Long Sprints
Boys
It's a story of what have you done, vs. what have you done lately in the 400m. Jaylin Santiago (Fordham Prep) is your top seed here, but he hasn't run an open quarter of quality yet this Season. He's anchored a Penn Relays 4x400m in 47.90, but he'll be facing off against NY #2 Nicholos Sealey (Harry S. Truman), who put forth a 48.12 open mark to win the New York Relays. CT #1 Maxim Copeland (Windsor) is also in the field at 48.39, looking to take home the title next door.
The 800m has turned into the marquee event of the weekend, as we have five guys at or under 1:53.00. Second Place, Steven Hergenrother (Ridgefield), and third place, Soheib Dissa (Newtown), from last year's race return, both under 1:52.50, while NY #1 in 2023 Matthew Schutzbank (Nyack) split's the pair in the seeding. VT #2 Kelton Poirer (Essex) and ME #1 Kaleb Colson (Sumner) from 2023 also join the field, providing a New England challenge squad for the ages. New York will get some reinforcements from James Ciaccio (Saint Anthony's) with the best time actually run in 2024, as he recently went 1:53.08 at his home invite.
Girls
Competition gets tighter as the distance moves up, as there are five girls under 57-seconds for the 400m. Both Sydney Chadwick (Union Catholic NJ) and Samara Lawrence (North Babylon) have run 55-seconds last year, but are still looking for that mark in 2024. New Hampshire comes in with top seed from 2024 though, with Harriet Barber (Manchester) at 56.32.
Like the Boys, the 800m is ready for some fireworks, with five girls at 2:11 or under. NY State Leader Sophia McInnes (Bayport Blue-Point) leads Wisconsin's Charlize-Trinity McKenzie at the top, although McKenzie has the faster open time at 2:09.81 last year. Esme Daplyn (Greenwich CT) has a 1:33 from the 600m Indoors, Laina Friedmann (Smithtown West) is currently NY #4, and Katelyn Kliesch (Notre Dame) has been holding her own since freshman year.
One late add-on is Dylan McElhinney (Hunter), an infusion of talent to any distance race. She won the National Title Indoors at 2:06.88, and is an immediate threat to the title here.