by John Dye, DyeStat editor in chief
Our Nike Athletes of the Year were selected after a review of all three seasons -- cross country, indoor and outdoor. Achievements were more important than times and distances. Competing nationally and even internationally was given extra weight. We considered 14 major meets and the DyeStat Elite indoor and outdoor rankings. To be considered for selection, an athlete had to have at least two wins in these 16 competitions. After that, we selected those we felt were the most dominant athletes of the year. The last cut is subjective, but we feel confident that everyone will agree that these 33 athletes below are deserving.
Meets included in evaluation -- US Junior Nationals, Nike Outdoor Nationals, Golden West, Penn Relays, Pan American Juniors, Arcadia Invitational, World Youth Championships, Nike Indoor Nationals, National Scholastic Indoor Championships, Simplot Games, Foot Locker Finals, Foot Locker regionals, Nike Team Nationals, and the Great American Cross Country Festival.
DyeStat MVP
| Sarah Bowman |
J-Mee Samuels |
| Fauquier HS, Warrenton VA, 2005 |
Mount Tabor HS, Winston-Salem NC, 2005 |
|
photo by John Dye |
| Wins |
Wins |
- Outdoor DyeStat Elite US#1 1500m, 4:18.48
- Outdoor DyeStat Elite US#1 Mile, 4:36.95
- Pan Am Juniors, 1500m 4:17.61
- US Junior Nationals 1500m 4:18.48
- Nike Outdoor Nationals Mile 4:36.95
- Penn Relays Mile 4:50.62
- Indoor DyeStat Elite US#1 1000m 2:43.40 USR
- Indoor DyeStat Elite US#1 1500m 4:28.09
- Indoor DyeStat Elite US#1 Mile 4:46.79
- Nike Indoor Nationals Mile 4:46.79
|
- Outdoor DyeStat Elite US#1, 100m , 10.08 USR
- Outdoor DyeStat Elite US#1 200m, 20.32
- Pan Am Juniors, 100m 10.20
- US Junior Nationals, 100m, 10.58
- Nike Outdoor Nationals 100m, 10.34
- Nike Outdoor Nationals 200m, 20.76
- Arcadia 200m, 21.10
- Indoor DyeStat Elite US#1, 200m, 21.22
- Nike Indoor Nationals 200m, 21.22
- Simplot 60m, 6.72
- Simplot 200m, 21.47
|
Both of our MVPs came back from troubled junior years to smashing success in their senior years. A year ago Bowman suffered through injuries and coaching changes, while Samuels was suspended from his high school team for a behavioral incident.
This year was a different story.
Samuels showed in 2004 summer meets that he was eager to make amends as he posted the best 100m time of the year (10.25). The stubby muscle man was on a mission his entire senior year, starting with a brilliant double at Simplot indoors in February and ending with a brilliant double at Nike Outdoors in June. He defended his US#1 ranking in the 100 meters and was even better at 200 meters, becoming the fifth best US prep ever indoors at 21.22 (fastest ever on a non-banked track) and the sixth best outdoors at 20.32.
Bowman runs with the philosophy of Steve Prefontaine -- taking it out hard and finding out who has the most guts at the end. Usually it was Bowman. The most striking example was the Nike Outdoor mile. As always, Bowman bolted to the front on the first turn and dared anyone to go with her. No one did until the last lap, when lethal kicker Brie Felnagle ate up all but one step of the lead and was surely going to pass Bowman on the far turn. But Bowman refused to lose, pulling away in the last 150 meters to win convincingly. It was arguably the greatest high school girls mile race ever, with Bowman (4:36.95) placing 3rd on the all time US list and Felnagle (4:39.71) fifth, giving the race two of the five US girls ever to break 4:40 (Polly Plumer 4:35.24 in 1982, Kim Gallagher 4:36.94 in 1982 and Ari Lambie 4:37.23 in 2003). Afterward, Bowman mourned missing Plumer's national record. "I tried, I tried," she said as coach Mike Byrnes came up to congratulate her.
Both MVP's set national records -- Samuels in the 100 meters (10.08) and Bowman in the 1000 meters indoors (2:43.40).
Both ended their high school careers with a flourish at the Pan American Junior Championships at Windsor Ontario in July, Samuels winning the 100m and Bowman the 1500m.
Both led our champions table with more wins than any other athlete, Samuels with 11 wins and Bowman with 10. Both MVP's are heading for championship college programs - Bowman to Tennessee and Samuels to Arkansas.
|
Nike Athletes of the Year
alphabetical order
|
BOYS |
GIRLS |
| Nkosinza Balumbu James Logan CA 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor TJ 51-5.75
- US#1 indoor TJ 49-4.75
- Nike Indoor TJ 49-4.75
- Simplot TJ 49-3.5
- Arcadia TJ 49-8
- Golden West TJ 51-5
|
| Slender, but powerful jumper was consistent at highest levels and ruled the event all year. . |
|
| Alexandria Anderson Morgan Park Chicago IL 2006 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 200m 22.96
- Nike Outdoor 100m 11.39
- Nike Outdoor 200m 23.05
- "Alex the Great" repeated a 4-gold performance in state meet.
|
| They started calling her Alex the Great when she won four golds (100-200-400-LJ) at the Illinois State meet as a junior. She lived up to the name by doing it again this year. She beat the best of the country in a 100-200 double at Nike Outdoor Nationals. She improved her US#1 200m time at Junior Nationals and won 200m silver and relay gold at the Pan Am Juniors. |
|
| Chris Barnicle Newton North MA 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 3000m 8:17.61
- Arcadia 2-mile 8:56.20
- US#1 indoor 2-mile 9:01.45
- Foot Locker Northeast 15:27
- Mass association kept him out of Boston Indoor mile and miracle finish by Mark Matusak denied him Nike Outdoor 2-mile title, but Arkansas-bound runner had a brilliant year nonetheless.
|
|
| Nicole Blood Saratoga Springs NY 2006 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 3000m 9:29.44
- US#1 indoor 3000m 9:35.40
- Foot Locker Northeast 17:42
- Blood led Saratoga NY team to victory in first Nike Team Nationals cross country championship and to a national record in 4-mile relay at the Nike Indoor Nationals.
|
|
| Ken Cormier Douglas AZ 2005 |
| |
- Foot Locker Cross Country national champion 15:22
- Foot Locker West XC 15:39
- Nike Indoor 2-mile 9:11.33
- Arcadia mile 4:12.67
- Golden West 3200m 8:59.63
- Home schooled runner came from obscurity to stardom as surprise winner of Foot Locker West with 79 second improvement over 2004 time. Proved it was no fluke with stretch running win in national finals at San Diego.
|
|
| D'Andra Carter Red Oak TX 2005 |
| |
- US #1 outdoor, discus 167-2
- Nike Outdoor, discus 158-4
- Texas 4A, SP/DT double
- Third member of one of themost illustrious families in high school track and field history, D'Andra was a star in her own right this year. After doubling SP/DT at the Texas 4A state meet, she moved to US#1 in discus at the Great Southwest Classic and cemented her ranking by winning at Nike Outdoor.
- (By the way, her older sister Michelle has the high school girls shot put record and her father Michael holds the high boys shot put record.)
|
|
| Jared Huske Highland Park Topeka KS 2005 |
| |
- Nike Outdoor 110H 13.71
- Nike Indoor 60H 7.78
- US#1 indoor 55H 7.24
- US#1 indoor 60H 7.78
|
|
| Ebony Collins Wilson Long Beach CA 2007 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 300H 40.10
- US#1 outdoor 400H 55.96
- NSIC 200m 23.78
- World Youth 400H 55.96
- She didn't even have a 400 meter hurdle time until the US Youth Nationals, and then she went to Marrakech and won the World Youth title in 55.96, making her the 3rd fastest US high school girl ever.
|
|
| David Klech San Ramon CA 2006 |
| |
- Arcadia, 110H 14.13
- Arcadia, 300H 38.26
- Golden West, 110H 13.90
- Golden West 36.63
- Tremendously versatile athlete who concentrated on hurdles late in the year after high jumping 7-0 and long jumping 24-7w earlier in the season. Won Youth Nationals 400H in 51.28 US#4.
|
|
| Brittany Daniels Merrill West Tracy CA 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor TJ 44-8.75
- Arcadia TJ 43-5
- Arcadia LJ 19-5
- US#1 indoor TJ 43-5
- Simplot LJ 20-5
- Simplot TJ 43-5
- Didn't break any records this year, but continued her absolute dominance of the triple jump.
|
|
| Mark Matusak Loyola Los Angeles CA 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 1500m 3:47.07
- US#1 outdoor 2-mile 8:51.13
- US Jr Nationals 1500m 3:47.07
- Nike Outdoor 2-mile 8:51.13
|
| Matusak came on like a whirlwind at the end of outdoor season, passing three runners in the stretch of the NON 2-mile and passing Galen Rupp in the stretch at Junior Nationals. |
|
| Geena Gall Grand Blanc MI 2005 |
| |
- Nike Indoor 800m 2:10.62
- Nike Outdoor 800m 2:05.05
- Swept indoor and outdoor national titles against better known runners, including Sarah Bowman at Nike Indoor Nationals.
|
|
| Justin Oliver Redan GA 2005 |
| |
- US Jr Nationals 400m 46.26
- Nike Outdoor 400m 46.11
- Pan Am Juniors 400m 46.73
- Nike Indoor 400m 47.90
- Simplot 400m 47.68
- Golden West 200m 21.13
- Golden West 400m 46.97
|
|
| Kamorean Hayes Harding NC 2006 |
| |
- US#1 indoor SP 48-11
- Nike Indoor SP 48-11
- Nike Outdoor SP 51-1
- Short, but powerful Hayes also doubled SP-DT at USATF Youth championships, and made the finals in both SP and DT at World Youth championships.
|
| |
|
| Rob Novak Bordentown NJ 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor, 800m 149.84
- Nike Outdoor, 800m 1:49.34
- Reserved his national heroics for the finish, but what a finish in 2 days at Nike Outdoor Natinals. He took away the US#1 ranking in the 800 from Karjuan Williams head to head at NON with the only sub-1:50 clocking of the year. He led his Bordentown NJ team to NON title and US#1 ranking in the sprint medley with a come from behind anchor leg.
|
|
| Bianca Knight Ridgeland MS 2007 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 100m 11.38
- US#1 indoor 200m 23.70
- Nike Indoor 200m 24.05
- Simplot 200m 23.70
- World Youth 100m 11.38
- Still only a sophomore, the veteran Knight crowned her year with 100m gold at World Youth Championships, twice hitting 11.38 to edge Alexandria Anderson by 0.01 for US#1 ranking.
|
|
| Robert Rands Bellevue East NE 2005 |
| |
- US Jr Nationals 24-7
- US#1 indoor, 25-0.25
- Pan Am Juniors, 24-11.25
- Second place at the Nike Outdoor Nationals was the only blemish in a superb year that ended with a dramatic fifth jump victory by one centimeter at the Pan Am Games in Windsor Canada.
|
|
| Nicole Leach West Catholic Philadelphia PA 2005 |
| |
- NSIC 400m 53.04
- US#1 indoor, 400m 53.04
- Penn Relays 400H 57.44
- US Jr Nationals 400H 57.25
- Ruled this event for 2 years until staggering after the last hurdle at Nike Outoor and losing to Krystal Cantey. Cam back to win US Junior Nationals the following week. Won Penn Relays 400H for second straight year, setting meet record both times. Star of the great West Catholic Philadellphia relay teams.
|
|
| Jeff See Middletown OH 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor mile 4:04.83
- Nike Outdoor mile 4:04.83
- Foot Locker Midwest 15:39
- After an injury-plagued junior year, See fulfilled the promise he showed in 2003 when he broke Alan Webb's national sophomore class record in the mile.
|
|
| Sarah Matthews Niwot CO 2006 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor LJ 21-2
- Nike Indoor 60m 7.45
- Nike Indoor LJ 19-6.25
- Won the greatest high school girls long jump competition ever at Great Southwest, with three girls over 20-8 and three more over 19-5.
|
|
| Scott Sellers Cinco Ranch Katy TX 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor high jump 7-5
- US#1 indoor high jump 7-5
- Nike Indoor high jump 7-2.5
- A hamstring pull in the triple jump at the outset of the Texas state meet ended Sellers' season before he could add the outdoor national record to his indoor record, but he still led the nation indoors and out for the second straight year.
|
|
| Inika McPherson Port Arthur TX 2005 |
| |
- US#1 indoor HJ 5-11.25
- US#1 outdoor HJ 6-2
- NSIC high jump 5-11.25
- Swept DyeStat Elite indoor and outdoor #1 ranking.
|
|
| Scott Roth Granite Bay CA 2006 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor pole vault 17-2.25
- Nike Outdoor pole vault 17-2.25
- Arcadia pole vault 16-3
- Golden West pole vault 16-10
- Roth emerged as best pole vaulter in the nation with another year to go.
|
|
| Becca Noble Rogers Spokane WA 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 800m 2:03.73
- US Jr Nationals 800m 2:03.73
- Pan Am Juniors 800m 2:04.07
- A multiple Washington state champion, Noble soared to the national elite in one brilliant race at Junior Nationals, surprising Sarah Bowman with a killer stretch run. Her time was the best in the world this year by a junior (under 20) runner, 9th fastest all time in the US, and the fastest in the US since 1982.
|
|
| Ryan Whiting Central Dauphin PA 2005 |
| |
- US #1 outdoor shot put 70-0
- US Jr Nationals shot put 64-9.25
- Pan Am Juniors shot put 64-9.75
- Pan Am Juniors discus 199-7
- Arcadia shot put 66-3
- Arcadia discus 199-7
- US#1 indoor shot put 68-11.25
- Nike Indoor shot put 65-1.25
- Golden West shot put 68-8.5
- Golden West discus 191-10
- Whiting's 70-footer placed him 12th on the all time US prep list. Only an upset at Nike Outdoor kept him from sweeping all honors indoors and out..
|
|
| Kira Robinson Mullen Denver CO 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 100H 13.51
- US#1 indoor 55H 7.79
- US#1 indoor 60H 8.34
- Nike Indoor 60H 8.34
- US Jr Nationals 100H 13.72
|
| Another Tony Wells trained athlete (Sarah Matthews) to earn AOY honors. |
|
| Karjuan Williams St. Augustine LA 2007 |
| |
- US Junior Nationals, 800 150.88
- Nike Indoor Nationals 1:52.79
- Rose to the top by winning the Nike Indoor 800m wire to wire and led the nation outdoors until the very end when Rob Novak caught him and it took the only sub-1:50 time of the year to do it. Rebounded to win US Junior Nationals against college freshmen the following week. and was second by only 0.21 second to Gilder Barbonza of Venezuela at the Pan Am Juniors.
|
|
| Aislinn Ryan Warwick Valley NY 2006 |
| |
- Foot Locker cross country national champion 17:31
- US#1 indoor 2-mile 10:26.64
- NSIC 2-mile 10:26.64
- Great American XC 16:57
- Came out from shadow of Nicole Blood to sweep Great American and Foot Locker titles and added a great indoor season.
|
|
| |
| Mary Saxer Lancaster NY 2005 |
| |
- US#1 indoor PV 14-2 USR
- US#1 outdoor PV 13-9 USR
- Nike Indoor PV 14-2
- Nike Outdoor PV 12-9.5
- NSIC PV 13-6.25
- Greatest US high school pole vaulter ever. Also state LJ champion.
|
|
| |
| Sade Williams Rancho Cucamonga CA 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor 400m 52.35
- Arcadia 400m 53.56
- Arcadia 200m 23.63
- Nike Indoor 400m 55.47
- In talent-laden Southern California, Sade did the virtually impossible -- she took some of the thunder away from Long Beach sprint stars this year. .
|
|
| |
| Rachel Yurkovich Newberg OR 2005 |
| |
- US#1 outdoor javelin 176-5 USR
- US Jr Nationals javelin 166-1
- Pan Am Juniors javelin 172-6
- Golden West javelin 172-6
- Dominates event with a national record and embellishes her resume against international competition at the Pan Am Juniors.
|
|
DyeStat 2005 Summary index page
|
