Jasmin Stowers (SC) leads the way in Kentucky this weekend
(Photo by Don Rich)
A big weekend of stellar head-to-head match-ups and intense championship meets are upon us. While the USATF Indoor T&F Championships will capture many of the national headlines this weekend, which include a handful of prep athletes, meets in Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania highlight the weekend.
Keep an Eye On...- Coward (TN) v. Stowers (SC) in 60m hurdles at UK- Alleman (NJ) v. Vena (NJ) in shot put at NJ MOC's- Price, Rankin, O'Brien, Morris, Stanley at USATF Indoor T&F Champs.- Krais, Shump, Lane compete at Penn State UniversityMileSplit Weekend Preview (2/22-2/24)
USATF Indoor T&F Championships (MA)
USATF Indoor Champs. Official Website
USATF Indoor Champs. Start Lists: Men / Women
It's rare that a high school track and field athletes can compete in a professional national championships, but this weekend in Boston five prep athletes will partake in the USATF Indoor National T&F Championships.
Headlining the way is Chanelle Price (PA) (left, competing at USATF Outdoor Nationals in '07, photo by Vic Sailer). The Easton High School star's goal is to make the Olympic Team this summer, but making the Indoor World Championships squad would be a great start to that goal. Price currently ranks tenth on the meet's performance chart, but Price has proven before that she can run with the best in the country. Expect her to make the strongest push to qualify for a World's spot.
Two Colorado sprinters will test their speed in the men's 60m dash. Jeremy Rankin (CO) and Joe Morris (CO) currently rank U.S. #1 and U.S. #3 in the event in the MileSplit National Rankings. While both athletes are incredible long shots to make the finals of the event, each will gain experience they can use the rest of this season.
Two more athletes competing, but have even greater odds to overcome to make the finals in their respective events, are Becky O'Brien (ME) and Tasha Stanley (MD). O'Brien is currently ranked U.S. #2 in the shot put, but ranks last in the field at this weekend's championship. Stanley will be competing in the women's 800m dash and is the last qualifier in the event.
U. of Kentucky High School Invitational (KY)
UK H.S. Invitational Meet Page
The top high school track and field meet this weekend is the University of Kentucky High School Invitational. That might be a bold statement considering some of the great match-ups taking place at other meets across the country, but looking at the start lists, the UK meet has fields not seen anywhere else.
The top battle comes from senior Jacquelyn Coward (TN) taking on sophomore Jasmin Stowers (SC). Coward set the 60m hurldes national record last weekend at the Simplot Games, but Stowers defeated Coward earlier in the season at the KTC Invitational. This dual is intriguing and could push times towards Coward's national mark of 8.16 set last weekend.
One race that was scheduled to occur was a fierce battle between Dylan Ferris (NC) and Andrew Perkins (WI) at 800m. Ferris and Perkins are the top two returning athletes in the event from '07, and it was expected that the high school record of 1:50.55 would be challenged. However, Ferris dropped out of the competition earlier in the week due to illness, so Perkins will be shooting for a fast mark by himself. Perkins has been on a tear this season and had this to say earlier in the week, "So far my racing has been going extremely well. I am competitive as ever and I have been running very strong. So far I have exceded my expectations, and I know now that I can run faster due to those goals."
Another great race should be the girls 200m dash. Brittany Long (GA), Cholonda Goodman (GA), Lakeshia Williams (AL), Elan Hilaire (MD) and Meshawn Graham (OH) are all entered in the event. All four athletes are some of the top ranked and top returning sprinters from 2008, so the depth of this field may produce a new U.S. #1 in the event.
Competing field event stars are Erik Kynard (OH), Ben Davies (TN) and Christian Taylor (GA). Kynard is the top ranked high jumper in the country this season, with a U.S. #1 performance of 7-03.75. He has consistently broken seven feet this indoor season, so expect a big performance out of him. Davies meanwhile will be opening up his big meet indoor season. He is the top returnee in the decathlon and will be looking to break the national record in the event this season. He is entered as the top seed in the pole vault, no doubt looking to get in some good work in the event. Taylor is the top ranked long and triple jumper in the country currently. His performances continue to impress, and he is seemingly getting better each time out. He will be competing in the long jump.
In the distance events, Ramzee Fondren (MI) is entered in the 800m dash. She is one of the top returnees in the event after a huge season in 2007. The nation's top returning two-mile runner, Sean Keveren (TN), is entered in his marquee event, while Virginia Hine (TN) is entered in the girl's one-mile as the top seed and could run in the low 4:50's.
William Wynne (GA) is entered in the boys 60m hurdles as well. Wynne is one of the top hurdlers in the country, and should get a chance to really push himself on a good track. His closest rival is Ben Davies.
New Jersey Meet of Champions (NJ)
NJ Meet of Champions Meet Page
NJ Clash of Champions: Brian Leung v. Doug Smith Profile
NJ.com Meet of Champions Preview (NJ.com)
The best of the best in New Jersey will be out competing at the New Jersey Meet of Champions this weekend. Two main match-ups take place, one coming in the boys 3200m run and the other coming in the boys shot put.
The boys 3200m run pits U.S. #1 Brian Leung versus U.S. #2 Doug Smith. Both athletes have a shot to break nine in the event, and with such a fantastic dual taking place you can bet both athletes are chomping at the bit to win this race. We highlighted this match-up earlier in the week and interviewed both athletes HERE.
The other match-up comes between U.S. #2 Mike Alleman and U.S. #3 Nick Vena in the shot put. Both athletes have now thrown over 63 feet, and in-state bragging right are on the line. Alleman, you can bet, will want to win this one to solidify his position as top thrower in the state, but his freshman rival set the national freshman record in the event numerous times this season thus far, and you can bet Vena wants to show he is the top thrower in the country. These two could very easily battle to a new U.S. #1 in the event.
Kevin Dare (Penn State) H.S. Invitational (PA)
Kevin Dare H.S. Invitational Meet Page
Kevin Dare H.S. Invitational Program
The Kevin Dare Invitational at Penn State University will feature many of the top athletes in Pennsylvania, and some of the best from New York. On the girls side, Ryann Krais (PA), Karen Shump (PA), Shelby Greany (NY) and Caitlin Lane (NY) will all take to the track and field areas to compete in their respective events. Shump will have one of the most interesting story lines, being ranked atop the shot put rankings currently, but her chief rival Becky O'Brien (ME) will be competing at USATF Indoor Nationals against professional competition. It will be interesting to see how these two do.