The Bay State will have nearly 30 athletes and/or relay teams competing at The Armory in New York this weekend for the Nike Indoor Nationals. Here’s some of the top entries that have a chance to prosper down at the Big Apple.
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NATANAEL VIGO CATALA, Haverhill, 400M (Friday, 10:40 a.m., prelims)
The Haverhill senior is one of the top seeds in this event and should fare well against the nation’s best. At the MIAA Meet of Champions on Feb. 24, Vigo Catalo defended his 300m crown with a near best of 34.32 seconds. He came back to anchor the Hillies’ 4x400m relay with a stunning 48-second leg. The Georgetown commit ran an all-time best of 47.82 for the 400m during the outdoor season last spring and no doubt will be looking for a time in that range this weekend.
DANIEL KILLIAN, WINCHESTER 60M (Saturday, 11:03 a.m., prelims), 200M (Saturday, 3:31 p.m., prelims)
Killian has a solid day at the Meet of Champions less than two weeks ago, finishing fourth in the 55m and eighth in the 300m. He was among a handful of runners that broke 35 seconds for the 300m this winter, taking runner-up honors at the Boston Holiday Challenge on Dec. 27. He ran a PR of 21.97 in the prelims of the 200m at the MOC this past spring and placed third overall with a time of 22.06 in the finals. The 200m may be the one that Killian has the best chance to place high.
AVERY GLIDDEN, WHITINSVILLE CHRISTIAN, 400M (Friday, 10:12 a.m., prelims)
The Crusader senior has some wheels. Glidden broke 41 seconds for the 300m four times this season, including an all-time best of 39.89 to win the Division 4 Championships. She was fifth in this event at both the MOC and the recent New England Championships where she went 40.01 Glidden was a model of consistency in the 400m last spring with five sub 58-second performances, including at PR of 57.24 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.
ZOE SANTOS, NORTON, High Jump (Friday, 4 p.m.)
The Lancer junior has been red-hot her last two meets leading up to Nike. She had a four-inch best of 5-8 to take individual honors at the MOC and followed that effort with a second-place finish at the New England’s this past weekend where she cleared an equally impressive 5-7.
ALEX JACKSON, PEABODY, Shot (Saturday, 3 p.m.), Weight Throw (Friday, 5 p.m.)
The Peabody junior hit a few milestones this winter. He unleashed his first 60-footer in the shot with a heave of 60-6 to win the Division 2 title. He also broke the state record in the weight with a PR of 67-11 at the MOC, a meet he also claimed the shot title. In both events, he has an outside chance to earn a spot on the podium with one big toss.
JOAO VICTOR CUNHA, REVERE , 800m (Saturday at 2:44 p.m.)
Cunha was our runner-up in the 600m at the MOC where he clocked his all-time best of 1:21.95. The Revere senior did not compete at the New England’s. perhaps to focus more on a prime showing at NIN. He should be ready. Based on his 600m best, we believe he’s capable of dipping under his current PR of 1:57.99 from his tenth-place finish at the MOC last spring.
HAVERHILL, 4x400m
The Hillies’ foursome of Joel Ishiimwe Hannon Wipff, and Stephane Fevry and Vigo-Catala won the title in this event at the Meet of Champions with a state best of 3:25.16. This past weekend, Haverhill was 20th at the New England’s in 3:32.14. You know they’ll have fire in their eyes this weekend with a goal of breaking their school record, which is just under 3:25. With Vigo Catala as the anchor, anything can happen.
LIVE RESULTS/ENTRIES
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CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
(Please let us know if we missed any athletes or teams and we’ll add to the list)
GIRLS
FRIDAY
400m (10:12 a.m.)
Avery Glidden, Whitnsville Christian
Breanna Braham, Dennis Yarmouth
SMR 1,600m (6 p.m.)
Haverhill
High Jump (4 p.m.)
Zoe Santos, Norton
Averie Denelle, Tri County
SATURDAY
60m prelims (11:08 a.m.)
Breanna Braham, Dennis Yarmouth
Shuttle Hurdle Relay( 12:53 p.m.)
Pentucket
Milton
800m (2:27 p.m.)
Lucy McLean, Haverhill MA
4xMile (6:20 p.m.)
North Andover
BOYS
FRIDAY
400m Prelims (10:40 a.m.)
Natanael Vigo Catala, Haverhill
4×200 Prelims (2:08 p.m.)
Peabody
Worcester Tech
Pembroke
Westford Academy
SMR 1,600m (6:28 p.m.)
North Andover
Middleboro
Worcester Tech
WEIGHT THROW
Alex Jackson MA
SATURDAY
60m HH (9:46 a.m.)
Ryan Kyle Westford
Zachary Barton, Advanced Math and Science Academy
60m (11:30 a.m.)
Michael Gyimah Worcester Tech
Karim Hill, Groton
Daniel Killian Winchester
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Winchester
Westford
North Andover
800m (2:44 p.m.)
Joao Victor Cunha MA
200m Prelims (3:31 p.m.)
Daniel Killian Winchester
Shot (3 p.m.)
Alex Jackson Peabody
