nike INDOOR
CLASSIC - Press Release 12/19
First Confirmed Entries
12/19/99--AJ Holzherr announced the first confirmed entrants for the 2000 Nike Indoor
Classic, "I'm really excited that these top quality athletes have committed
to our meet this early in the game. With the 4x1 Mile entries of Bingham,
Utah, Rockford, Michigan and Colerain, Ohio, a new national record is
definitely within reach."
The top entrants are Foot Locker Coss Country
champion Dathan Ritzenhein who will, in all probability, run the two mile;
Mason Ward, a 4:13.35 returnee; two superlative hurdlers, Ricky Harris, the
defending NIC champion and #2-US in '99 at 7.74. He's also the top outdoor
returnee at 13.72. He'll be challenged by Texas 5A winner Reggie Harrell.
Harrell's outdoor best. 13.88. "The hurdle fields at the Nike meet have
always been outstanding and I expect to see virtually all of the top guns in
Bloomington," Holzherr continued.
Also committing early, Istrouma, Louisiana.
"These guys were the finds of the year last season," he went on,
"And if it hadn't been for Marion Jones and her tremendous support we'd never
have gotten them to the meet." Once there, they won the 4x200mR, 1:29.39 and
then stunned the 4x400mR competition by coming out of the second heat and
edging Camden, NJ by .01 for their second title.
A surprise entrant, Dunbar HS, Fort Worth, Texas.
Outdoors they ranked #3-US in the 4x100mR, 40.30 and
#4-US over the 4x200mR distance, 1:25.27. Holzherr commented, "They lost two
of their kids but have two freshmen who ran 10.5 in the 8th grade!" Rounding
out the entrants on the male side, Oklahoma's great Kevin Bookout. His
outdoor bests last year were 63' in the shot and 183-6 in the discus.
Tragically he missed post-season competition due to the terrible floods in
his hometown. Look for him to try and make up for lost time in Bloomington.
"As we get deeper into the season I'm confident the Nike Classic meet will
start the 21st century off with the greatest high school indoor meet ever,"
enthused Holzherr.
