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10th Nike Indoor Nationals

March 15-16, 2008 at Prince George's County Sportsplex, Landover MD

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NSSF Previews


Hurdles - Jackie Coward and Wayne Davis

Jackie Coward TN has already lowered her 60H HSR by .01 this winter; Wayne Davis NC has run within .01 of both 55 and 60H marks - both will headline the 60H fields at Nike Indoor - NSSF Hurdle Preview - Previous Previews



Prohibitive favorites: At left, Jackie Coward exalts after her 8.16 record at Simplot (John Dye photo); at right, Wayne Davis en route to 7.08 victory at 55H at Virginia Tech (Ken Charnock photo).

Girls 60m Hurdles

National record-holder Jackie Coward (West, Knoxville, TN) leads the field. Her 8.16 Simplot win lowered her own record by .01. Super sophomore Jasmin Stowers (Pendleton, SC) has beaten Jackie once this year, if ever so slightly, which was Coward's only loss in the indoor campaign. At the Kentucky Invitational in late February, Stowers broke Coward's sophomore class record, running 8.38. Also challenging will be Maryland 3A 55mH champ Christina Manning (Westlake, Waldorf, MD - 7.98), Pennsylvania state champ (and pentathlon favorite) Ryann Krais (Methacton, Fairview Village - 8.54 for 60m H), Virginia state champ Charisse Bryant (Green Run, Virginia Beach - 8.04 55H seasonal best) and North Carolina state champ Ashley Bethune (Harding, Charlotte - 8.10 55H)


Boys 60m Hurdles

Wayne Davis (Southeast, Raleigh, NC) has flirted with the national records in both the 55m Hurdles and the 60m Hurdles, missing both by .01. He is the prohibitive favorite. Davis' teammate, Keare Smith, has run 7.30 (55m H) and is currently ranked third in the U.S. Both Michael Hancock (Washington, Denver, CO), the Simplot Games champion, and Booker Nunley (Garner, NC) have run 7.78 for 60m hurdles and are ranked = #3 in the country for that distance. Throw in New Jersey champ Devon Hill (Central, Trenton) at 7.34, and sub-14 second outdoor hurdler Jamele Mason (Westfield, Houston, TX), and this event promises to be a memorable one.


March 1

Girls Two Mile Run

This is a sort of Foot Locker Nationals reunion led by 2007 Nike Indoor 2 Mile champ, Ashley Brasovan (Wellington, West Palm Beach, FL). Ashley won the event last year in 10:25.41 and has an outdoor best of 10:17.45. The current U.S. leader at 10:30.41, Emily Jones (Bromfield, MA) has tentatively committed pending resolution of a minor injury. The surprise Eastern States 2 Mile winner, Kate McCafferty (Oak Knoll, Summit, NJ) entered earlier in the Mile, has switched to this event. She ran a U.S. #2 mark at the Easterns (10:32.73), almost lapping the field.

Last year's runner-up, Emily Infeld (Beaumont, Cleveland Heights, OH) who opened this year with a 10:41.79 (3200m), and the 2007 Nike Outdoor Nationals Mile champ, Stephanie Morgan (Barnesville, OH) will push the pace. Morgan's solo indoor effort this year was an impressive 10:40.60 3200m. Also hoping to be in contention will be Kayla Hale (Holy Trinity, Melbourne, FL), winner of the 3000m (9:59.87) at the inaugural Gainesville Invitational in February, and Emily Lipari (Roslyn, NY), the Bishop Loughlin Games 2 Mile champ at 10:43.49. New Jersey champ Melanie Thompson (Voorhees, Glen Gardner, NJ - 10:42.82 3200) and Foot Locker finalist Brittany Koziara (Boone, Orlando, FL) round out a stellar field.


Boys Pole Vault

This is always a feature event and this year's version will not disappoint. The vast majority of "16 footers" will be competing, led by Corey Shank (Canterbury School, Fort Wayne, IN), who cleared 17' as a sophomore last year. Just behind him in the entries are Joe Wesley (Marine City, MI), recent Michigan state champion with a best of 16-10.25 and Scott Houston (Western Guilford, Greensboro, NC) that state's record holder indoors and out at 16-10. Other 16 footers include Maine state champion and record holder, David Slovenski (Brunswick, ME) at 16-2.5, Jason Pelletier (Norman, AR) 16-0 and junior Codi Mattix (Saranac, MI) 16-0.


February 19

Boys Two Mile Run

Committed thus far are 2007 sub-9:00 minute two milers Colby Lowe (Carroll, Southlake, TX), Sean Keveren (Brentwood, TN), and Luke Puskedra (Judge Memorial, Salt Lake City, UT). Add to that field this year's crop of newcomers: Brian Leung (West Windsor Plainsboro South, Plainsboro, NJ), the recent winner of the New Jersey state 3200m (8:59.77); Doug Smith (Gill-St. Bernards, Gladstone, NJ), just behind Leung in that race (9:01.86); and Bobby Aprill (Dexter, MI), who ran a solo 9:10.1 in early January. More great athletes will be added as the season winds down.


Girls Pole Vault

Both Rachel Laurent (Vanderbilt Catholic, Houma, LA), the current US Leader at 13-9.25, and Shade Weygandt (Mansfield, TX) at 13-8, have been swapping the national lead throughout the season. They are both entered, as well as 2007 13-2 performer Stephanie Foreman (Lake Hamilton, Pearcy, AR). Abby Shaffer (Easton, PA), second behind Weygandt at this year's Pole Vault Summit at 12-11, looks to challenge as well. Lots of "12-footers" have joined the field, including Morgan Le Leux (New Iberia, LA, 12-6), Shelby Kennard (Rockwall, TX, 12-6), and Chrissy Finkel (Montville, NJ, 12-6).


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