Previews

Boys

by Pete Cava

Here's an event-by-event look at the boys competition.

60 meters: J-Mee Samuels ( Mount Tabor , Winston-Salem , NC ), the 2003 NIC runner-up as a sophomore, is back. But this year's big news is Kenny O'Neal (Skyline, Oakland , CA ), the national leader at 6.68. O'Neal, a Florida State football signee, won a silver medal in the 100m at last year's Pan American Junior Championships. Another two-sport star, Mississippi State signee Trell Kimmons (Coldwater , MS ), is right behind at 6.75. Also in the hunt are Corey Brown ( West Charlotte , NC ), Antonio Freeman (West, Wauwatosa , WI ), Lashawn Merritt ( Wilson , Portsmouth , VA ) and Kevin Crowe (Wasson, Colorado Springs, CO). Brown's the national leader at 55m (6.29) while Merritt is yet another gridiron standout who is headed for LSU.

200 meters: Last year's top three finishers � J-Mee Samuels (Mt. Tabor , Winston-Salem , NC ), Adian Sanderson ( Ewing , NJ ) and Morgan Trent (St. Mary's, Orchard Lake , MI ) � all return. Trent, a wide receiver in football, is a Michigan recruit while while Sanderson will attend Missisippi State . But the headline-grabber is Xavier Carter ( Palm Bay , Melbourne , FL ), winner of the 200m at last year's adidas Outdoor Championships and the national prep outdoor leader. Another LSU recruit, the �X-Man' might have to better the meet record (21.68) to beat a stellar field that also includes Ivory Williams (Beaumont Central, Beaumont, TX), Lashawn Merritt (Wilson, Portsmouth, VA), Antonio Freeman (West, Wauwatosa, WI), Trell Kimmons (Coldwater, MS), Anthony Wiseman (DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, MD), Jonathan West (Fountain-Fort Carson, Fountain, CO) and Jason Richardson (Cedar Hill, TX), one of the top entries in the 60m hurdles.

400 meters: Adian Sanderson ( Ewing , NJ ), the Mississippi State recruit, is a 47.76 performer this season. Ricardo Chambers (Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens , FL ) isn't far behind at 47.95. He's looking at Arkansas , Florida State , South Carolina and Florida International. Others near the top are LaShawn Merritt (Wilson , Portsmouth , VA ), Zack Logan (Trotwood-Madison, Trotwood , OH ), Ind iana-bound Doug Dayhoff ( White River Valley , Switz City , IN ), Justin Oliver (Redan, Stone Mountain , GA ) and a local standout, junior Afolabi Aromire (C.H. Flowers HS, Springdale , MD ).

800 meters: Chris Patrick (Smiths Station, AL), fifth in this race a year ago, is back. He's run 1:53.45 on a flat track this season. Others to watch include Michael Carmody (Governor Livingston, Berkeley Heights, NJ), Sam Secord (Catholic, St. Petersburg, FL), Chris Smitson (Brebeuf Jesuit, Ind ianapolis , IN ), Afolabi Aromire (C.H. Flowers HS, Springdale , MD ), Sam Fletcher (Edward Little HS, Auburn , ME ) and Julius Coleman (Mergenthaler, Baltimore , MD ).

Mile: Jeremy Zagorski (Parsippany Hills, Parsippany , NJ ) placed sixth in 2003 as a junior and checks in this year with a season best of 4:11.87. The Boston College-bound Zagorski faces a field that includes five others in the 4:12 range: Kyle Miller (Cinco Ranch, Katy, TX), Scott McPherson (Palo Sr. HS, Plano, TX), Kevin Tschirhart (Northport, NY), Duke recruit Christopher Spooner (Lewisburg Area HS, Lewisburg, PA) and Andre Silva (Middle Country School District, Centereach, NY), a native of Portugal who came to the U.S. in 2001. Brian McCabe (Fordham Prep, NY) has a 4:14.86 season best.

2-mile: Tops in the field are a pair of future college runners, Stanford recruit Hakon DeVries (John Jay HS, Katonah , NY ) and Colorado signee Chris Pannone (Hunterdon Central, Flemington , NJ ). Also in the picture is Mohamed Khadrouri (John F. Kennedy, Paterson , NJ ), who's been running track for less than three years. Not far behind are Ahmed Haji (Conard HS, West Hartford , CT ) and Shadrack Kiptoo (La Cueva HS, Albuquerque , NM ). Haji will run next year for Providence College while Kiptoo, who is coached by Olympian Eddy Hellebuyck, has signed with New Mexico .

60 meter hurdles: Two finalists from last year's final, Jason Richardson ( Cedar Hill , TX ) and Theodore Ginn (Glenville, Cleveland , OH ) head a strong field. Richardson , a future South Carolina Gamecock, was third in 2003 while Ginn, an Ohio State signee, finished fourth. Ginn was the 2003 USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year in football. Others to watch are Cade Liverman (AC Reynolds, Asheville , NC). Mike Wray (Central, Philadelphia , PA ). Jeremy Jackson ( Stony Point , Round Rock, TX) and Dominic Burger (DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, MD).

Mile walk: Defending champ Zach Pollinger ( Northern Highlands , Allendale , NJ ) owns the meet record and tops the current U.S. prep list. Pollinger will enter Harvard this autumn. Junior Christopher Diaz (McAllen , TX ), sophomore John Koziel (Northwestern, Rock Hill , SC ) and Troy Clark ( Lisbon , ME ) took the next three spots at the 2003 NIC and should again finish near the top.

4x200m relay: Look for Vineland (NJ), DeMatha Catholic ( Hyattsville , MD ), Eleanor Roosevelt (Greenbelt , MD ) and the New Wave TC ( District Heights , MD ) to battle it out. Vineland was fourth at the 2003 NIC. Their 1:27.60 is the top seed time.

4x400m relay: Defending champ Vineland (NJ) returns, but will have to fend off New Wave TC (District Heights , MD ) and North Penn ( Lansdale , PA ). The Maryland quartet has a year best of 3:19.80.

4x800m relay: Five teams come in with sub-eight minute performances this year � Spirit of Pre TC (Tecumseh , MI ), Liverpool (NY), Carmel (IN), Archbishop Carroll (Radnor , PA ) and Chaminade (Mineola , NY ).

4xMile relay: Last year's winning team, Midlothian (VA), is back and has the fastest seed time. Northport (NY) could challenge.

1600m medley relay: The ubiquitous Vineland squad is the defending champion here, too. The biggest threat to the New Jersey team figures to be Archbishop Carroll ( Washington , DC ).

Distance Medley Relay: Spirit of Pre TC (Tecumseh , MI ), last year's runner-up, comes in with the fastest qualifying time and looks like a solid favorite.

4x55m shuttle hurdle relay: One of the toughest events to handicap, with three teams under 31-seconds. Mansfield (OH) leads the way at 29.5, followed by Winslow Township ( Atco , NJ ) at 30.30 and Uniondale (NY) at 30.94. The New Jersey squad will seek redemption after failing to finish last year's race.

High jump: Scott Sellers (Cinco Ranch, Katy , TX ), last year's runner-up, is a threat to break the year-old meet record of 7-4.25. Sellers comes to Landover with a season best of 7-4. He'll be pressured by fellow returnees Jerome Miller (Colonial Forge, Stafford , VA ), Jason Miller (Colonial Forge, Stafford , VA ) and Juan Cave ( St. Joseph 's, Philadelphia , PA ). Jerome Miller was fourth a year ago, with Jason Miller fifth and Cave tied for sixth. All are 6-10 performers this year, along with DeMarcus Stallings (North Rowan, Spencer , NC ), Drew Brunson (Shiloh HS, Snellville , GA ) and Arthur Hinton (Cedar Shoals, Athens , GA ). Hinton was a National Junior Olympic champ last year.

Pole vault: National prep leader Ty Barrington (Carroll, Southlake , TX ) is the class of the field. The Oklahoma-bound Barrington has a 17-3 clearance this season and was sixth at NIC a year ago. Two entries in the 16-3 range are Adam Sarafian ( Ocean Township , Oakhurst , NJ ) and Andrew Rademacher ( Hickory , Hermitage, PA). Clemson recruit Mitch Greeley (Northeastern, Rock Hill , SC ) was seventh here last year and has a 15-7 clearance in 2004.

Long jump: Felipe Reyes ( Christ ian Brothers Academy , Albany , NY ), the U.S. prep leader at 24-5, heads the field. Reyes aims to improve on his fourth-place finish a year ago. Justin Oliver (Redan, Stone Mountain , GA ), a junior, checks in at 24- 0.5. Also in the hunt are 2003 finalists Dennis Boone (Thomas Dale, Chester , VA ) and Franklin Andreyko ( Hillsborough , NJ ), along with Dexter Adams (Phenom Athletes, Greensboro , NC ) and Andre Tillman (North Rowan, Spencer , NC ). Boone took second in 2003 and comes in at 24-0.25. Andreyko, fourth a year ago, is a 23-10 jumper this season.

Triple jump: North Carolina athletes occupy the top four spots on the current prep chart, and they figure to dominate the event in Landover. Leading the way is Andre Tillman (North Rowan, Spencer , NC ), the national leader at 49-4.25. Tillman was fourth at the 2003 NIC. Terry Wood (North Rowan, Spencer , NC ), Tillman's teammate and last year's third-placer, comes in at 48-10, the year's second-best mark. Then there's East Carolina recruit Lincoln Gordon (Broughton, Raleigh , NC ), the No. 3 U.S. prep at 48-4.5. Mark Sturgis (North Rowan, Spencer , NC ), the third member of coach Robert Steele's triple jump triumvirate, is fourth on the high school list at 48-1.5

Weight throw: Topping the field is Nate Rolfe (Inglemoor, Bothell , WA ) at 72-8.

Others to watch are Jimmy Tarro ( Coventry , RI ), Brendan Lodge (Bishop Hendricken, Warwick , RI) and Boldizar Kocsar ( University City , San Diego , CA ). Tarro, a 68-0 thrower this season, is a former national karate champion. Lodge was seventh at NIC last year as a sophomore. Kocsar is a UCLA recruit.

Pentathlon: Two returnees in the field are Daniel Cowan (Toms River North, Toms River, NJ) and Matt Frith ( Bolles School , Jacksonville , FL ). Cowan was fifth at the 2003 NIC while Frith finished eighth. Teammates Tyler Whitham and Trevor Gerland ( Cinco Ranch , TX ) should finish near the top, along with Boris Roslov (Middletown , MD ). Whitham is bound for Rice while Roslov is a Syracuse signee.

Girls - To Feature Nation’s Best Girl High Schoolers

By Ricky Quintana

Landover, MD- One of the most competitive fields in NIC girl’s history will gather for the 6th annual Nike Indoor Championships. This year’s girls’ competition will feature 16 2003 Track and Field News Track and Field All-Americans making the fields some of the deepest in NIC history. Among these All-Americans will be several 2003 USA World Youth Team members that garnered 14 medals(young men and women) at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke, Canada last July. Those members set to compete at NIC are:Jessica Onyepunuka(Peoria HS, Peoria, AZ), gold in 100m and medley relay; Krystin Lacy (Skyline HS, Dallas, TX), gold in the medley relay and silver in the 100m;Erica McLain (Texas Express T & F Club, Plano, TX),8th long jump and 7th triple jump; Michaela Wallerstedt (Burke HS, Omaha, NE), 11th shot put; Erin Donnelly (Barrington HS, Barrington, RI), 22nd in hammer throw; Domenique Manning (JW North HS, Riverside, CA) , bronze in the 100m hurdles; Lauren Austin (Young Achievers Sprint Club, Jacksonville, FL), gold in medley relay; and Gayle Hunter (JW North HS, Riverside, CA), 6th in the heptathlon.

In addition, three of this year’s NIC competitors also represented the USA at the Pan Am Junior Championships in Bridgetown, Barbados in July. They are: Ashley Owens ( Liberty HS/Colorado Springs, CO), gold in the 400m relay and 4th in the 100m and Carol Rodriquez ( Western HS/Cypress, CA); and Alandra Sherman (Eisenhower HS/Houston, TX), gold in the 400m relay and silver in the 100m hurdles. In all 25 of the 48 medals earned by Team USA were earned by the women’s team. All these athletes will toe the line in hopes of earning the coveted NIC champion title. The top six finishers in each event are also named to the American Track and Field Magazine All-American team. The Bill Bowerman Award which was created by Nike will be presented to the coaches of the girls' and boy's mile winners.

Two girls national records have been broken this season and those competitors will be here to improve upon their records. Ashley Owens (Colorado Flyers/Liberty, Colorado Springs, Colo.), girls 60m, and, Danielle O'Reilly (Shawnee HS, Indian Mills, NJ), pole vault are primed for peak performances. National indoor records in the 4x 400m relay, 4x 1 mile relay, and distance medley relay could also be erased in the highly competitive fields. Meet records also will face an assault. The fields in 60m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile, 60m hurdles, mile walk, 4x200m, sprint medley relay, 4x 400m relay, 4 x 800m relay, 4x 1 mile relay, and distance medley relay, pole vault, and triple jump are within striking distance. That’s 15 meet records that could be rewritten in the two days of competition.

Below is an event by event preview with some the top competitors in those events.

Girl's 60m dash

Ashley Owens' (Colorado Flyers/Liberty, Colorado Springs , Colo. ) small stature belies the pure speed that she has demonstrated on the track. The 5 feet 2 inch spark plug, who draws comparisons to another diminutive sprinter, Olympian Gail Devers, set the indoor record of 7.19 at the altitude friendly Simplot Games in February; a mark that eclipsed former Colorado Flyers and Tony Wells (NSSF Coach of the Year and also Owens' coach) coached Aleisha Latimer's (Palmer Colorado Springs, Colo.) 7.22 set in 1997. In setting the record, she turned back a star studded field that included Track and Field News' 2003 number 2 ranked 100 and 200m runner, Shalonda Solomon (Poly, Long Beach, CA) and # 3 ranked 100m runner, Jessica Onyepunuka(Peoria HS, Peoria, AZ).

Jessica Onyepunuka (Peoria HS, Peoria , AZ ) returns this year to challenge for the title. Super frosh sprinter Bianca Knight (Ridgeland HS, Ridgeland , MS ). She's ranked #1 in her age group in the 200 and 400 and is #2 in the 100m. Sub 7.0 second peformer, Amberly Nesbitt (J.L. Mann HS, Greenville, SC) could also be in the running as could Lauren Austin (Young Achievers Sprint Club, Jacksonville, FL) who posted an early season US leading time of 7.02 in January.

The meet record of 7.29 set by Alexis Joyce (Washington, Denver, CO) and the frosh record of 7.50 set by Zenobia Reed (Lamar, Houston , TX ) both set in 1999 will definitely be threatened.

Girl's 200m dash

Sisters, Judith (2 nd ) and Jessica (4 th ) Onyepunuka (Peoria HS, Peoria , AZ ) are the top returnees from last year's NIC final.
Carol Rodriguez (Woodrow Wilson Classical HS, Long Beach , CA ), a Californian state 100m and 200m finalist who enters with the top time of all the entrants will be tough to beat. Rodriguez was also named to Puerto Rico's Olympic team that will compete in Athens , Greece in August.
Marion Jonesque, Krystin Lacy (Skyline HS, Dallas , TX ) has the fastest time of all the entrants with her 23.61 time from outdoors last season and will make a rare appearance undercover. This will be the beginning of what could be a scathing junior track season.

National frosh record holder (24.27), Ebony Collins (Woodrow Wilson Classical HS, Long Beach, CA), has blazed the indoor season so far and will look to capture her first national championship.

Lauren Austin (Young Achievers Sprint Club, Jacksonville , FL ), primarily a 400m runner (she won the Florida state 4A state championship as a freshman, has stepped down in distance to post an excellent flat track best of 24.48.

Sub 25 performers Jessica Jones (Maximum Output TC, Detroit , MI ), Angelique Smith (James Logan HS, Union City , CA ), and Brittani Dudley (James Logan HS, Union City , CA ) will make this one of the deepest fields in NIC history.

Erica Whipple's ( Palm Beach Lakes , FL ) meet record of 23.78 set in 2001 could be challenged.

Girls 400m

Faraign Giles (Tallwood HS, Virginia Beach , VA ) finished 2 nd at last year's NIC, but will be challenged by several nationally ranked 400m sprinters. Krista Simkins' (Wissahickon HS, Ambler, PA) indoor best of 55.00 is the best of all the entrants. She also recorded the fastest time, 53.37, outdoors last year. University of Miami signee, Lauren Austin (Young Achievers Sprint Club, Jacksonville , FL ) has posted a 55.85 indoors early this season and has an outdoor best of 53.61; second best of all the entrants. LSU signee Brooklyn Morris (Eisenhower HS, Houston , TX ) will also be one to watch. Ebony Collins' (Woodrow Wilson Classical HS, Long Beach, CA) indoor best of 55.40 is just over one second away from the frosh indoor record (54.25 1995 Char Foster, Central Catholic, Clearwater, FL). Another sensation frosh, 14-year-old Bianca Knight (Ridgeland HS, Ridgeland , MS ) will bring her impressive resume. Though only a frosh, Knight has already claimed 5 state individual titles in two years. She also holds the national age group record in the 200m. She and Collins will be an interesting match-up to watch for years to come.

Girls 800m

Sophomore Latavia Thomas (West Catholic HS, Philadelphia , PA ) scored the US leader with her 2:08.47. The time broke the state record of legendary, Kim Gallagher's (Upper Dublin, Ft. Washington, PA) 24 year old state record. Gallagher, who died of stomach cancer related stroke in 2002, still holds the national high school outdoor 800m and 1500m records. She also won the 1984 Olympic silver medal and the 1988 Olympic bronze in the 800m.

Mackenzie Pierce (Forsyth Country Day School, Lewisville, NC), the second fastest outdoor 800m runner last season, was set to test herself against one of the best fields of the season at the adidas Outdoor track and field championships last June, but an accident days prior to the event left her unable to compete. The 2:06.67 performer last year seems to be back on track this indoor season. She posted the #5 US indoor time in the 500m, 1:14.63 and the #2 time in the 1,000m, 2:53.86, both in the same meet.

NY state champion, Ellen Dougherty (Riverhead HS, Riverhead, NY), will try to challenge if Pierce is leaves any openings. Russian exchange student, Katya Kostetskaya (Jonesboro, AR ), has returned to Russia this year. She set the meet record of 2:09.53 in last year's edition. That could very well go here.

Girls 1 mile

Only a soph, Nicole Blood (Kinetic RC, Saratoga Springs , NY ) has a resume of a veteran. She enters with a season best of 4:48.82 that she set running against pro runners at the New Balance Games.

Last year's surprise champ, Sarah Bowman (Fauquier HS, Warrenton , VA ), will not be able to sneak up on anyone this year. Bowman's indoor best this season, 4:53.37, is 3 seconds faster than last year's best entering NIC. She'll look to improve upon her 4:49.67 indoor best she set in winning last year's title. On a good day, she could possibly challenge the meet record of 4:46.42 set by Molly Huddle (Notre Dame, Elmira , NY ) in 2002.

Maggie Infeld (Beaumont HS, Cleveland Heights , O H), the Division I Ohio state champion posted the 11 th fastest time outdoors last year. She finished 6 th at NIC and a strong third at the adidas Outdoor track and field champs.

Foot Locker national cross country champion, Katelyn Kaltenbach (Smoky Hill HS, Aurora, CO), is no slouch when it comes to the shorter distances and will step down to challenge the top milers.

Sub 5 minute performers Magin Kebert (West Lafayette HS, West Lafayette , IN ), Lauren Centrowitz (Unattached-MD-Broadneck HS, Annapolis , MD ), Kelly Sampson (Detroit Cheetah TC, Detroit , MI ),Jackie Areson(Pope John Paul II, Boca Raton , FL ) Lindsay Ferguson (Kinetic RC, Saratoga Springs , NY ) and Ruby Solomon (Kinetic RC, Saratoga Springs , NY ) may surprise if the top two falter.

Girls 2 mile

In last year's race, Nicole Blood (Kinetic RC, Saratoga Springs , NY ) used a strong last half to secure her victory. Blood posted the fastest 3000m, 9:46.29, in the country at the NY PSHSAA state indoor meet this past weekend. That time equates to a 10:33.19 for two miles.

Laura Cummings (Bay Shore TC, Bay Shore , NY ) recorded the 18 th fastest time in the country outdoors last year. She was 4 th at the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships in 2002.

Blood's teammates, Lindsay Ferguson (Kinetic RC, Saratoga Springs , NY ) and Ruby Solomon (Kinetic RC, Saratoga Springs , NY ) are the next best in the field.

Sub 11 runners, Adriene Beltz (Hamburg Area HS, Hamburg, PA), Carmen Mims (Mercy Academy, Louisville, KY), Beth Fahey (Forest Park HS, Woodbridge, VA), and Amanda Patterson (Midlothian HS, Midlothian, VA) along with Foot Locker National Cross Country finalist (17 th place), Kate Niehaus (Spring Valley HS-Girls, Columbia, SC) could also challenge for the top three places. 

Girl's 60m H

Jessica Ohanaja (Westbury HS, Houston , TX ) is the only returnee from last year's final where she placed 5 th place. She enters as the fastest indoors this year in the 60m hurdles. Alandra Sherman (Eisenhower HS, Houston , TX ) is coming off a splendid outdoor campaign that earned her Track and Field News #1 ranking in the 100m hurdles outdoor last season. Track and Field News # 4 ranked 100m hurdler, Shantia Moss (Pompano Beach HS, Pompano Beach , FL ) will also be a formidable challenger. IAAF World Youth Junior 100m LH Bronze medallist, Domenique Manning (JW North HS, Riverside , CA ) will be trekking across the nation to test herself against the nation's best. In all, there are 6 entries within a tenth of each other, so this will be a close one.

Girl's HJ

Four of the top six jumpers indoors will grace the apron in the girl's HJ. 5 feet 10 inch performers, Inika McPherson (Memorial HS, Port Arthur, TX), Patience Coleman (Durham Striders TC, Durham, NC), and Chelsea Taylor (Colorado Flyers, Denver, CO) will be battling all the way with another top performer, Lauren Biscardi (Infant Jesus TC, Centereach, NY), just an inch behind. Clean clearances at the lower heights could be the difference in what should be a very close competition.

The meet record of 6 feet 0 inches by Sheena Gordon(Mc Dowell, Erie , PA ) could go in this hotly contested battle.

Girls Pole Vault

With only three years of pole vaulting behind her and a no height in last year's NIC, Danielle O'Reilly (Shawnee HS, Indian Mills, NJ), was able to top last year's #1 vaulter Kira Costa's (San Joaquin Memorial, Fresno, Ca) national indoor record by ½� with her 13 feet 5 inch clearance in February. After her record, she had the bar raised another inch to 13 feet 6 inches and nearly made it on her second try. With clearances like that, the meet record, 13-01.50 by Samantha Shepard, Weston , MA set in 2002 will most likely be history. She could also add more to her national record.
Texas ' state 5A champion Britni Lawrence (Lone Star Pole Vault Club, San Marcos , TX ) had a bill passed in the Texas Legislature recognizing her Texas state high school record of 12 feet 10 inches. A big time performer, she could be another over 13 foot barrier.

Girls Long Jump

Multitalented Gayle Hunter (JW North HS, Riverside , CA ) has the best mark indoors and out of all the entrants. Hunter placed 6 th in the World Youth Champs heptathlon last year and will be looking to win the LJ competition after trekking across the country to compete against a formidable field.

Combination jumper Erica McLain (Texas Express T & F Club, Plano , TX ) was able to place third at last year's NIC prior to her victory in the triple jump, her best event. She'll again be in the mix.

Tahari James's (Branford HS, Branford , CT ) mark of 19 feet 9 inch jump to win the Connecticut open indoor earlier this season was an improvement by a stunning 1 foot 9.25 inches over last year's performance. Predominantly a TJ'er, James' continued improvement could surprise the others.

Girls Triple Jump

Track and Field News' #1 ranked triple jumper, Erica McLain (Texas Express T & F Club, Plano, TX) moved into the top ten All-Time with her 43 feet 1 inch outdoor best last season. She'll try to improve on her indoor meet best mark of 41 feet 8.5 inch set last year at NIC. The indoor best of 43-11.50 set by legendary Juliana Yendork(Walnut, CA) in 1991 may be just out of her reach. Yendork holds the top eight spots all-time; her 8 th best mark is 42 feet 5-1/2 inches.

Girls Shot Put

Michaela Wallerstedt (Burke HS, Omaha , NE ) finished 4 th at last June's adidas Outdoor Championships. She had the 19 th best throw in the country last year and has the number one indoor mark, 46-02.5, in the country this indoor season.

Frosh Kamorean Hayes (Harding University HS, Charlotte , NC ) could challenge Collinus Newsome(South, Denver, Co) class mark of 45-07.25 set in 1991. J unior Anna Weber (Roncalli HS, Indianapolis , IN ) is also within one and half feet of Wallerstedt and should provide a challenge.

Girls Weight Throw

The five top throwers in the nation and three competitors of the top ten from last year's final return to compete for this year's final.

Lorna Finn (Throw 1 Deep McEachern HS) has steadily improved over the past two years to become the national leader in the high school weight throw with her indoor throw of 51-11. Erin Donnelly (Barrington HS, Barrington , RI ) finished right behind Finn's 6 th place finish last year is in within a foot of Finn. Andrea Kavleski (Liberty Central HS, Liberty , NY ) was eighth last year at NIC and should be another over 40 feet as could Jasmine Jennings (Warwick Vets HS, Warwick , RI ).

Girls Indoor Pentathlon

Gayle Hunter (JW North HS, Riverside, CA), Track and Field News' #1 ranked outdoor heptathlete earned the honor after her USATF Junior Olympic Youth Champ win and 6 th place at the World Youth champs. The multitalented hurdler/jumper/sprinter also was an important member California state runner-up JW North team. She'll be heavily favored. Tifani Grimes ( St. Francis High School , Sacramento , CA ) was eighth last year at NIC with her score of 3131. She was the 2003 AAU Youth Heptathlon runner-up, too. Sophomore Carolyn Lewis (Heritage HS, Newport News , VA ) will try and match both Grimes and Hunter. The meet record of 3641 by Diana Pickler( Rowlett , TX ) in 2002 could be in jeopardy.

Girls Mile Walk

Laura Richenderfer (Penfield HS, Penfield , NY ) returns for her final appearance in the girl's mile walk. She enters with a bank track best of 7:01.21 and will be in range to take down the NIC flat track record of 7:07.82 set by Robyn Stevens of Vacaville , CA in 2000.

Last year's third placer Erica Adams (Spartanburg HS, Spartanburg , SC ) also returns with a shot of breaking her 7:36.43 time from last year. She should provide some competition for Richenderfer early on.

Girls Frosh Mile

2003 Florida 1600m/3200m 1A state champion Hailey Mercer (Team Godspeed, Atlantis, FL) ran her first race indoors nearly a month ago and posted a respectable 5:19.06 for the mile distance after only a few weeks of training. The part-time basketball player has a potent finish that could give her an advantage over the others.
Sisters Halsey and Ashlyn Sinclair (Unattached-MD-Silver Spring, Silver Spring , MD ) are also hovering in the mid teen range and should be competitive.
Kinetic RC, Saratoga Springs , NY teammates Catherine Rossi and Alysha McElroy should be formidable. Rossi was 17 th in last year's NIC two mile with her 11:31.27 time.
Stevie Uribe (Oak Hall School, Gainesville, FL), the Florida 1A 3200m state champ as a 7 th grader, has already lowered her 1600m and 800m best to 5:15.3 and 2:17.76 this outdoor season and should be primed to be in the mix.

Girls 4 x 200m relay

This should be a hotly contested battle all the way to the tape.

Defending NIC champ, James Logan HS( Union City , CA ) will be joined by fellow Californians, JW North HS (Riverside , CA ). Logan started on the season well setting a Mt. Pleasant Relays meet record of 1:38.15 for the 4x200m this past Saturday, March 6.
Last year's third place team, Bethel , VA , is two seconds better than last year and should be in the mix. At the Virginia Tech high school indoor invite, they posted a quick 1:39.82 on the bank friendly track.
Texas' Dallas Skyline(2nd in 4x 200m 2004 5A state champs, AOC Champs and Track and Field News' #2 ranked 4x 200m team outdoors) and Houston Westbury (3 rd in 4x 200m 2004 5A state champs and Track and Field News' #3 ranked 4x 200m team outdoors), will bring their teams eastward to race in the rare undercover confines.
The meet record of 1:40.04 set by Wilson (Long Beach, CA) in 1999 was nearly eclipsed last year by Logan 's 1:40.35. This one could go down with so many fast teams going for the title.

Girls 4x 400m Relay

James Logan HS (Union City , CA ), Bethel , VA , Skyline( Dallas , TX ), and Westbury( Houston , TX ) will butt heads once more in this relay.
Westbury got the best of Skyline with their 2 nd place finish at the 2004 5A Texas state meet, but Skyline ended up with the third fastest time in the nation outdoors, 3:38.35, with the Adidas Outdoor championship win. Skyline's win earned them Track and Field News' #3 ranking 4x 400m team outdoors.
Again, all these teams are close.
Wilson 's ( Long Beach , CA ) meet best of 3:45.35 set in 1999 may just be within reach of either of these teams.

Girls 4 x 800m

At the Pennsylvania state champs, Hatboro-Horsham HS, Hatboro , PA was able to just beat Gwynedd Mercy Academy , PA. The times, 9:11.48 and 9:13.26 were the 2 nd and 3 rd fastest times in the nation. The two will square off once more at NIC.
Defending NIC champs and Track and Field News' #4 ranked 4x 800m team outdoors, North Kent Running Club (Rockford , MI ) lost only one from last year's team. They are led by senior Nikki Bohnsack who ran superb a superb anchor last year.

The meet record of 9:11.82 by Boys and Girls( Brooklyn , NY ) could go down here also.

Girls 4xMile

Last year, Kinetic RC( Saratoga Springs , NY ) just missed Rockford , MI 's national record of 20:23.24 with their 20:24.37. Nicole Blood will be an important cog for them and with so many record possibilities, she'll have to decide which one she'll go after.

Girls 1600m Sprint Medley

Last year's third place team, Bethel, VA , returns to improve their stock. AOC champs, West Catholic HS ( Philadelphia , PA ) won two relay titles at the Pennsylvania state championship and could be the fastest in the field. FW Ballou (Washington , DC ), Beaumont HS ( Cleveland Heights , OH) will also have teams that can compete for the title.

Wilson ( Long Beach , CA) meet record time of 3:59.62 set in 2002 could be erased.

Girls DMR

Kinetic RC ( Saratoga Springs , NY ) will again be the favorites here. Their 11:49.99 this season was a mere 0.65 off the national indoor record of 11:49.34 set by Red Bank Regional's (Little Silver, NJ) in 2002.
The defending champs and meet record holders, North Kent Running Club ( Rockford , MI ), are also scheduled to compete and return all but one from last year's team. Detroit Cheetah TC ( Detroit , MI ) could also vie for top place honors.

Rockford , MI 's meet record will definitely be in jeopardy.

Girls 4 x 55m Shuttle Hurdle Relay

Palm Beach Lakes HS ( West Palm Beach , FL ), always a power in the hurdles, was third last year's NIC.

The Hammer Track Club enters with the best time. JW North (Riverside , CA ) were named Track and Field News' special recognition All-Americans for their 4x 100m shuttle LH relay national record performance last year. Woodrow Wilson should provide the competition.
The national and meet record of 32.02 set by Palm Beach Lakes ( West Palm Beach , FL )is a tough one to beat.

Nike Indoor Championships