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Girls Preview 2014 NBNO - DyeStat

Published by
DyeStat.com   Jun 11th 2014, 6:48am
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Senior stars, talented frosh share spotlight

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor


In addition to showcasing a handful of the nation's top seniors, the New Balance Nationals Outdoor this weekend in Greensboro, N.C. might just become memorable for who it introduces us to.


Yes, Olivia Baker will be there. And Raven Saunders, if she can land a PR, would break her own national record in the shot put. And Keturah Orji seems oh-so-close to smashing that triple jump record. And Desiree Freier has promised us more and higher in the pole vault.


But if you haven't yet heard of Candace Hill or Jayla Kirkland, be forewarned. These freshmen from the South are fast -- and they might just be the future of U.S. sprinting. Let's throw in another freshman -- Sydney McLaughlin from New Jersey. These ninth graders are shining lights who are growing up and improving fast.


New Balance Nationals is a massive meet that will undoudtedly make a profound impact on the year's rankings. It begins Friday and runs through Sunday. The free live RunnerSpace webcast will cover all three days. DyeStat will be on-site for meet coverage as well.


Are young phenoms at the level of Ariana Washington or Kaylin Whitney? Perhaps not yet, but Hill, from Rockdale Co., Ga., is ranked US#6 in the 100 (11.44) and US#2 in the 200 (23.21). And Kirkland, from Birmingham, Ala., has run 11.47 wind-aided and US#11 23.65 in the 200.


Based on their absences from this meet, it's probably safe to assume that Washington, Whitney, Hannah Cunliffe, Teahna Daniels, Ky Westbrook and Mikiah Brisco are headed to the starting line of the Dream 100 in New York. If not there, then maybe the Brooks PR meet.


But that creates an opportunity for one of the freshmen to step up and win a national championship. It's a tall order because the fields also include Zola Golden, Diamond Spaulding (who ran 23.00 wind-aided last weekend), and super sophomores Symone Darius (in the 200) and Utah's Kaysha Love.


Two of the standout fields of NBNO this year are the girls 800 and 2-mile. In the two-lapper, World Youth bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers of Texas faces a group that includes Baker NJ, Maddy Berkson RI, Kaley Ciluffo IA, Stephanie Jenks IA, Karina Shepard MA, Hannah Parker NH, Jordyn Colter CO, Corinne Myers NJ, Ersula Farrow MI and Sarah Walker PA.


In the two-mile, there is a geographically diverse group assembling that includes 2012 Foot Locker champ Anna Rohrer, who won the Indiana 3,200 championship after returning from a stress fracture, 2013 Foot Locker runner-up Hannah Debalsi, plus Abbie McNulty MA, Makena Morley MT, Josette Norris NJ, Natalie Rathjen TX and Hannah Christen VA. But watch out for the Alaskan -- Allie Ostrander -- who is coming a long way but can win this if she can manage the heat and humidity.


Baker, the indoor national champion at 400 meters, is entered in two individual events (400-800) and some combination of relays for Columbia, which will try to win the 4x400, 4x800 and SMR.


Another event that bears watching closely is the 100 hurdles. Dior Hall, No. 3 all-time in the event, is expected to be in Greensboro and she will be the favorite. But she could be pushed by Chantel Ray VA, Alexis Duncan TX, McLaughlin, Jacklyn Howell NC, Anna Cockrell NC and Tonea Marshall TX.


McLaughlin, of Union Catholic NJ, is also the favorite in the 400 hurdles. She has already run a national freshman class record 56.91 seconds in the event.


In the field events, there are several all-time greats involved. Saunders is on a very short list for national track and field athlete of the year after crushing the high school record in the shot put. Freier is the national record-holder indoors and out in the pole vault. Orji is the class of field in the triple jump and also faces a compelling head-to-head matchup with Californian Courtney Corrin in the long jump.


US leaders Kiana Phelps IA (discus), Haley Showalter CO (hammer) and Katelyn Gochenour NE (javelin) are also entered in the meet and will try to add national titles to those No. 1 rankings in the throws.



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2 comment(s)
Seaverfan
Oops -- looks like I got lazy -- just saw Corinne's name shoehorned in the list.
Seaverfan
How does Corinne Myers (NJ) constantly get ignored in these previews? Third at NBNO indoors and ran the fastest 800 split of anyone including Baker in the sprint medley. Lost narrowly to Baker at Loucks and soundly beat her in the NJ indoor MOC (albeit with Olivia trying a ridiculous double) and just last week ran 2:05.80 to win the NJ outdoor MOC by three seconds. No one in the race has run faster than she has this year. Do your homework, Doug -- don't get lazy on us.
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