MileSplit NY - While we may have been twiddling our thumbs waiting for our heat at the Armory, some athletes down south have decided this indoor business was not for them. The southern regions of the country start their Outdoor season remarkably early by our standard, ie January, and it tends to give them a little bit of a head start. However, just as the cliche goes, it's not where you start, it's where you finish. Today's Top Ten will show you where the catching up may be a little harder to do.
Girls
1500m Run - 4:19.54 - Alexa Efraimson of Camas, OR
For better or worse, the Mary Cain effect may have begun to take hold. More and more high school athletes are competing against the pro's, and the times are dropping fast. Just look at sophomore Alexa Efraimson, who won her event at the Oregon Preview, dropping a very impressive 4:19.54 to open her outdoor season. Chances are high we'll get the opportunity to Efraimson return to the Dream Mile this June in NY.
400m - 53.77- Daye Shon Robertson of Houston Wheatley, TX
Only Precious Holmes managed to top the fastest outdoor time so far, but now that the event becomes more widespread in competition, New York has a few contenders for that time.
Discus - 183' 3" - Valarie Allman of Silver Creek, CO
It's not bad to open your season to US #8 All-Time by Athlete. For now, the Queen is in Colorado when it comes to the Discus.
4x100m - 45.94 - Chandler, AZ
This opening mark is almost a full second faster than the fastest time set in New York last year. However, with a new state record under their belt, could Medgar Evers topple it?
Pole Vault - 13' 11.5" - Annie Rhodes of Waco Midway, TX
US #6 All-Time by Athlete is nothing to scoff at, as this high flying female looks to be almost unchallengeable all season with this mark alone.
Boys
100m - 10.15w - Levonte Whitfield of Jones, FL
The little "w" by the time may indicate that the mark was wind-aided, but the time is still flying. Whitfield, above right, was pushed to the line by Kendal Williams, who clocked 10.18. The pair met up again later that day over 200m, and Williams got to the line first, clocking 20.63 to Whitlfiled's 20.66. The top time in the country, un-wind aided, belongs to Jamarl Holloway of MS, in 10.37. That seems a little more attainable for us in the colder regions of the country.
High Jump - 7' 3" - Logan Brittain of Canyon Randall, TX
Heads up, as Texas seems to be soaring over the bar at 7-2. We have a quartet of guys capable, but that is a tough height to reach. Challenge accepted?
Pole Vault - 17' 2" - Daven Murphee of Harmony, TX
The High Jump Bar is the only one the vertical jumpers are getting acquainted with. 17-2 is a very strong outdoor season mark, set by the Indoor National Champion. This is only an inch improvement since Indoors, so look for this mark to raise.
Triple Jump - 52' 1" - Jeremiah Green of Hillsborough, FL
If you were at Nationals, you'll remember this name. He flew over 50 feet on his first jump to take the triple jump title, and it looks like he hasn't lost a step. On his first jump, he jumps to a new National Leading Mark.
1600m Run - 4:10.35 - Andres Arroyo of Colonial, FL
This may be the easiest mark on here to get, as New York has possibly the largest number of athletes under the 4:20 barrier by state. The question is, who will be the first to make that break, and will the nations top time still be at 4:10 by then?