By: Johanna Gretschel, MileSplit (FULL MILESPLIT NBN COVERAGE HERE!)





Boys 60m
Can anyone take down Ryan Clark (Banneker, GA)? The University of Florida commit is the nation’s fastest short sprinter, leading the country at US #1 6.68 60m and US #1 6.25 55m this year. Don’t underestimate the Lyles brothers, Noah and Josephus (T.C. Williams, VA), who ran US #2 6.27 and US #3 6.28 for the 55m just yesterday at the Virginia State Championship. Defending New Balance Nationals Outdoor 100m champion Darryl Haraway (DeMatha, MD) is also entered. He is US #3 6.76 for 60m and tied at US #3 6.28 for 55m this season.



Girls 60m
The Girls 60m dash has a similar theme to the boys’ race, as Teahna Daniels (First Academy, FL) leads the nation in all short sprint events with her US #1 6.93 55m, US #1 7.39 60m and US #1 11.60 100m. The University of Texas commit has already transitioned to outdoor track, but is excited for her first showing at the indoor national championship. Brenessa Thompson (Medgar Evers, NY) is tied with Daniels at US #1 6.93 55m. The senior is on the start list but her status is uncertain after suffering an injury at the Eastern States Championship and no-showing at the New York State Championship this past weekend. Six other entrants have broken 7 seconds for 60m this season: Zaria Francis (Rio Mesa, CA) at US #4 6.94, Sydnei Murphy (Apex, NC) at T-US #5 6.95 55m, Kate Hall (Lake Region, ME) at T-US #5 6.95 55m, Carolyn Brown (Phoebus, VA) at US #7 6.96 55m, Brianna Duncan (Cambridge Rindge and Latin, MA) at US #9 6.98 and Cassondra Hall (Northside, Warner Robins, GA) at US #10 6.99.



Boys 60m Hurdles
This race will be a showdown between two all-time performers in Chad Zallow (Warren-JFK, OH) and Grant Holloway (Grassfield, VA). Fans may see history in action, as Zallow flew to US #3 All-Time 7.62 60H and Holloway went US #1, VA #2 All-Time 7.19 55H at their respective state meets this past weekend. Other top competitors include North Carolina State Champion Marcus Krah (Hillside, NC), who is ranked US #2 in both the 60m at 7.81 and the 55m at 7.24; Shyheim Wright (Northwest, MD), US #3 7.27 55h; and Norman Grimes (Canyon, TX), US #3 7.82 60h.



Girls 60m Hurdles
Can anyone take down Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic, NJ)? There may be a better shot of the sophomore knocking off the National High School Record of 7.50 than losing to anyone at the line. McLaughlin recorded US #5 All-Time 7.66 for the 55-meter hurdles to win the Eastern States Championship last week. Ciara Leonard (Cheltenham, PA) and Sierra Brabham-Lawrence (Harrisburg, PA) battled back-and-forth over the Pennsylvania State 60H Record two weeks ago with Leonard finishing ahead and tied for US #1 at 8.39. North Carolina State Champion Ebony Williams (Parkland, NC) will be in the mix with her US #2 7.81 55H.



Boys 200m
Jaron Flournoy (Westland John Glenn, MI) has the best range of any sprinter this year, but his bread-and-butter event seems to be the 200m, where he has run US #1 21.16. After winning the Michigan State Finals, he said the only runner he’s scared of is Ryan Clark (Banneker, GA). The Florida commit is heavily favored in the 60m and with his US #2 21.22 200m ranking, could potentialy pull off a double victory. Andrew Hudson (Steele, TX) will be in the mix, ranked US #3 21.36 in what was his only indoor track race ever. 300m studs Rai Benjamin (Mount Vernon, NY) and Noah Lyles (T.C. Williams, VA) should see their season-long efforts pay off in the one-lap race. Benjamin is US #1, US #2 All-Time with his 33.17 300m, the more common indoor race distance in New York. Lyles is US #2 33.82 and a factor in every race he runs.



Girls 200m
Only one girl has broken 24 seconds this year for 200m, and that was Lauren Rain Williams (Oaks Christian, CA) to win the Jacksons Invitational/New Balance West in 23.39. Not only did she shatter the previous US #1 mark, but set a National Sophomore Class Record with the effort. Keep an eye out for Zola Golden (Unattached, NY). The defending NBN Outdoors 400m Champion has stayed relatively quiet all season, given her decision not to compete for her high school team this year. Golden was runner-up in the NBN Indoors 400, but is bypassing the quarter mile to race the 200m. Last year, she was seeded second after the prelims in the 200 but finished seventh overall in the final. She ranks US #5 38.57 300m. Other top prospects include Maiya Dendy (Padua Academy, DE), US #3 24.11 200m, Delaware State Champion; and Brandee’ Johnson (Nansemond River, VA), two-time All-American in 200m, US #4 38.55 300m.



Boys 400m
The open 400m could very well be the most unpredictable event of the meet. William Allen (Dunbar, KY) is the nation’s best this season over 400m with his 47.16. Skyler Bowden (Saline, MI) is the reigning Michigan State Champion, State Record Holder, US #3 47.66 and, oh yea – he trains with a guy named Jaron Flournoy. But with so many odd races in off distances during the indoor season, the future national champion may not even be currently ranked within the top five. Rai Benjamin (Mount Vernon, NY) – US #1, US #2 All-Time 33.17 300m, the more common race distance in NY. Also the New York state record holder//T-US #4 21.37 200m//US #4 47.76 400m. The defending New Balance Nationals Indoor 400m Champion Richard Rose (Boys and Girls, NY) – has raced sparingly in his signature event this winter but ranks US #1 1:18.4 600m. Just yesterday at the VHSL 6A State Championship, Josephus Lyles (T.C. Williams, VA) split 34.7 over 300m en route to winning the 500m title in US #1 1:03.57 500m – there’s no looking past those wheels.



Girls 400m
With just two girls under 55 seconds in the field, the Girls Championship 400m may look like a barn-burner between Brooklyn Broadwater (Springside, PA), US #4 54.73 400m, and Amanda Crawford (Paul Robeson, NY), US #5 54.95 400m. Lauryn Ghee (Grassfield, VA), who leads the nation in the 500m with her US #1 1:13.84 mark, should be right in the mix. Fellow Virginian Faith Ross (Western Branch, VA) could be a possible late entry, as she won the state tite on Tuesday in US #2 1:13.99 for a nearly three-second personal record. North Carolina rivals McKinley McNeill (Parkland, NC), US #3 1:14.04 500m, and Layla White (Cary, NC), US #4 1:14.10 500m, will face off for both national and state bragging rights. Speaking of going up in distance… 600m National High School Record Holder (1:18.78) Kamryn McIntosh (Suffern, NY) could be the sleeper pick of the meet.