The New Balance Nationals have arrived.
For four straight days beginning on Thursday, The Track at New Balance will play host to The Fastest Party on the Planet. Few will argue, and most might add the Furthest, Highest and Longest, too. Though that doesn’t quite have the ring of Fastest.
But you get the point.
As they always do, the nation’s finest track & field athletes will put on a show down in Boston, and we’re expecting several of our Bay Staters will, too. Here’s what we consider the top events on Friday.
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Two Mile Run
The top six in this event regularly run 8:50 or faster. It should be much the same this weekend given the level of talent expected on the starting line.
While earning All-American status may be a longshot, we believe a sub nine-minute performance from one of our Bay Staters is within reach. Recent Meet of Champions winner Greg McGrath of Boston College High certainly has the ability to become the ninth Massachusetts runner go under the milestone indoors,
McGrath captured the MOC title in 9:08.15. Earlier this season, on Jan. 24, he ran a PR of 9:02.95. In both races, he spent much of the second half running alone. That likely won’t be the case this weekend, as he’ll be surrounded by runners chasing similar goals.
Friday’s race will be McGrath’s first competition since the Meet of Champions nearly a month ago, meaning he should be well-rested and ready to perform on his home track.
The racer also features a few other MA talent that should fare well this weekend, including Parker Charters. Nathanel Henshaw, Hopkinton’s Sean Finnegan. Henshaw was second to McGrath at the MOC with a big-time PR of 9:20.27. Finnegan comes in with a state No. 2 of 9:17.54. We’re expecting both to be hovering near 9:15 on Friday.
Girls’ Two Mile Run
Like the boys’ race, this event features our individual titlist from the Meet of Champions, who earned gold convincingly while running most of the race alone. Just a day after competing in the 5K, Whitinsville Christian’s Emily Flagg is scheduled to take on the nation’s best again in the deuce. Flagg captured her state crown by 12 seconds last month with a PR of 10:36.92.
Low 10 minutes will usually land you on the podium at New Balance. While we don’t feel Flagg is quite in range of that territory this weekend, if she’s at her best we could see her move up several spots on the all-time rankings with a time under 10:30. If the recent rankings are correct, she currently sits at No. 13 on the list.
Concord-Carlisle’s Sophia Juanes-Seto is also among the entries. She owns a best of 10:54.67 from the Coaches Invitational.
Boys’ 4×200-Meter Relay Prelims
This event features five of the state’s top six relay squads with Newton North (No. 1, 1:29.11), Clinton (No. 3, 1:29.75), BC High (No. 4, 1:29.91), St. John’s Prep (No. 5, 1:30.03) and Xaverian Brothers (No. 6, 1:30.06).
The race is intriguing because it will once again showcase many of the state’s best with the potential for most, if not all, to break 1:30. Clinton ran its current season best while finishing runner-up at the New England Championships. BC High posted a mild upset of state leader Newton North at the MOC.
Boys’ Long Jump
This event features state leader and Meet of Champions winner Amar Skeete of Catholic Memorial. Skeete has leaped 23 feet or farther six times this season with a best of 24-3 at the Coaches Invitational – an effort that ties him at No. 7 nationally and places him among the top three competitors entered at New Balance.
The top seed is Aaron Rich of Lyman Hall (CT) with a distance of 24-6.25. Skeete and Jalen Moseley of La Salle Academy (RI) are next with their respective 24-3 efforts.
Could the Knights junior strike it rich on Friday? He’ll likely need to get back into that 24-foot range, something he’s accomplished just once this season with his victory at Coaches on Jan. 24.
If he’s on his game, it could happen.
Girls’ 4×200-Meter Relay, Prelims
From a state standpoint, this race could get interesting. It features the 1-2-3-5 finishers from the Meet of Champions.
Leading the way is overall champion Newton North. The Tigers earned the title with the foursome of Sophia Finkelstein, Penny Blumenthal, Isabella Mangada and Brooke Bennett combining for a state-leading 1:44.49.
Needham and Medford took the next two spots, while Lexington finished fifth. All three teams have run 1:45 this season.
Who will be the best this weekend? It’s a tough one to call.
Boys’ Shot
This is an event to watch for two reasons.
First, it features the state’s top two shot-putters and the 1-2 finishers at both the Meet of Champions and New England Championships. Second, it’s an event where more than one athlete could find a spot on the podium.
The talented Massachusetts duo competing inside the circle is Oliver Ames’ Mitchell Callender and Hopedale’s Ari Levine.
Callender lost only once this season, finishing second to Levine at the Coaches Invitational. Since then, he’s run the table, including wins at the MOC and New Englands. He’s thrown 60-plus eight times this winter, with a PR and nation No. 11 mark of 62-7.25 from a league meet in mid-January. Callender has talked about unleashing a throw in the 64–65 foot range, which is likely what he’ll need to place among the top three.
Levine has consistently been in the high 50s this season, with an all-time best and nation. No. 14 of 62-3.5 from his Coaches Invitational win over Callender. If he’s at his best, he could secure All-American status.
