2015 NBNI Previews: Girls’ Sprints – Daniels, Williams, McIntosh the faves

by Steve Underwood

NBNI Previews, Part 2 of 11

This is the second in a series of previews for the championship events at the 2015 New Balance Nationals Indoor and will be followed by Boys/Girls Hurdles, Boys/Girls Throws, Boys/Girls Multis, Boys Jumps, Girls Jumps, Boys Distances, Girls Distances, Boys Relays and Girls Relays.  Here is the link for Boys Sprints.


GIRLS SPRINTS

Overview

Although the “trilogy” storyline doesn’t apply here like it does in the boys’ sprints, and there are fewer candidates for a sprint double, that doesn’t mean the girls’ 60, 200 and 400 aren’t full of top-notch performers capable of producing dramatic results.  In fact, among the entries are a new national record-setter, a sophomore-class national record-setter and a World Junior gold medalist: Kamryn McIntosh, LaurenRain Williams and Teahna Daniels.  Last summer, Daniels was part of the 4x100 quartet that topped the medal stand in Eugene and, with the US#1 times in both the 55m and 60m dashes, is the fave to take the 60.  But Williams – just .01 behind on the 60 list – could also take that event, then make it a double in the one-lap race, where she’s way up on the field with her 10th-grade standard of 23.39.  Then there’s McIntosh, who shocked the track world with her 1:28.78 at 600m and, as the national leader in the 400 as well, is favored in that event.
 

60m dash: South vs. West vs. Northeast

The top contenders in the quickest race of the meet come from three corners of the country.  If you cheer for New York or Northeast athletes, your favorites might include local star Brenessa Thompson (Medgar Evers, NY senior) or Kate Hall (Lake Region, ME senior).  Thompson, tied at US#1 with 6.93, has dominated nearly all of the major meets at the Armory, while Hall is coming off her US#4 6.95 PR to take the New England title.  At last winter’s NBNI, they were 8th and 9th, respectively, in the 60 – but at NBNO, Thompson lost a photo finish 100 to Candace Hill and Hall was not far behind in 3rd – both with PRs.

If you’re a Southern sprint fan, though, there’s Teahna Daniels (First Academy, FL senior), Jayla Kirkland (Woodlawn, AL soph), Carolyn Brown (Phoebus, VA senior) or Sydney Murphy (Apex, NC senior).  Daniels, the aforementioned 4x1 WJC gold medalist (capping off a stellar outdoors season that included a US#3 11.31 100), is competing in her 1st indoor nationals, but having hit US#1s of 6.93 55 and 7.39 60 in her only two meets, seems more than ready -- and has to be considered the favorite.  Kirkland, Brown and Murphy all have plenty of big meet experience and should contend for a medal.

Finally, if you lean toward the West Coast, there’s Californians LaurenRain Williams (Oaks Christian, CA soph) and Zaria Francis (Rio Mesa, CA junior) to root for.  Williams would love to begin her double in this race, as she returns to the site of her freshman 60 title in 2014.  She got her US#2 7.40 PR last month in the Simplot 60 to move into serious contention.  Fellow Golden Stater Francis earned her cred with a 6.94 at 55 to win the California indoor state title last month. 

Stats and facts

HSR: 7.19, Ashley Owens, CO, 2004
MR: 7.26, Mikiah Brisco, LA, 2014

60m dash recent champs
2014: Mikiah Brisco, LA, 7.26
2013: Clemence Paiement, QC/CAN, 7.40
2012: Jennifer Madu, TX, 7.32

60m dash 2014 top 3-plus (non-returnees italicized)
1. Mikiah Brisco, LA, 7.26
2. Hannah Cunliffe, WA, 7.30
3. Caitland Smith, AL, 7.40


7. Shanice Williams, ONT/CAN, 7.53
8. Brenessa Thompson, NY, 7.59
9. Kate Hall, ME, 7.62

Top entries by current U.S. 60m rank
1. Teahna Daniels, FL, 7.39
2. LaurenRain Williams, CA, 7.40

6. Jayla Kirkland, AL, 7.46
7. Chanel Brissett, PA, 7.47
9. Shayna Yon, CO, 7.49

Top U.S. 55m performers entered in 60 (by 55m rank)
T1. Brenessa Thompson, NY, 6.93
T1. Teahna Daniels, FL, 6.93
3. Zaria Francis, CA, 6.94
T4. Kate Hall, ME, 6.95
T4. Sydnei Murphy, NC, 6.95
6. Carolyn Brown, VA, 6.96


200m dash: Lots of Rain in the forecast

LaurenRain Williams is one of a healthy handful of contenders in the 60, but in the 200 it’s hard to imagine anyone but the Oaks Christian, CA super soph winning – at least if she performs the way she in Boise last month.  As mentioned, that 23.39 was the best-ever for sophomore and #6 all-time for any prep.  She hasn’t raced the distance since, having concentrated her infrequent racing with the 60 at Simplot and some early relays outdoors.  But if she can run 23.6 or better, the race is probably hers.

Interestingly, the next five finishers behind graduated 2014 NBNI 200 champ Shania Collins all return here for another shot.  Williams has clearly progressed the furthest (she was 4th in ’14), while the others have done in different directions.  From Virginia, rivals Carolyn Brown (Phoebus senior) and Brandee’ Johnson (Nansemond River senior) – 2nd and 5th last year – should both be serious contenders.  Johnson won Youth Olympic bronze last summer and both have run well indoors – with Johnson taking the state 4A 55 hurdles and 300 this week and Brown the 4A 55 dash.  On the other hand, neither New Yorker – Symone Darius and Zola Golden – has competed for their school this winter and each has had “mixed” results.

Some others who could contend: Karimah Davis (Palm Beach Central, FL soph), who has only run 25.28 indoors, but won the NBNO EE 200 last June in 24.20 and has run 23.93 outdoors;
Maiya Dendy (Middletown, DE senior), whose superb US#2 24.11 has held up since late January; and a host of others who have run between 23.7-24.2 outdoors last year and 24.4-24.5 indoors.

Stats and facts

HSR: 22.97, Bianca Knight, MS, 2007
MR: 23.48, Kali Davis-White, FL, 2013

200m dash recent champs
2014: Shania Collins, MD, 23.82
2013: Kali Davis-White, FL, 23.48
2012: Destinee Gause, OH, 23.82

200m dash 2014 top 3-plus (non-returnees italicized)
1. Shania Collins, MD, 23.82
2. Carolyn Brown, VA, 24.07
3. Symone Darius, NY, 24.12
4. LaurenRain Williams, CA, 24.15
5. Brandee’ Johnson, VA 24.51
6. Kaitlin Sherman, NC, 24.52

Top entries by current U.S. 200m rank
1. LaurenRain Williams, CA, 23.39
2. Maiya Dendy, DE, 24.11

4. Quashira McIntosh, RI, 24.32
5. Zola Golden, NY, 24.40
T7. Jaevin Reed, TX, 24.49
T7. Taylor Chapman, PA, 24.49
Oversize
2. Khianna Gray, KY, 24.42

Top U.S. 300m performers entered in 200 (by 300m rank)
4. Brandee’ Johnson, VA, 38.55
5. Zola Golden, NY, 38.57
7. D’Jai Baker, NY, 38.61


400m dash:  Coming together from other events

If you’re from outside New York, Kamryn McIntosh may be a new name for you, but those in the Empire State have been watching her at a Section/State level since she ran 2:14.8 for 800 back as a 7th-grader in 2012.  As an 8th-grader, she won the Eastern States 4-lapper at 2:11.8 and was under 57 seconds for 400.  This weekend, the Suffern HS soph will be the favorite at 400, not so much because of her lone effort at the distance this winter – a hand-timed US#2 54.5 – but because she dropped jaws last month with a national record 1:28.78 for 600m, then nearly broke it again 5 days later.  With national leader Sydney McLaughlin running the 60H, 4x55 SHR and 4x400, McIntosh takes center stage.

She’s hardly the only contender, though, and you have to look beyond the current national indoor list to consider all the contenders.  Yes, US#3 Brooklyn Broadwater (PA) at 54.73 and #4 Amanda Crawford (NY) at 54.95 have a great chance to make at least the podium – as do others who have run in the low-mid 55s.  But don’t forget about the Motor City TC’s Anna Jefferson (Oak Park, MI senior), 4th here last year and a 53.50 performer outdoors in ’14, or Serenity Douglas (GA) – at 55.96 (oversize) this winter, but a 53.93 runner last spring.  And from the Southeast, where they mostly run 500s instead of 400s, there’s US#1 soph sensation Lauryn Ghee at 1:13.84 and several others in the 1:14 and 1:15 range -- including Layla White (Cary, NC senior), who was 3rd in this race last year and has run 55.78 and 1:14.10 this winter.  Finally, from Florida, sub-24 200-runner Kamirah Davis (Palm Beach Central, FL soph) has also run 55.04 outdoors recently and was 3rd in the NBNO frosh 400 last June.

Stats and facts

HSR: 51.93, Francena McCorory, VA, 2006
MR: 51.93, Francena McCorory, VA, 2006

400m dash recent champs
2014: Olivia Baker, NJ, 53.49
2013: Precious Holmes, CT 53.43
2012: Ariah Graham, NC, 53.95

400m dash 2014 top 3-plus (non-returnees italicized)
1. Olivia Baker, NJ, 53.49
2. Zola Golden, NY, 54.15 (in 60 and 200)

3. Layla White, NC, 54.53
4. Anna Jefferson, MI, 55.26
5. Sierra Irvin, MA, 55.29

10(sf). Amanda Crawford, NY, 56.39

Top entries by current U.S. 400m rank
2. Kamryn McIntosh, NY, 54.5h
3. Brooklyn Broadwater, PA, 54.73
4. Amanda Crawford, NY, 54.95

7. Carolyn Wilson, CA, 55.47
10. Arianne Strunkey, NY, 55.65
12. Layla White, NC, 55.78
Oversize
4. Martha Sam, MD 55.46
5. Serenity Douglas, GA, 55.96

Top U.S. 300m performers entered in 400 (by 300m rank)
3. Lauryn Ghee, VA, 38.47
6. Arianne Strunkey, NY, 38.60

Top U.S. 500m performers entered in 400 (by 500m rank)
1. Lauryn Ghee, VA, 1:13.84
3. McKinley McNeil, NC, 1:14.04
4. Layla White, NC, 1:14.10
5. Destiny Ward, VA, 1:14.42
6. Nyjari McNeil, MD, 1:15.29

Top U.S. 600m performers entered in 400 (by 600m rank)
1. Kamryn McIntosh, NY, 1:28.78
4. Amanda Crawford, NY, 1:32.52

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