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Two More National Records Fall on Final Day of New Balance Nationals Indoor 2014Published by
TWO MORE NATIONAL RECORDS FALL ON FINAL DAY OF NEW BALANCE NATIONALS 2014 By Chris Lotsbom, ArmoryTrack.com and Dyestat.com NEW YORK (16-March) -- A pair of national records fell on the final day of competition here at New Balance Nationals Indoor 2014, as Dior Hall timed 8.11 seconds to win the girls 60m hurdles and Desiree Freier cleared 14 feet, 2.75 inches in the girls pole vault. In total, seven national records were broken at New Balance Nationals 2014, completing arguably the best indoor high school track and field competition in American history. Hall, a senior from Denver, Colorado, had come oh-so-close to the record earlier this season, when she ran 8.18. Today, in front of a capacity crowd, Hall got out of the blocks fast and flawlessly cleared each hurdle one by one. When she crossed the line, however, the 18-year-old didn't think she had broken the record. "I was like 'Aww I didn't get it.' I was amazed, I didn't think I actually ran that fast," she said. "It felt amazing to break the record." When 8.11 popped up on the board, Hall was elated. A dream had just come true. She had taken down Jackie Coward's national record of 8.16, as well as Sasha Wallace's meet and facility record of 8.17. "I'm so grateful and happy that I actually broke the record. It's been three years," she said, noting the hard work and practice put in. In the fall, Hall will attend the University of Southern California. "It's been a long journey, I've wanted this record for a long time," said Freier, a senior. "I've jumped at 14 [feet] a lot. I came out today and my head was set on that national record. I finally got it; it was so exciting." Freier cleared 14-2.75 in her first attempt, with her first and only misses coming at 14-6. Freier said continuously practicing and maintaining her focus helped achieve the record, and she hopes to clear 14-9 during the outdoor season. A number of meet records fell by the wayside throughout the day. In the triple jump, Mount Olive, New Jersey's Keturah Orji flew 44 feet, 2 inches, an indoor personal best. This is the second consecutive year Orji has claimed the championship, and her second title of the weekend. She won the long jump on Saturday. Camas, Washington's Alexa Efraimson broke away from the girls mile field in the first lap, going on to dominate the event in a meet record of 4:38.46. Efraimson shaved over a second from the previous meet record of 4:40.62. Union Catholic of New Jersey bettered their own meet best in the 4x200m relay final, placing first in 1:27.56. The quartet of Jordan Jimerson, Taylor McLaughlin, Steven Franco, and Obafemi Animashaun were thrilled with the performance. "It feels fantastic," said McLaughlin. "Setting the record is the cherry on top." Louisiana's Mikiah Brisco won the girls 60m dash in a meet and facility record of 7.26 seconds. Tying the Armory facility record for the boys 60m dash was Trentavis Friday, who finished in 6.64 seconds. Friday wasn't done setting records, though. He'd return to the track three hours later to claim the 200m in a meet record of 20.97. Friday will attend Florida State in the fall. Nathaniel Moore of California won the triple jump national title with a mark of 50 feet, 8.75 inches, his second crown of the weekend. On Saturday, Moore earned the long jump win. Also earning their second national titles of the meet were Pennsylvania's Tessa Barrett and New Jersey's Olivia Baker. Barrett, who set a national record in the 5000m on Friday, won the two mile on Sunday in 10:08.05. Baker took home gold in the 400 meters less than 24 hours after winning a sprint medley relay title with her Team FitFast teammates. Baker's 400m time of 53.49 was third fastest in meet history. Elise Cranny, last year's mile winner, claimed the girls 800m in 2:06.47. In total, more than 4,000 athletes participated in New Balance Nationals 2014. More news |
