5/25-31 Notables

• Status upgrades  There are only eight new national leading marks this week - and even fewer new names.  In three instances, an athlete improved his or her own national leader, with Heather Bergmann KS adding more than two feet to her jav mark, Joe Whelan NY slicing four ticks from his 3k steeple leader, and Ugonna Ndo snipping a quarter second from her 400H leader
• In a Thode mode Another of the new leaders isn't a new name, but appears as a leader in a second event.  With his 4:05.17 1600, Jeff Thode IL is the first boy this year to lead at both the 1600 and 3200
• Reversal time?  The numbers of new national leaders has been declining steadily for 3-4 weeks now, despite a lot of great state meets.  This week should finally push the numbers back into double digits again, with state meets in California, Texas, New Jersey, and Ohio, among others, and the big Great Southwest showdown in New Mexico highlighting the post-season calendar
• 4x800 takes a hit  The current US leaders have done well to stay away from major injuries this spring (knock on wood), but but last weekend it was learned that Anthony Kostelac, the anchor of the 2-time US record-setting Albemarle VA 4x800, is out with a season-ending stress fracture.  That put an end to Albemarle's hopes to again rewriting their USR in the postseason at Nike Outdoor.  In fact, US#3 Central Bucks South PA has also said it will not contest the event at NON, leaving US#2 Morris Hills to go at it in what would be almost a solo effort if they want to be the first under 7:30