National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

The following is the second of a 6-part series ranking the top athletes and relays for the 2014 outdoor high school track and field season – from the first outdoor meets back in February through the final post-season affairs in August.  It also represents an attempt to create some of the deepest prep rankings available with some of the most detailed analysis.  The rankings, as such the first ever published by the NSAF, were produced by Steve Underwood, with input from Jim Spier.  They are generally based on the honors won, head-to-head competition and fastest times criteria popularized and used by Track and Field News, as well as other compilers, throughout the years.  This second entry in the series, Girls Individual Track, preceeded by Boys Individual Track, and will be followed by Boys Individual Field, Girls Individual Field, Boys Relays and Girls Relays in the next few weeks.

One of the year's best races: The NBNO 100H final, where US#2 Duncan edges US#3 (and 400H US#1) McLaughlin. Photo by Walter Pinion

More Photos (top to bottom, with credit in parentheses): Kaylin Whitney(Joy Kamani), Candace Hill (Walter Pinion), Olivia Baker (Andrew McClanahan/Photorun.net), Mary Cain (Kamani), Alexa Efraimson (McClanahan), Hannah Debalsi (Pinion), Dior Hall (McClanahan), Sydney McLaughlin (Pinion), Kate Zendell (Pinion), Anna Rohrer (Chris Lotsbom/NBNationals.com) and Ashleigh Resch (NBNationals.com).

 

100 meters: Whitney claims HSR, WJ bronze

1. Kaylin Whitney, East Ridge FL, 2016
HSR 11.10 – 1st USA Jr, 3rd WJC, 1st Brooks, 1st Adidas, 2nd GSC, 1st 4A state

2. Ariana Washington, Long Beach Poly CA, 2014
US#2 11.22 – 2nd USA Jr, 1st state, 1st Arcadia, 7th WJC

3. Teahna Daniels, 1st Academy FL, 2015
US#3 11.31 – 3rd USA Jr, 2nd Adidas, 1st GSC, 1st Texas R D2, 1st 1A state

4. Ky Westbrook, Chandler AZ, 2014
US#6 11.43 – 4th USA Jr, 3rd Adidas, 3rd Brooks, 1st D1 state, 1st Chandler Rotary

5. Krystal Sparling, St. Thomas Aquinas FL, 2015
US#4 11.34 – 2nd Brooks, 4th Adidas, 2nd 4A state

6. Candace Hill, Rockdale Co. GA, 2017
US#7 11.44 (11.34w) – 1st NBNO, 1st GWI, 1st Mobile, 1st USA JO(15-16), 1st 6A state

7. Brenessa Thompson, Medgar Evers NY, 2014
11.60 (11.34w) – 2nd NBNO, 1st state, 1st Loucks, 4th WJC(heats)

8. Kate Hall, Lake Region ME, 2015
11.58 (11.45w) – 3rd NBNO, 1st Class B state

9. Destiny Smith-Barnett, Skyline CA, 2014
US#5 11.40 – 2nd state, 2nd Arcadia, 1st Stanford, 1st Sac MOC

10. Kortnei Johnson, Italy TX, 2015
US#9 11.51 (11.37 nwi) – 5th Adidas, 2nd Texas R D1, 1st 1A-D1 state

Analysis:  One of the sport’s truly epic moments in 2014 was seeing the amazing soph Whitney blaze across the line during the USA Junior women’s 100 final in Eugene and seeing that 11.10 on the scoreboard.  She couldn’t quite duplicate that time 3 weeks later on the same track at World Juniors, but her bronze (which she followed with 200 and 4x1 gold) was still mighty fine.  She had a tremendous year all the way through – also winning the major Adidas and Brooks races – with a lone loss at Golden South more than avenged.

The next three from USA Juniors followed Whitney in the rankings: Washington, Daniels (who beat Whitney at GSC) and last year’s World Youth champ, Westbrook.  Washington was US#2 with her state winning time of 11.22 and went on to 7th at Worlds.  Westbrook and Sparling took turns beating each other at Adidas and Brooks, but the former was a little better overall – though Sparling looked like she might be the country’s best early before an injury slowed her.  Hill – another super youngster who had several major wins – Thompson and Hall went #6-7-8 based off their NBNO finishes.  Smith-Barnett, the #2 Californian, and Johnson – the top Texan – took the final spots.

200 meters: Whitney surges to WJ title

1. Kaylin Whitney, East Ridge FL, 2016
US#1 22.49 – 1st WJC, 1st USA Jr, 2nd (1st prep) Star Athletics, 1st 4A state

2. Candace Hill, Rockdale Co. GA, 2017
US#3 23.12 – 1st NBNO, 1st GWI, 1st Mobile, 1st USA JO(15-16), 1st 6A state

3. Ariana Washington, Long Beach Poly CA, 2014
US#2 22.96 – 1st state, 1st Arcadia, 1st Mt. SAC

4. Diamond Spaulding, St. Thomas Aquinas FL, 2015
US#5 23.36 (23.00w) – 2nd NBNO, 1st GSW, 1st GSC, 2nd 4A state

5. Akeyla Mitchell, West Oso TX, 2014
US#8 23.59 (23.31w) – 1st USA JO(17-18), 1st AAU Club, 1st 3A state

6. Symone Mason, Miami Southridge FL, 2017
23.63 (23.60w) – 1st AAU Club(15-16), 1st GSW(open), 2nd GSC, 1st AAU JO

7. Jayla Kirkland, Woodlawn AL, 2017
US#9 23.60 – 3rd NBNO, 1st 6A state

8. Mikiah Brisco, Baton Rouge LA, 2014
24.07 (23.65w) – 2nd GSW, 1st 5A state

9. Teahna Daniels, First Academy FL, 2015
23.68 – 6th USA Jr, 1st 1A state

10. Krystal Sparling, St. Thomas Aquinas FL, 2015
US#4 23.34 – 1st 4A reg, 1st BCAA, 1st Burley, 2nd Hayes, 4th 4A state

Analysis:  Equally obvious a first choice here, Whitney didn’t break the HS record in the furlong – but it could be argued that she was just as impressive.  Significant improvement during the season resulted in a breakthrough at USA Juniors that was even bigger, relatively speaking, than the 100 and resulted in a 22.49 that is the best ever at low-altitude (Allyson Felix has the HSR from Mexico City).  Then, of course, she blasted to the World Junior title three weeks later in Eugene, following the “mildly disappointing” 100 bronze.

After Whitney, though, the 200 is much harder to rank than the 100 due to fewer major races and the fact that very few preps contested Juniors.  2013 World Youth medalist Washington was a bit faster than Georgia’s super frosh Hill, but the latter’s slate of major wins – including completing her NBNO sweep – was deeper.  Spaulding had a fast wind-aided time at Great Southwest and lost only to Hill and Whitney.  Top Texan Mitchell also had a great windy mark at state, and a fine win at USATF JOs.  Mason, yet another Floridian, was 2nd only to Hill among precocious freshmen – with some great runs in June and July.  A mix of NBNO, GSW and USA Jr placers followed, along with Sparling, who was -- again -- very impressive before her injury.

400 meters: More international success for Baker

1. Olivia Baker, Columbia NJ, 2014
US#1 52.46 – 2nd USA Jrs (1st prep), 3rd WJC, 1st Brooks, 1st NJ MOC

2. Zola Golden, Arlington NY, 2015
US#3 52.82 – 1st NBNO, 1st Loucks, 1st state

3. Kaelin Roberts, Long Beach Poly CA, 2017
US#2 52.52 – 1st state, 1st Arcadia, 1st SS Masters, 1st SS Finals

4. Sharrika Barnett, Oak Ridge FL, 2015
US#6 53.43 – 2nd NBNO, 1st USA JO(17-18), 1st GSC, 2nd 4A state, 1st Hayes

5. Kendall Ellis, St. Thomas Aquinas FL, 2014
US#4 52.95 – 1st GSW, 1st 4A state, 4th NBNO, 2nd Hayes

6. Madeline Price, Menlo School CA, 2014
US#5 53.20 – 2nd state, 2nd Arcadia, 2nd Brooks, 2nd CAN Jr, 3rd(sf2) WJC

7. Brittny Ellis, Warren Twp IL, 2015
US#8 53.49 – 1st AAU JO, 6th YOG, 2nd YOT, 3rd GSW, 3rd 3A state

8. Serenity Douglas, Archer GA, 2016
53.83 – 3rd NBNO, 1st USA JO(15-16), 3rd 6A state

9. Anna Jefferson, Oak Park MI, 2016
US#9 53.50 – 5th NBNO, 3rd Brooks, 1st D1 state, 5th YOT, 3rd AAU JO

10. Jasmine Stauffacher-Gray, North Canyon AZ, 2015
54.05 – 2nd GSW, 1st D1 state, 1st Chandler Rotary

Analysis:  Baker didn’t continue her string of NBN titles, but peaked at the right time to make another Team USA – this time getting 2nd with a US#1 behind collegian Baisden at USA Juniors and earning a ticket back to Eugene.  She went on to a fine bronze and a 4x4 gold while wearing the U.S. singlet again (she was 2nd in 2013 World Youths).  With her NBNO title over a great field, Golden gets an edge over the slightly faster Roberts for the #2 spot, with the amazing California frosh not venturing outside the Golden State.

The rest of the top 10 includes the next four NBNO finishers behind Golden, but the order is mixed and blended with some other top performers.  Barnett in #4 was the runner-up in Greensboro and her USATF JO and Golden South wins backed it up.  On the other hand, the Georgia soph Douglas in 3rd ranks #8 for the year after some others with deeper creds.  Florida 4A champ Ellis was just 4th at NBNO, but her other big wins included Great Southwest.  #6 Price had a very strong string of runner-up finishes at state, Arcadia and Brooks, while #7 Ellis had a very fast AAU JO win and made the Youth Olympic final.

800 meters: Cain twice under 2:03; Efraimson takes deepest race

*1. Mary Cain, Bronxville NY, 2014 (Nike Oregon Project pro)
US#1 2:01.67 – 4th Adidas GP, 8th Pre Classic

2. Alexa Efraimson, Camas WA, 2015
US#2 2:03.26 – 1st Brooks, 1st 4A state

3. Raevyn Rogers, Kincaid School TX, 2014
US#3 2:04.40 – 1st NBNO, 1st US Jr, 6(h3) WJC, 5th Brooks

4. Olivia Baker, Columbia NJ, 2014
US#7 2:06.01 – 2nd NBNO, 1st Loucks, 1st Grp 4 state

5. Hannah Parker, Coe-Brown NH, 2015
US#8 2:06.12 – 3rd NBNO, 2nd Brooks, 1st NH MOC, 5th Loucks

6. Rose Christen, Central Kitsap WA, 2014
US#5 2:05.64 – 3rd Brooks, 4th US Jr, 2nd 4A state

7. Kaley Ciluffo, Pleasant Valley IA, 2015
2:07.08 – 3rd US Jr, 6th Brooks, 1st Drake, 1st 4A state

8. Karina Shepard, Dracut MA, 2014
2:07.14 – 4th NBNO, 1st state

9. Corinne Myers, Westwood NJ, 2014
US#6 2:05.80 – 7th NBNO, 1st NJ MOC, 2nd Loucks, 1st Grp 2 state

10. Elise Cranny, Niwot CO, 2014
US#4 2:04.81 – 12th Mt. SAC(open), 1st 4A state, 1st Runners Roost

11. Ersula Farrow, Grosse Pte. South MI, 2015
2:07.22 – 5th NBNO, 7th Brooks, 1st D1 state

Analysis:  This is the first of 3 events including the “asterisked” Cain.  Some list compilers and rankers dropped the Bronxville, N.Y. senior from consideration since she turned pro.  But we included her on our lists with an “*” and she would have been eligible to run NBNI or NBNO, had she so chosen, as she was still a high school student in 2014.  Cain ran the year’s two fastest times by a prep in the elite races at the Pre Classic and Adidas GP, not quite at the 1:59 HSR level she reached in 2013, but still 2:01 and 2:02.

Had another one of the fastest preps raced often or consistently enough, they may have surpassed Cain for #1.  Rogers was superlative in winning NBNO and USA Juniors, but on the flip side she was just 5th in the huge Brooks race and then at World Juniors didn’t make it out of the heats.  She thus winds up #3 behind Efraimson, who had a stellar US#2 2:03.26 to win that Brooks race and a 2:04 backup in winning state over Christian – great, but not quite enough to pass Cain.  Baker – the author of that stunning 2:02 anchor in the Penn 4x8 – was 2nd behind Rogers at NBNO and follows in #4.  Going down the rest of the list (we went 11 deep since we included Cain), the order of NBNO, Brooks and USA Junior finishes are the biggest factor.  #6 Christian and #7 Ciluffo split Brooks and Juniors, but Christian had the fastest times.  Cranny at #10 had a super fast time vs. elites at Mt. SAC, but had little backup.

1500/1600/1M: Cain, Efraimson narrowly top 2

*1. Mary Cain, Bronxville NY, 2014 (Nike Oregon Project pro)
US#1 4:06.34 – 2nd USA Sr

2. Alexa Efraimson, Camas WA, 2015
US#2 4:07.05 (#1 1M) – 1st US Jr, 6th WJC, 10th Adidas(elite), 7th(sf) USA Sr, 1st 4A state

3. Elise Cranny, Niwot CO, 2014
US#3 4:10.95 – 2nd US Jr, 4th WJC, 6th Payton Jordan, 13th Pre Classic, 1st 4A state

4. Sarah Feeny, Ogden UT, 2014
US#2 4:39.23 – 1st Adidas, 1st Brooks, 1st 4A state, 1st BYU Inv

5. Stephanie Jenks, Linn-Mar IA, 2016
US#4 4:42.68 – 2nd Adidas, 1st Nike Festival, 1st Kansas R, 1st Drake, 1st 4A state

6. Katie Rainsberger, Air Academy CO, 2016
US#3 4:41.07 – 2nd Brooks, 2nd Mt. SAC, 1st Chandler Rotary, 2nd 4A state

7. Danielle Jones, Desert Vista CA, 2015
US#6 4:43.40 – 3rd Adidas, 1st GSC, 2nd Arcadia, 1st D1 state

8. Anna Maxwell, San Lorenzo Valley CA, 2014
US#5 4:43.27 – 3rd Brooks, 1st Stanford, 1st CCS, 11th state

9. Hannah Long, Eureka MO, 2015
US#9 4:44.01 – 4th Adidas, 1st Class 4 state, 1st Festus Inv, 2nd Eastern Relays

10. Amelia Paladino, University MO, 2014
4:45.34 – 1st Penn, 4th Brooks, 9th NBNO, 1st 3A state

11. Ryen Frazier, Ravenscroft NC, 2015
4:46.39 – 1st NBNO, 3rd GSC, 1st Apex Relays

Analysis:  Again, here’s Cain with an asterisk at the top.  In this case, she did beat another prep in a major race – no less than Efraimson in the first 1,500 semi at USA Outdoor (seniors).  Cain went on to 2nd in the final with the year’s best time (a few ticks short of her ’13 best).  It was her only final at 1,500 or a mile and, if Efraimson had done just a bit more, might have overtaken her.  As it was, Efraimson had an incredible season (and has since turned pro, too), with a 4:07.05 1,500 at Adidas (elite) making her #2 all-time, running the fastest-ever 1,600 (superior to the mile HSR) and winning her showdown with Cranny at USA Juniors.  Cranny, though, turned the tables at World Juniors, taking 4th to Efraimson’s 6th.  With a better set of marks, Efraimson holds down #2.

The rest of the list compounds the notion that we are living in the most incredible of eras for prep distance running – how crazy is it that Feeny had a pair of 4:39s to win the two best prep miles of the year, but is just #4??  Or that there were 30 girls who ran 4:45 or better for 1,600 or a mile in 2014 (19 of whom are not on this list)??  In sorting out the rest of the top 10, it's mostly finishers behind Feeny in her two monster wins.  Adidas runner-up Jenks gets the nod over Brooks runner-up Rainsberger, having also won the Nike Festival mile in St. Louis with a 4:45.  Similarly, 3rd  consistency in their biggest races gives the Adidas 3rd- and 4th-place finishers Jones and Long the edge over Brooks 3-4 Maxwell (11th after a fall at state) and Paladino (won Penn, but 9th at NBNO).  NBNO upset winner Frazier completes the list at #11.

3k/3200/2M: Cain returns to Juniors for World title

*1. Mary Cain, Bronxville NY, 2014
HSR 8:58.48 – 1st WJC, 1st USA Jr

2. Bethan Knights, Northwood CA, 2014
US#1 9:53.54y – 1st Brooks, 1st state, 1st SS Masters, 1st SS Final, 3rd Arcadia

3. Hannah DeBalsi, Staples CT, 2016
US#2 9:55.05y – 2nd Brooks, 1st NBNO, 1st Penn, 1st state

4. Alexa Efraimson, Camas WA, 2015
US#3 9:55.92m – 1st Arcadia, 1st Tiger Inv

5. Stephanie Jenks, Linn-Mar IA, 2016
US#5 10:06.54y – 3rd Brooks, 2nd US Jr, 1st Drake R, 1st 4A state, 15th WJC

6. Audrey Belf, Birmingham Seaholm MI, 2015
US#9 10:11.24y – 4th Brooks, 1st state, 1st Reg 5-1

7. Caroline Alcorta, West Springfield VA, 2014
US#10 10:11.71y – 5th Brooks, 1st Loucks, 1st 6A state

8. Anna Maxwell, San Lorenzo Valley CA, 2014
US#7 10:04.81m – 4th Arcadia, 1st Aptos dual

9. Makena Morley, Bigfork MT, 2015
10:15.37y – 6th Brooks, 2nd NBNO, 7th Arcadia, 1st Class B state

10. Allie Ostrander, Kenai Central AK, 2015
US#6 10:03.66m – 2nd Arcadia, 5th NBNO, 1st 4A state

11. Amelia Paladino, University WV, 2014
US#4 10:00.42m – 1st Friends of Coal R, 1st 3A state

Analysis:  Cain gets the sweep of the 800, 1,500/mile and 3k/2M with her World Junior 3k win, running 10 seconds faster than the high school record.  She also won USA Juniors, which in both cases included Iowa prep star Jenks.  Like the 1,500/mile, this event was incredibly deep with five girls running 10:00 3,200 or faster and nearly 30 under 10:20.  If Cain was #1, than Knights was the revelation of the year: A 10:37 3,200 performer in ’13, she moved into the spotlight in XC and then “tying” Sarah Baxter with a 10:07 in an early-season race.  She improved to 10:04 at Arcadia (3rd), then went on to run 10:00 or better 5 (!) times, capping it off with a 9:53.54 2M win at Brooks.

Brooks, indeed, informed most of the top 10.  After winning NBNO by more than 10 seconds (and also having won the Penn 3k), Debalsi rocked a 9:55 behind Knights for a clear #3.  That group is interrupted by Arcadia winner Efraimson – who had the year’s first sub-10, but little backup – then follows with Jenks (whose 10:06 at Brooks was slightly superior to her best 3k times), Belf and Alcorta in #5-6-7.  #8 Maxwell was 4th at Arcadia, but mostly focused on the mile.  Ostrander came down from Alaska for a revelatory 2nd at Arcadia, but that was tempered by a hard fade to 5th at the end of NBNO and she ranks 10th.  Morley gets #9 with her runner-up at NBNO being the competitive highlight, while Paladino – with a 10:00 3,200 but no other sub-10:20s – is 11th.

100m hurdles: Hall gets long-sought HSR

1. Dior Hall, G. Washington/Denver Sci/Tech CO, 2014
HSR 12.92 – 2nd WJC, 2nd US Jr (1st prep), 1st GSW, 1st Brooks, 1st 5A state

2. Alexis Duncan, DeSoto TX, 2016
US#2 13.33 – 1st NBNO, 1st 5A state, 1st Texas R, 1st Reg 5A-1

3. Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic NJ, 2017
US#3 13.34 – 2nd NBNO, 1st NJ MOC, 1st NP-A state

4. Jasmine Quinn, Fort Dorchester SC, 2015
US#4 13.37 (13.33nwi) – 2nd Brooks, 2nd Taco Bell, 1st 4A state, 1st Father Kelly

5. Mecca McGlaston, Dublin CA, 2016
13.63 (13.54w) – 5th US Jr, 1st state, 1st Sac MOC, 3rd Arcadia, 1st Stanford

6. Anna Cockrell, Providence Day NC, 2016
US#7 13.46 - 3rd NBNO, 1st USA JO(17-18), 3rd Taco Bell, 1st NCISAA state

7. Ashley Miller, Cherry Creek CO, 2016
US#5 13.38 – 4th NBNO, 3rd Brooks, 3rd GSW, 2nd 5A state

8. Tiana Bonds, Centennial NV, 2014
US#8 13.50 – 2nd GSW, 6th US Jr, 4th Brooks, 1st Arcadia, 1st Mt SAC, 1st D1 state

9. Chantel Ray, Hampton VA, 2014
US#6 13.42 – 1st Taco Bell, 7th Brooks, 1st 5A state

10. Ashlee Moore, Hamilton AZ, 2014
US#9 13.59 – 7th US Jr, 2nd WJ Hept, 1st AZ MOC

Analysis:  How sweet it was for Hall to get her long-sought HSR in the final race of her prep career, snagging silver at the World Juniors with the 12.92 that took down Candy Young’s mark after 35 years!  After that 13.18 she ran as a frosh during the 2011 Great Southwest, Hall’s sights were on that mark and when she broke the 60 HSR indoors and then finally got under 13.10 at state in May, it seemed certain it would happen soon.  A few close calls (GSW, Brooks) followed, but when Hall was pushed by Kendell Williams, the U. of Georgia frosh who won both USA Juniors and Worlds, the record was finally achieved.

The youngsters Duncan and (even younger) McLaughlin – a 1-2 photo finish at NBNO – get the next two spots, each building on impressive state meet wins.  Quinn had a blazing 13.33 with no wind gauge before her state meet, but showed she was for real when she finished .05 behind Hall at Brooks – the closest call Hall would have.  The next five are very close, led by McGlaston – who won California state and was the #2 prep at Juniors.  The 3-4 NBNO finishers – Cockrell and Miller – follow, each with good backup.  Bonds seemed destined for a very high spot after losing by just .08 to Hall at GSW, but then was not quite as strong at Brooks and Juniors.  Ray was very fast at state, but just 7th at Brooks.

300m/400m hurdles: Mind-blowing marks for McLaughlin

1. Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic NJ, 2017
US#1 55.63 – 2nd US Jr (1st prep), 1st NBNO, 1st NJ MOC, 1st NP-A state

2. Reonna Collier, Piedmont Hills CA, 2017
US#2 58.55 (=#1 40.90) – 4th USA Jr (2nd prep), 1st state, 1st GWI, 1st CCS

3. Daeshon Gordon, Northeast FL, 2014
US#3 58.70 – 2nd JAM Jr, 1st AAU Club, 1st GSC, 1st Burley, 1st 4A state

4. Tiana Bonds, Centennial NV, 2014
US#7 59.44 (#1 40.90) – 6th USA Jr (3rd prep), 1st GSW, 1st Arcadia, 1st Mt. SAC, 1st D1 state

5. Emma Gallagher, Garden City NY, 2015
US#4 58.87 – 2nd NBNO, 1st state, 1st Loucks, 5th Penn, 5th(H1) USA Jr

6. Samantha Gonzalez, Creekview TX, 2015
US#5 59.12 (#3 41.02) – 1st USA JO(17-18), 1st 4A state, 1st Reg 4A-2

7. Emma Spagnola, West Aurora IL, 2014
US#6 59.22 – 3rd NBNO, 2nd USA JO(17-18), 1st 3A state

8. Anna Cockrell, Providence Day NC, 2016
US#8 59.57 – 4th NBNO, 3rd USA JO(17-18), 1st Taco Bell, 9th Penn

9. Jasmine Stauffacher-Gray, North Canyon AZ, 2015
US#9 59.80 – 5th NBNO, 3rd Arcadia, 1st D1 state, 5th(H2) USA Jr

10. Raygen Smith, Clear Brook TX, 2015
1:00.11 – 6th NBNO, 2nd AAU JO(17-18), 2nd AAU Club, 3rd 5A state

Analysis:  In a year with astonishing performances by freshmen and sophs on the girls’ side, perhaps none was more jaw-dropping than the sequence of 400H marks by McLaughlin.  It was clear she was extremely talented during the indoor and early outdoor season, over any longer sprint distance and any distance hurdle event.  If her seasonal best had been the 58.24 she hit in mid-May to break the frosh class record, that would have sufficed as a great accomplishment – but she followed it with 56.91, 56.89 and then the 55.63 at USA Juniors that nearly beat the HSR, as well as NCAA champ Shamier Little – and she was too young to make Team USA!

Almost any other year, the Californian Collier would have been the supreme queen frosh with her =US#1 40.90 300H state title and 58.55 for 4th at Juniors.  Gordon, the unbeaten Floridian who ran 58.70 at Jamaican Juniors, was next.  Then came Bonds, whose Great Southwest 300H win at 40.90 would be matched by Collier’s mark just hours later.  NBNO runner-up Gallagher was faster than Bonds’ 400H best (from Juniors), but had a few significant off-form meets.  Gonzalez passed up both NBNO and Juniors, but the combination of fast state meet and USATF JO triumphs earn her #6.  The #3-4-5-6 finishers from NBNO, all with some good backup, follow at #7-8-9-10.

2k ST: Zendell in battle of New Yorkers

1. Kate Zendell, Suffern NY, 2015
US#3 6:51.88 – 1st NBNO, 3rd state, 2nd Sect 1, 1st Rockland Co.

2. Kelly Hayes, Pearl River NY, 2014
US#1 6:48.58 – 1st state, 1st Sect 1, 16th NBNO, 2nd Rockland Co.

3. Jessica Scheriff, North Babylon NY, 2014
US#2 6:50.48 – 2nd NBNO, 2nd state, 1st Sect 11, 2nd Port Jeff

4. Alesia Mucklebust, Ward Melville NY, 2014
US#4 6:55.03 – 3rd NBNO, 6th Sect. 11, 1st Port Jeff

5. Alana Pearl, Fayetteville-Manlius NY, 2014
US#6 6:58.78 – 4th state, 1st Sect 3

6. Rachel Garn, Marcellus NY, 2014
US#7 7:00.25 – 4th NBNO, 5th state, 1st Loucks

Analysis:  As is often the case, the vast majority of the nation’s best here were New Yorkers, the only state where the steeple is a state-meet event.  NBNO was nearly a replay of the NY state meet … and that’s where it gets interesting.  Hayes won the loaded Section 1 race and then the state final in the Empire State, clocking the year’s only sub-6:50s.  But then at NBNO she was just 16th.  Zendell was 2nd and 3rd behind Hayes in those NY races, but then won NBNO and – having also beaten Hayes in their county meet (yes, they raced 4 times) – gets the #1 nod.  The rest of the top 6 basically follows NBNO order, save for Pearl – who beat NBNO 4th-place finisher Garn at state, then passed up NBNO.

5,000m: Rohrer over Belf

1. Anna Rohrer, Mishawaka IN, 2015
US#1 16:16.97 – 1st NBNO

2. Audrey Belf, Birmingham Seaholm MI, 2015
US#8 17:01.75 – 1st US Jr

3. Natalie Rathjen, Highland Park TX, 2014
US#3 16:46.24 – 2nd NBNO

4. Claire Howlett, Westhill CT, 2014
US#2 16:28.71 – 3rd NBNO, 1st Spartan Mid/Sun

5. Erin Dietz, Bedford MA, 2015
US#4 16:47.34 – 4th NBNO

6. Makena Morley, Bigfork MT, 2015
US#5 16:49.74 – 5th NBNO

Analysis:  Rankings (just 6-deep here) for this event are almost entirely based on the big NBNO race.  Rohrer, the comebacking standout whose last national-level distance running triumph had been the 2012 Foot Locker Finals, was stellar in Greensboro, winning by 30 seconds.  Three weeks later in Eugene, the only top caliber prep racing was Belf, and she ran just over 17 minutes.  But given that she dominated a collegiate-level field by 20-plus seconds in 90-degree heat and sun, her performance merits a #2 ranking for the year.  Howlett had the #2 time of the year, a 16:28 in an open race, but couldn’t quite match that at NBNO and she ranks in order with the rest of that race’s top five.

Racewalks: Resch the best overall

1. Ashleigh Resch, Beavercreek OH, 2015
US#1 3k/5k, #6 10k – 1st Penn Jr, 1st USA JO, 1st USA Yth, 5th WC Trials

2. Katie Michta, Sachem North NY, 2014
US#1 1500, #3 3k, #2 5k, #3 10k – 3rd US Jr, 1st Penn HS, 1st Sect 11, 2nd USA JO, 2nd WC Trials

3. Katharine Newhoff, East Islip NY, 2015
US#6 1500, #6 3k, #4 5k, #1 10k – 1st US Jr, 3rd Penn HS, 4th Sect 11, 3rd WC Trials

4. Meaghan Podlaski, Colonie NY, 2015
US#4 1500, #1 1M, #2 3k, #3 5k – 5th Penn HS, 1st NBNO, 1st Freihofer’s Jr

5. Brenda McCollum, Fall River KS, 2014
US#9 3k, #5 5k, #2 10k – 1st WC Trials, 7th US Jr

6. Anali Cisneros, Elgin IL, 2016
US#7 3k, #12 5k, #5 10k – 2nd US Jr, 4th Penn Jr, 4th USA JO, 2nd USA Yth

7. Monika Farmer, Connetquot NY, 2014
US#3 1500, #5 1M, #5 3k, #6 5k, #4 10k – 4th US Jr, 2nd Penn HS, 4th NBNO, 3rd Sect 11, 3rd USA JO, 4th WC Trials

Analysis:  Ranking the female racewalkers across multiple events is a bit more of a challenge than were the boys, with not as clear a pecking order and some athletes being either more middle or long distance specialists.  Resch, the NBNI mile champ from Australia who became a prep in Ohio this year, was well-beaten in her first big outdoor walk at the World Cup Trials 10k.  But she then proceeded to win a deep, list-leading Junior 5k at Penn, then USATF Youth and JO 3k walks – beating almost all the other top girls at least once.

Michta led the 1,500 list, won the HS 5k at Penn (2nd overall) and generally still notched 2nd’s and 3rd’s even when she was not at the top of her game.  Newhoff shone brightest in July, when she won the US Junior 10k to make World Juniors.  Podlaski passed up 10ks, but won the NBNO mile and ranked 2nd to 4th at other distances.  McCollum was great early, winning the World Cup Trials, but was just 7th at US Juniors in July.  Cisneros, the youngest in the group, improved during the year to get 2nd in Eugene behind Newhoff.  Farmer was the most ubiquitous, ranging from 2nd to 4th in all the big races (thanks to Michael Roth for accurate U.S. walk lists).