Arria Minor, a junior from Denver East High School in Colorado, captured the girls 400m title at the New Balance 2018 National Indoor Track and Field Championship held at the Armory, New York over the weekend (March 9–11). Arria, who has a personal best time of 52.05 seconds in the 400m, stopped the clock at 52.74 seconds to take the victory ahead of Alexis Holmes (53.63; Hamden, CT) and Kimberly Harris (53.77; Suwanee, GA). The talented quarter-miler is coached by Steven Kipper. Arria is the 2017 Colorado girl track and field athlete of the year is again favored to repeat.
Herron’s Dominance
The 400m boys champion was Brian Herron who stopped the clock in 46.31 seconds, ahead of Nicholas Ramsey (46.78; Snellville, GA) and Trey Johnson (46.99; Fayetteville, GA). The top three finishers are all from the state of Georgia. Herron, a junior from Lakeside High School in Atlanta, could be the next great quarter-miler from the United States. He has been steadily improving since bursting on the scene three years ago as a freshman, running 48.76 seconds in the 400m. With a lifetime best of 46.07 seconds in the 400m (outdoors), Herron is poised to eclipse the 46.00 seconds mark this upcoming outdoor season.
Schwartz Sizzles
Anthony Schwartz, a senior from The Plantation American Heritage High School in Florida, is perhaps one of the most electrifying young sprinters on the high school circuit. At the 2018 New Balance Indoor Meet, Schwartz used his superb top-end speed to separate himself from the rest of the field to win the boys 60m title in 6.59 seconds, a personal best time. Schwartz finished ahead of Tyson Campbell (6.72; Miami, FL) and Austin Kratz (6.75; Telford, PA). Schwartz is the World 100m Youth record holder with a personal best of 10.15 seconds. Schwartz is also a two-sport star athlete who excels in both football and track. He is a four-star wide receiver and has committed to Auburn University but will focus on track and will be under the tutelage of veteran sprint coach Henry Rolle.
Hello World, Meet Tamari Davis
Freshman Tamari Davis posted the most impressive performances at the 2018 New Balance Meet capturing the 60m in a meet record 7.25 seconds and 200m in 23.46 seconds. She is no stranger to track fans across the globe but she used the 2018 Indoor meet as a coming out party of sort. Davis, from Gainesville High School (FL), won the 60m in 7.25 seconds ahead Thelma Davies (7.33; Darby, PA) and Alexis Brown (7.38; Kennedale, TX). Her winning time was just 0.05 seconds off the national record of 7.19 seconds set by Ashley Owens back in 2004.
Davis won the 200m, beating Abby Steiner (23.51; Dublin, OH) and Alexis Holmes (23.86; Hamden, CT). Her time of 23.46 seconds in the final was slower than the 23.24 seconds she ran in earlier rounds. That was just 0.02 seconds off the 23.22 seconds posted by sprinting greats Sanya Richards and Ashton Purvis. Davis’s time of 23.24 is the new national freshman record.
Others
After finishing second to Anthony Schwartz in the 60m, Austin Kratz returned to capture the boys 200m title in 21.01 seconds, ahead of Eric Allen (21.08; Potomac, MD) and Okheme Moore (21.31; Tuscaloosa, AL). Ayden Owens won the boys 60m hurdles in a time of 7.59 seconds ahead of Kyle Garland (7.74; Philadelphia, PA) and De’Vion Wilson (7.82; Hutto, TX).
A photo finish was needed to determine the winner of the girls 60m hurdles as both Tia Jones (Woodstock, GA) and Grace Stark (White Lake, MI) both posted identical times of 8.05 seconds with Jasmine Jones (8.17; Braselton, GA) finishing in third place. The race was awarded to Jones (8.044 seconds) ahead of Stark’s 8.047 seconds.
Jasmine Moore, a junior from Grand Prairie, Texas, defended her title in the triple jump with a winning jump of (13.10m/ 42–11.75).
Bull Track Club from Maryland captured the girls 4x400m relays in 3:39.86 ahead of Franklin Track Club also of Maryland (3:40.48). St. Joseph Prep Track Club (PA) captured the boys 4x400m relays in 3:16.08 ahead of East Orange (NJ) 3:16.81.
