2009 Girl’s Preview
Mon, Mar 02, 2009
THE BEST
EVER? NOT A DOUBT!
by Mike Byrnes
A definition is in order. What,
exactly, is a "national" caliber event? The American College
Dictionary defines the word as "peculiar or common to the whole people of
a country." The key words here are "…whole people of a country."
In the case of a sporting event, this implies an entry list made up of entrants
from throughout the country, the WHOLE country. For an event to describe itself
as "national" in scope, it must have athletes from many different
states. OK, describe "many." To my mind, "many" means at
the very least, more than half, or a minimum of 25 states. To be truly
"national" one would think far more would be appropriate prior to
attaching the label "national." The NIKE INDOOR NATIONALS has had
more than 40 states represented in almost every year it has been in existence.
I know, I was the recruiter in the early years with a goal of one day having
EVERY state represented, a goal I achieved, all 50
were in the meet. Today's recruiters have maintained the same perspective. Doubtful? Go to nationalscholastic.org, click on Nike Indoor
Nationals, click on results, and count the states represented.
This year's entry list has not
been finalized as of this writing there are at leastr
40 states sending athletes to
One final thought, who REALLY makes the decision as to which is the true
"national" championships? The athletes, their
parents and their coaches. When you read this preview you'll see why I
am so vigorous in making the case for the true "nationals".
THE NIKE INDOOR NATIONALS
Now, let me back up those words.
(Ed. Note: Please refer to the following abbreviations and other marking for
reference. USL = United States Leader; #2-US = second best in the
THE SPRINTS (60-200-400) - In the
55-60m Dash, five of the nation's top six, DOMINIQUE BOOKER, USL-6.92*,
CHALONDA GOODMAN, 7.00-7.34, KEILAH TYSON, VA, 7.01*, MARLENA WESH, 7.02 and
38.86f* - USL, AURIEYALL SCOTT, 7.03, SHAKEELA SAUNDERS, 7.03 and RAYIANA
JOHNSON, PA, 7.45*, ASHLEY COLLIER, TX 7.52 will toe the mark in the 60m.(EdNote: 1st time = 55m; 2nd or only = 60m) They represent
Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Texas. Over 200m, Goodman is the
USL, 23.79ob. She is also the #1 sprint returnee having outdoor bests from 2008
of 11.36 and 23.22. Her toughest challenger could be DONIQUE FLEMINGS, another
Texan although this young woman is more of a hurdler. In honesty, there's no
one in the country who represents a serious challenge to Goodman
(23.79b-24.61f. SHANAE BAILEY, PA, 24.39b and Collier, 24.64 are close but…So
is BRIANA NELSON, SC, 24.48fo and 54.34 as well as yet another BREANNA HUBBARD,
GA at 11.84 last spring. The 400 includes Eleanor
Roosevelt's, MD AFIA CHARLES, the USL over 500mb and soph
OLIVIA EKPONE, MD, #2-US over 300m, 38.96. (9) The famed MB Sleeper, from
The Middle Distances:800 and Mile: is one of the better fields in the meet.
Coming in from
The DISTANCES: Two Mile and 5000m:
Californian JORDAN HASAY, enough said. The question here is not if she'll win
but if she can break Melody Fairchild's 1991 record, 9:55.92. (See an earlier
blurb) Giving chase will be 2007 Foot Locker cross-country champion, ASHLEY
BRASOVAN, MELANIE THOMPSON, NJ. 10:39.29
and SHELBY GREANY, NY, 9:51.0 3000m. Local EMILY JONES, MA, the current
US Leader in the 2 mile, will have major support from the 3000+ crowd The 5000m is a tough call since no one runs it on the track.
Right now there are three kids worthy of mention, CHELSEA OSWALD, OH, MADDIE
ELKINS, CT and KELSEY HUNT, NH. (18)
The 60mH: USL JASMINE STOWERS, SC,
8.43, DONIQUE FLEMINGS, TX, 8.47, NEVADA SORENSON, SD, 8.62A and ASHTYNN
BALTIMORE, CA, 8.64A rank as USL, #3-US, #4-US and #5-US. (19)
The RELAYS are another tough call
since many schools pool their best kids and opt just for these races. One
example is SOUTHERN REGIONAL of NJ. They have two of the best milers in the
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT leads the
country in the 4x200mR, 1:38.15b, 4x400mR, 3:42.75b and, if they enter, will be
heavily favored in the Mile Medley (200-200-400-800). Their competition will
come from
4x800mR sees the aforementioned
SOUTHERN REGIONAL with
The 4x1mile is too tough to call.
But
The FIELD EVENTS: HIGH JUMP will
be a good competition with three athletes, AMBER MELVILLE, MD, AMINA SMITH, MD
and ALEXANDRA MORGAN,
POLE VAULT: The USL soph MORGAN LE LEUX, LA IS OVER AT 13-02.5 but must face
the challenge of Texan SHADE WEYGANDT who has a 13-10 clearance to her name,
albeit last spring. Then there are three at 12-09, MEGAN WELLER, IL, MORGAN
TOONE, TX and TORY WORTHEN, PA. This event has often gone to the athlete who's
"on" that day.
The LONG JUMP is an intriguing
competition. Virginian TIFFANY HARRIS has abest of
19-10.75 but she'll be hard pressed to beat SAMANTHA COLLINS, AZ, 19-07, KARYN
DUNN, CA, 20-0 and ANDREA GEUBELLE, WA, 19-06.75. That's four of the top five! And on any given day…
The TRIPLE JUMP may be better than
the long jump! The nation's top three + another who won the
The SHOT PUT is having a bit of a
"down" year, but EMILY VANNOY, MD at47-10.5 is one of the best.
The WEIGHT THROW is always
entertaining. USL LAUREN CHAMBERS, GA, 61-07.5 heads the entries and is quite a
ways in front of her competition. (24)
With over 2000 athletes and more
expected to enter, I see no problem at anticipating close to 45-46 states
represented. Now that's a meet truly able to call itself "national"
in scope. Congratulations to the National Scholastic Sports Foundation for
putting the meet together with special plaudits to our recruiters AJ HOLZHERR
and JOY KAMANI ably assisted by JOE LANZALOTTO, RICH GONZALEZ and JACQUE'
KENDALL. If you e joy this meet and are able to attend, make it a point to drop
by and say HI!
See you at the nationals in
To comment, please contact fmbyrnes@aol.com