The New Balance Nationals feature the best of the best from across the country.
It takes a special kind of talent to make it this far.
Beginning Thursday and running through Sunday at historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Massachusetts’ finest track and field athletes will be looking to make some noise in the City of Brotherly Love.
By our estimation, more than 50 athletes and several relay squads from the Bay State will compete in Championship races. A top-six finish earns All-American honors and, of course, we know what a victory means: a coveted national title.
Kudos to everyone who made it this far. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices you’ve made throughout the year—and throughout your career. This is your reward for a job well done, and something you should be proud of.
For the girls, Westford Academy’s Abby Hennessy may represent Massachusetts’ best opportunity for an individual national title during the four-day competition.
The gifted senior has had a brilliant spring season and could very well cap her outstanding high school career in grand style this weekend.
She arrives in Philly with plenty of momentum. On June 4, she placed an impressive third at the HOKA Festival of Miles, clocking a near-personal-best 4:35.14. A week earlier, she was untouchable in the two mile at the Division 2 Championships, breaking the state record with a time of 9:50.72.
Hennessy won’t contest the two mile this weekend, but she will line up in the mile and enters as the No. 1 seed. Her 4:35.14 performance at the Festival of Miles ranks No. 3 nationally. The two athletes ahead of her in the rankings—the Festival of Miles champion and runner-up, Oregon’s Ellery Lincoln (4:27.85) and California’s Braelyn Combe—are not entered, leaving the University of Washington commit as the favorite heading into Saturday’s race, scheduled for 6:20 p.m.
The competition, however, will be formidable. Also entered are the nation’s fifth-, sixth- and seventh-ranked milers: Texas’ Elin Latta (4:35.98), North Carolina’s Kaitlyn Steep (4:36.56) and Illinois’ Kara Glenn (4:38.68).
Hennessy also owns the current state record of 4:34.69, set during her third-place finish at last year’s New Balance Nationals. That mark could be in jeopardy this weekend—and if it falls, a national title may come with it.
Hennessy is also entered in the 800m (Sunday at 2:35 p.m.) and the Distance Medley Relay (Sunday, 10:51 a.m.) where she will likely run the 1,600m anchor leg.
The 100m dash features recent New England champion Nina Kyei-Aboagye of Sharon. The Warriors speedy senior, who was unbeaten this spring, has a season best of 11.83 from the Meet of Champions. Her all-time best is 11.70 from last year’s nationals. We spoke with Kyei-Aboagye after her victory at the New England Championships. She told us her goal is to make the podium, and feels an 11.50-11.60 effort will be needed to get the job done. Kyei-Aboagye is also scheduled to compete in the 200m where she owns a best this spring of 23.56 from the Meet of Champions.
Methuen’s Lauren Quarm is also entered in the 100m dash. Along with Kyei-Aboagye, she’s the only other sprinter from the Bay State to break 12 seconds with her second-place finish to the Sharon star at the Meet of Champions with a PR of 11.84.
Of the top entries in the 400m hurdles (Friday, 12:46 p.m.), only six have broken the one-minute barrier. That leaves the door open for Weston’s Solena Varela, who appears to have a legitimate shot at a podium finish.
Varela came agonizingly close to a sub-60 performance when she clocked a PR of 1:00.22 to win the Division 5 Championships. This past weekend, she added a New England title in the 300m hurdles with a strong 42.76 effort. If her recent progression continues, don’t be surprised if she’s in the mix when the medals are decided.
On the subject of hurdles, keep an eye on Natick’s Emmanuella Edozien in the 100m hurdles (Saturday, 11 a.m.). Edozien earned a bronze medal in the 55m hurdles at New Balance Nationals Indoor this past season, proving she can rise to the occasion on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The Natick standout didn’t appear satisfied with her runner-up finish at the New England Championships this past weekend. Expect her to arrive in Philly with plenty of motivation. Edozien was 11th in the semifinals at last year’s outdoor nationals and owns a PR and state-record 13.57 from 2025. Her top time this spring is 14.06, set at the Bay State Conference Championships.
To contend for a podium spot this weekend, she’ll likely need to dip well under 14 seconds. It’s a tall order, but certainly not out of the question.
We’re expecting a big race from Natick’s Chloe Elder in the 400m (Sunday, 12:43 p.m.), who has been consistent all season. She’s coming off victories at the Meet of Champions and the New England Championships, where she ran her top two times of the season, 53.96 and 54.08, respectively. She seems to be peaking at just the right time.
Lexington’s Ainsley Cuthbertson has a legit shot to place high in the hammer throw (Saturday, 11:30 a.m.). She ranks No. 7 nationally with her best of 176-6 from the Mass Hammer Invite on April 24. Since that performance, she’s gone 170-plus three other times. Anything in the 170-foot range has a chance at a top-six finish. The nation’s No. 1 thrower Kim Beard of King Schools (WA), who has a best of 188-0, will not be at New Balance. That leaves this event wide open. CeCe Bizon of Ponaganset (RI) is the No. 1 seed with a best of 181-0 from the Sgt. Brian St. Germain Invitational on May 10. While she is the slight favorite, it’s really anybody’s guess who will come out on top with at least five or six others capable of stealing the show, including Cuthbertson.
Bay State Running will add to this article.
