It seems like we say this every year, but the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals ranked as one of the best high school track meets ever.

New Bern, NC closed out a spectacular year with a National Record in the Boys 800m Medley, running 1:28.20, eclipsing Long Beach Poly’s (CA) 2007 record by .23. They also threatened the high school record in the 4x400, clocking 3:08.05, #2 All-Time. High school leaders abounded on the boys side with great runs by Trevor Dunbar (Kodiak, AK) in the two mile (8:49.79), Alex Deir (Honeoye Falls-Lima, Honeoye Falls, NY) in the 2000m Steeplechase (5:53.13), Reggie Wyatt (La Sierra, Riverside, CA) in the 400m hurdles (49.78) and The Woodlands (The Woodlands, TX) taking the national lead in the 4xMile (17:17.21) and Distance Medley Relay (9:55.17).

Chalonda Goodman (Newnan, GA) was the star of the Girls meet, winning the 100m in 11.30 and 200m in 22.94, both US Leaders. Chelsey Sveinsson (Greenhilss, Addison, TX) also had a great double, winning the mile in 4:40.24 and 2 mile in a national leading 10:04.85. Jasmine Stowers (Pendleton, SC) took the US lead in the 100m Hurdles (13.59) and Emily Sisson (Parkway Central, Chesterfield, MO) did the same in the 5000m (16:34.36). There was no shortage of U.S. leaders in the relay events. Eleanor Roosevelt (Greenbelt, MD) won the 4x200 (1:36.54), Southern Regional (Manahwakin, NJ) the 4x800m (8:52.80), Newton South (Newton Centre, MA) the 4xmile (20:23.20), Withrow (Cincinnati, OH) the 800m Medley (1:41.73), Northwestern (Miami, FL) the 1600m Medley (3:55.58), and Collins Hill (Suwanee, GA) the Distance Medley Relay (11:42.94).

Changes for 2010:

Emerging Elite vs Championship

The Championship races are for those who have made the qualifying standards for those events. The Emerging Elite is for those who have not quite made those standards. The Emerging Elite Division is open to any high school athlete who has made the Emerging Elite standards, whether they be Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors. The idea is that, eventually, an Emerging Elite athlete will join the elite ranks, but has not yet attained that status. A prime example is that of Kyle Merber. He won the Emerging Elite mile as a junior in 2007 in 4:15.95 (The championship mile was won in 4:03.33). The next year he was New York State 1600m Champion. And, this year, his Sophomore year at Columbia U, he ran 3:58.62 for a mile! Similarly, Megan Goethals was the Emerging Elite mile champion in 2008 in 4:59.26. In 2009, she became the Foot Locker National Champion in cross-country.

Finally, we are extremely excited to welcome New Balance as the title sponsor for this year's event. It is the start of a multi-year partnership. New Balance has some exciting functions planned for this year's meet. Stay tuned for details!

Please join us for another spectacular event.