The New Balance Nationals feature the best of the best from across the country.
It takes a special kind of talent to make it this far.
Beginning Thursday and running through Sunday at historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Rhode Island’s finest track and field athletes will be looking to make some noise in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Ocean State has a multitude of individuals and relay squads that will be competing in the Championship races. A top-six finish earns All-American honors and, of course, we know what a victory means – a coveted national title.
Kudos to everyone who made it this far. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices you’ve made throughout the year—and throughout your career. This is your reward for a job well done, and something you should be proud of.
Just a week after lowering his own state record in the 5,000-meter run with a 14:20 performance at the Battle Road Track Club Series, Portsmouth’s Sean Gray will look to continue his late-season surge at New Balance Nationals. Gray is entered in both the mile (Saturday, 5:07 p.m.) and the two mile (Friday, 2:08 p.m.).
In the two mile, the Virginia commit will be chasing more than just another state record. He’ll also be in pursuit of a national title. Gray has set an ambitious goal of 8:45, which is well under the current state standard of 8:53.94 by former La Salle standout Matt Bouthillette from the 2016 Brooks PR Invitational.
Based on his recent performances, that target appears realistic. Gray has already shown that Bouthillette’s decade-old mark is vulnerable, running 8:50.76 to place second in the 3,200m at the Glenn B. Loucks Games in early May. Since then, he has added his 5K state record and an 8:18.90 solo victory in the 3,000m at the State Meet. Given that body of work, a sub-8:50 performance appears well within reach and he has a legit chance to leave Philly with both a state record and national title.
Barrington’s Brooks Mello and Portsmouth’s Patrick Orbon, the 2-3 finishers in the 3,000m at the State Meet, are also entered in the two mile where they bring bests to the line of 8:30.58 and 8:33.75, respectively. Looks for this tandem to come close to nine minutes this weekend.
A national title may be out of reach for Ponaganset’s Amber Shaw in a loaded pole vault field, but a state-record performance could put her in position to contend for a spot on the podium.
Shaw has the potential to break her own state record for the third time this weekend with a 13-foot vault. She’s come close to that milestone the last two weeks with her best of 12-9 from her victories at the State Meet and this past weekend’s New England Championships.
We did the math. Hendricken’s 4xMile (Thursday, 6:59 p.m.) and DMR (Sunday, 9:39 a.m.) relay squads have a chance to leave Franklin Field with at least one state record in those events this weekend.
The best opportunity appears to be in the 4xMile. The record there is 17:21.59, set by Hendricken in 2010. The quartet of David Hayes, Fred Russell, Brayden Seraichyk and Colby Flynn have the potential to shatter that mark this week. Based on their PRs in the mile or 1,500m, this is a squad that can run in the low 17-minute range, with the possibility of dipping under 17 minutes. Hayes, Russell and Flynn all have bests of 4:15 or faster for the mile, Seraichyk has a PR of 4:26, but also a best of 4:03 for the 1,500m.
The DMR record is 10:00.01 by La Salle in 2016. The foursome of Hayes, Jamel Florio, Oliver Redmond, and Flynn could challenge that mark, but they’ll need A-plus efforts from everyone to come close. With Hayes (1,200m), Andrew McCarthy (400m), Russell and Flynn handling relay duties, Hendricken clocked 10:09.03 at the Penn Relays Carnival in April.
La Salle also has a chance to break a record or two in the 4x100m and 4x400m. After all, the Rams are owners of those marks with similar squads.
La Salle set the current 4x100m record of 41.59 at the Class A Championships. The 4x400m mark of 3:14.56 was established at last year’s New Balance Nationals.
Ocean State Running will continue to add to this article.
