Day 1 Highlights
IMG Academy Breaks All-Time Indoor Record in Girls 4x800m Championship at New Balance Nationals
IMG Academy set a new all-time indoor national record in the Girls 4x800m Championship at the New Balance Nationals with a time of 8:46.04. The relay team, consisting of Anyla Robinson, Aurora Bertelsen Del Solar, Mackenzie Winning, and Danielle Graham, shattered the previous indoor record of 8:48.02, set by Cuthbertson High School in 2023.
They won the meet title by a whopping 19 seconds and became just one of four teams all-time under the 8:50 mark indoors.
St. John's College Breaks Meet Record En Route to #2 All-Time Standing
St. John's College High School set a new meet record in the Boys 4x800m Championship at the New Balance Nationals with an impressive time of 7:37.52. The relay team, featuring Keenan Frisby, Zion Omotesa, Karil Arnold, and Caleb Rock, claimed victory and now ranks as the #2 all-time indoor performance in U.S. high school history.
Bentonville High School finished in a close second with a time of 7:37.95, securing the #3 all-time indoor performance in U.S. history. The Bentonville relay team, consisting of Carter Beasley, Matthew Shelly, Harper Jones, and Brian Burns, made for an exciting race, pushing St. John's to the line.
The all-time high school national record in the 4x800m remains 7:36.99, set by Albemarle in 2009. Both St. John's College High School and Bentonville High School's performances in this championship showcase the exceptional talent and depth in the event this season, and that the 16 year old record is getting closer to being broken.
Mackenzie Skelly delivered a historic performance in the girls' middle school indoor mile, shattering the national record with an incredible time of 4:48.97. She was the only competitor in the field to break the five-minute barrier, dominating from start to finish. In the process, she erased the previous meet and middle school record of 4:51.19, set by Elin Latta in 2023. Skelly's time also demolished her own indoor personal best of 4:56.69 and surpassed her overall PR of 4:51.58 from the 2024 outdoor season, cementing her place in history as the fastest middle school girl ever in the indoor mile.
A Historically Fast Freshman Girls Mile
The freshman girls set the tone early in the meet, lining up for the second race on the schedule-the freshman girls' mile. In a thrilling battle that remained close through most of the race, Petra Gruendel led heading into the final lap, but Colby McCollum unleashed a wicked kick in the last 200 meters, surging from behind to steal the win at the line. McCollum clocked 4:52.12, narrowly edging out Gruendel, who finished in 4:52.18. Both girls shattered the previous meet record of 4:58.00, set by Addison Moore in 2023, and their performances now rank 13th and 14th all-time for freshman girls in the indoor mile.
Trio of Freshman Boys Break Meet 400m Record
The freshman boys' 400m saw a record-breaking showdown as three athletes dipped under the previous meet freshman record of 49.52, set by Abass Hunter in 2023. Leading the charge was Michael Swanson of IMG Academy, who blazed to victory in 48.77, setting a new meet record. Jaylen Edwards of Glenville High School followed closely, clocking a personal best of 49.44, while Gideon Newton of Hoover Elite rounded out the historic trio in 49.46. Their performances rewrote the record books, cementing them as some of the fastest freshman 400m runners in meet history.
Dailey and Arrendell Shatter Meet Record
In a thrilling middle school girls' 400m race that came down to the wire, Camryn Dailey and Mya Arrendell both shattered the previous meet record of 55.84, set by Olivia Harris. Dailey, representing Track Xplosion Elite, surged ahead in the final meters to take the win in a blazing 55.33, setting a new personal best. Right behind her, Mya Arrendell of Iconic Force Track Club clocked 55.62, also dipping under the previous record. Their performances marked one of the fastest middle school 400m races in meet history, showcasing the next generation of elite sprinters.