Waller's record run highlights several memorable performances at Brooks PR Invitational
By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor
Big step forward for Buchanan standout
It wasn't the fastest career 400-meter time run by Hannah Waller, but it might have been the most impressive performance for the Buchanan (Calif.) standout, who combined her strength and closing speed running into a stiff headwind down the stretch to clock a meet-record 53.18. Waller eclipsed the 2012 meet standard of 53.21 set by Courtney Okolo (Carrollton Smith, Texas), a two-time NCAA champion at University of Texas. It was significant redemption for Waller, who suffered the only 400 loss of her junior season by placing third at last year's Brooks PR meet in 54.40. Waller now has the opportunity to compete at the U.S. Junior Nationals on her home track at Veterans Memorial Stadium in her pursuit to qualify for the World Junior Championships. Jan'Taijah Ford (Northeast Oakland Park, Fla.), the only freshman competing at this year's meet, placed second in 53.83 and Makenzie Dunmore (McEachern, Ga.) -- who boasted the fastest entry time at 52.51 -- placed third in 54.19.
This Jordan is also an exceptional closer
If his sixth-place finish at Foot Locker Nationals during cross country season and 8:46.72 in the 3,200 at the Eastern Relays in April weren't enough indications of the talent level of Andrew Jordan, the Watkins Memorial (Ohio) senior validated his place among the country's elite distance runners by outlasting the deepest high school boys 2-mile field this year with his victory in 8:50.12. Jordan, who was recognized as male athlete of the meet, pulled away from the lead pack in the final lap and then held off a late charge from Ben Veatch (Carmel, Ind.), who placed second in 8:50.92. Casey Clinger (American Fork, Utah), the Nike Cross Nationals champion and Arcadia Invitational 3,200 winner in 8:50.70, moved up from sixth entering the final lap to finish third in 8:51.68.
Georgia on our minds again
Not only did Cassondra Hall keep the tradition alive of great Georgia sprinters winning the girls 100-meter dash after Rockdale County's Candace Hill set a national high school record last year at the Brooks PR meet with her wind-legal 10.98, but she also matched Hill by receiving female athlete of the meet honors. Hall, representing Warner Robins, ran 11.39 into a strong headwind to take control at the midway point to nearly equal her best performance under all conditions when she ran a wind-aided 11.37 in Georgia regional qualifying competition. Sophomore Sha'Carri Richardson (Dallas Carter, Texas) placed second in 11.62, with the rest of the pack running between 11.84 and 11.89. Georgia led all states at the meet with three individual wins, including Newton County's Elija Godwin and Southwest DeKalb's Terry Conwell going 1-2 in the boys 400 in 46.92 and 47.51.
Davis enjoys delivering on big stage
After taking runner-up in the marquee 3,200 race in 8:51.17 at the Arcadia Invitational and winning the mile in 4:05.29 at the Festival of Miles, Jon Davis (Fithian Oakwood, Ill.) shined against another exceptional field to win the boys mile in 4:07.52. Davis began his kick from 500 meters out and pulled away from Texas standouts Reed Brown (Southlake Carroll) and Sam Worely (Comal Canyon), who finished second and third in 4:08.85 and 4:09.45. Justin Janke (North Central, Wash.), who ran an impressive 3:45.96 in the 1,500 at the Portland Track Festival, placed fourth in his prep finale in 4:11.45.
Hill comes a long way in one mile
Although Annie Hill (Glacier, Mont.) is only a sophomore, she is already a veteran of several national-level races and her victory in the mile was one of the defining moments of her young career. Hill clocked a national-leading 4:41.52 to prevail against two-time California state 1,600 champion Amanda Gehrich of Tesoro, who enjoyed her best finish in a national race by placing second in 4:44.87 after taking third last year at the adidas Dream Mile. Hill, who placed second in the elite 3,200 race at the Arcadia Invitational, rebounded from a disappointing state meet where she didn't capture a title at any distance to run the No. 6 time by a 10th-grader in U.S. prep history. Junior Rachel McArthur (Patriot, Va.) placed third in 4:45.72.
Moore always wanting more
He might not have had the opportunity to race against Marcus Krah (Hillside, N.C.) and Trey Cunningham (Winfield, Ala.) to determine bragging rights nationally in the boys 110 hurdles, but Mathew Moore (Union Grove, Ga.) completed an undefeated season by clocking 13.69 despite less-than-favorable conditions. Krah and Cunningham took the top two spots in 13.39 and 13.43 at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, but Moore confirmed his position among the country's elite by taking command from the outset to secure the Brooks PR victory against Isaiah Lucas (Houston Cypress Falls, Texas) and William Session (Belleville East, Ill.), who ran 13.90 and 13.98.
Spectacular stretch run for middle-distance stars
The stretch run involving Sammy Watson (Rush-Henrietta, N.Y.) and Christina Aragon (Billings Senior, Mont.) was everything spectators could have hoped for in the girls 800. However, a slower-than-expected first lap prevented two of the nation's elite middle distance runners from improving on their exceptional personal bests, with Watson edging Aragon -- last year's winner in 2:04 -- by a 2:05.95 to 2:06.04 margin. It was valuable experience for both athletes entering U.S. Junior Nationals, where Aragon and Watson -- who ran 2:03.06 at the Adrian Martinez Classic -- boast strong chances of qualifying to compete in the World Junior Championships in Poland. Ruby Stauber (Wayzata, Minn.), a two-time Brooks PR competitor, placed third in 2:07.33 after finishing fourth last year.
Escaping disaster, emerging victorious
An unfortunate collision resulted in three runners losing their footing and falling to the track with 200 meters remaining in the boys 800, but Terrell Jackson (Memphis University School, Tenn.) managed to escape harm and rally from fourth to deliver an impressive kick and secure the win in 1:52.01. Devan Kirk (Shorewood, Wash.) thrived thanks to the significant support he received at Renton Memorial Stadium and ran 1:52.45 to place second, with Austin Tamagno (Brea-Olinda, Calif.) finishing third in 1:52.48. Jackson ran a lifetime-best 1:50.84 to win the Tennessee state title, but no victory in his career was more significant than capturing the Brooks PR title.
More magnificence for McCulloch
Canadian star Shona McCulloch (Longfields Davidson Heights, Ontario) showcased outstanding closing speed and prevailed in 9:59.87 against a strong field of American challengers in the girls 2-mile race. McCulloch relied on Davis Senior (Calif.) standout Fiona O'Keeffe to set the pace for the majority of the competition, before surging ahead on the final lap to earn one of the biggest victories of her prep career. McCulloch's time was slightly ahead of the winning effort of 10:00.38 produced by Weini Kelati (Heritage, Va.), who prevailed in their regular-season 3,000 matchup at The Penn Relays. O'Keeffe improved on her fourth-place effort from last season by clocking 10:05.63. Junior Brie Oakley (Grandview, Colo.) enjoyed a breakthrough performance with a third-place finish in 10:08.89.
Believe in the bow
One of the country's most underrated athletes, Brittley Humphrey (Hoover, Ala.) capped an undefeated season in the 100 hurdles with another significant performance against a field of national challengers. Although the weather conditions didn't allow her to approach her personal-best 13.24 from the Mt. SAC Relays, Humphrey -- wearing a signature white bow in her hair -- prevailed in 13.43 in the final race of her prep career. Sophomore Emily Sloan (Rock Canyon, Colo.) suffered her first setback of the season in the 100 hurdles but gained valuable experience after placing second in 13.48, just off her lifetime-best 13.46 from the Colorado 5A state final.
