field Indoor Championships, Albuquerque, NM
Friday/Saturday
Breakdown: A great opportunity for Mu to down her career best of 2:03.98 from last year. Considering she's coming off a great performance of 2:04.08 last week at the Camel City Elite Invitational, this could be perfect timing. But several things will have to take place. For starters, the prelims and/or finals will have to be honest, fast enough for Mu to go for an all-timer. But considering who remains in the field (pending any scratches) -- Ajee Wilson, Raevyn Rogers, Hanna Green, Kaela Edwards and others -- that shouldn't be an issue. Mu is slotted in heat 3 of 4, alongside Wilson and Shea Collinsworth. Secondly, and more importantly, Mu will have to measure things just right in order to have her best race. Qualify for the finals, first, and then go for it. By now, Mu has raced professionals more times than she can count on one hand, so that shouldn't be a problem, either.
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Cameron Rose, Hickory Ridge (NC), 55m
North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Championships, Winston-Salem, NC
Breakdown: There's only one focus at state for Rose, the nation's fastest athlete at 200m and 300m this indoor season. Run your fastest 55m. Rose's last performance at this short sprint (60m) was just two weeks ago, when he went a career best 6.76 seconds -- fifth-best in the country. But his top 55m is only 6.45, which isn't even the fastest in the field. According to NCRunners editor Jason Creasy, the field will include six athletes under 6.4 seconds. But keep your eye on Rose. There's motivation lurking. He was seventh in this event last year. He's been beaten just once in 2020.
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Nathan Green, Borah (ID), 1,600m
The Simplot Games, Pocatello, ID
Breakdown: This is Green's race. He's been superb at the distance since his sophomore season, and his results have shown constant improvement -- 7 seconds from his indoor to outdoor season in 2019. He finished outdoor with a full mile effort of 4:06.20, which was the top sophomore time in the country, No. 9 overall. He won the event last year in 4:18.74. He qualified for the finals of the race with a Thursday performance of 4:20.10.
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Taylor Ewert, Beavercreek (OH), 2-Mile
The UK High School Invitational, Lexington, KY
Breakdown: Ewert is beginning to stack performances following some targeted race walk efforts to begin the season. She ran a full mile PR of 4:50.07 at the Millrose Games last week, finishing sixth overall in a stacked field. But the Ohio senior and Arkansas signee has a strong ability to hold pace, so this 2-mile effort could be special. Look for a low 10-minute effort inside the top 5 efforts nationally -- especially on an oversized 300m indoor track (approximately 291 meters).
WATCH LIVE: The UK High School Invitational
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Leah Phillips, Bullis School (MD), 60mH
The UK High School Invitational, Lexington, KY
Breakdown: Phillips ran with the pros last week at Millrose, getting a lesson from the far left lane. And so the objective continues to be a PR. At UK, Phillips could eventually be faced up against one of the better high school fields she's lined up against. Oak Park's Aasia Laurencin (tied with Phillips with a US No. 2) and Nonah Waldron and teammate Ashley Wallace are all entered. Phillips might have a speed edge over Laurencin, but she'll have to be perfect to beat Oak Park's top hurdler.
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Christian Lewis, Frederick Douglass (KY), LJ
The UK High School Invitational, Lexington, KY
Breakdown: The 'Float Boyz' squad member has only one mark on his indoor resume so far, a leap of 23 feet, 4.25 inches, which is good enough for US No. 11. But Lewis certainly will be aiming for more this weekend at Kentucky. The future University of South Carolina jumper has leapt over 24-feet outdoors, and so far just three high school boys have reached that mark in 2020. He's a candidate to enter the list.
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Kamyren Garrett, Indianapolis Lawrence Central (IN), HJ
The UK High School Invitational, Lexington, KY
Breakdown: Only two high school athletes have gone over 7-feet this season, Garrett and Sterling (KS) High School's Tyus Wilson. So it's a race to see just how high either of them can go. Garrett's 7-foot, 0.5 inch clearance on February 1 marked the first time he eclipsed that height barrier. But he debuted with a PR a few weeks prior, too, going 6-10.75. Saturday will mark a return to technique for Garrett.
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Jieem Bullock, North Brunswick (NC), LJ/HJ
North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Championships, Winston-Salem, NC
Breakdown: The defending New Balance Nationals Indoor long jump champion has two recorded efforts over 23-feet this indoor campaign, including his top mark of 24-feet from The VA Showcase in January, earning him a current US No. 3 performance. In the high jump, he's scored a top height of 6-8 -- an incredible six-inch improvement from his best a year ago. As the postseason enters Bullock's focus, expect this North Carolina jumper and LSU signee to perform at the level in which he's capable of.
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Morgan Smalls, Panther Creek (NC), TJ/HJ/LJ
North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Championships, Winston-Salem, NC
Breakdown: The country's most versatile star won four -- count 'em, four! -- titles at state a year ago. It's quite possible for a four-peat again, with Smalls scheduled to go in the triple jump, high jump and long jump. All she would need to finish it off would be a relay. Of course, while that seems like a busy lineup, Smalls didn't mind in 2019, as she was incredible throughout, posting a 6-1 effort in the HJ, a 41-9.75 in the TJ and a 19-11.25 aim in the LJ. Smalls will have to measure herself -- and her attempts -- but this is familiar territory. She's been a special talent in North Carolina.
WATCH LIVE: The NCHSAA State Championships
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Marlee Starliper, Northern (PA), 3K
Valentine Invitational, Boston, MA
Breakdown: This race could sneak up on you with a historic performance. While Starliper might be just a week off her career best 1-mile run of 4:37.76 at the Millrose Games -- absolutely dominating the field in the final laps -- there's an opportunity here to go after the national high school 3K record of 9:01.81, which is held by future North Carolina State teammate Katelyn Tuohy. Starliper is in fitness to achieve this. And the field has the merits to pull her through. Nine women enter with seeds at 9:01 or faster. Starliper hit 4:19 through the 1,500m split at Millrose, and she's also gone 2:49.17 for 1K. It might be a stretch -- but Starliper has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Glenbard West (IL) High School senior Katelynne Hart, a Michigan recruit and fellow high school distance star, is also scheduled to compete in this 3K field.
WATCH LIVE: The BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational
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Notable Athletes/Events To Watch
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The UK High School Invitational
Larry Josh Edwards (1-mile), Lea Hatcher (800m), Kennedy Jackson (HJ), Jett Kinder (HJ/60m)
Programs To Watch
Bullis School (4x400 relay), Motor City Track Club (4x400 Relay), East St. Louis (4x400 Relay), Primetime Performance (4x400), Beavercreek's girls (4x800 relay), Brentwood Track Club's girls (4x800),
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Championships
Jaylen Wright (55m, 3A), Avery Cannon (3,200m, 3A), Shawnti Jackson (55m, 4A), Jonah Ross (55m/300m, 4A), Jahzara Hart (55m, 4A), Carmen Alder (1,600m/3,200m, 4A), Zariyah Black (55m, 3A), Jonna Strange (3,200m, 3A)
Valentine Invitational
Matthew Ferrell (3K), William Coogan (1-mile), Justin O'Toole (1-mile)
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