by Ricky Quintana

Photos by Victah Sailer
Photos by Ross Dettman

Eugene, OR- Rainy conditions greeted athletes on the fourth and final day of the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Though the rains came and went, the athletes responded with great competition and top national performances.

Here are some of the highlights:

Girls Champ 200m

Mia Brahe-Pedersen(Lake Oswego, OR) record setting meet continued as she won the 200m in a new NSAF meet and Hayward Field record time of 22.43.

Brahe-Pedersen, in lane 7, got out quick, but on her inside, Jameesia Ford(Jack Britt, Fayetteville, NC) also got out quick putting some pressure on her into the curve. Brahe-Pedersen continued to accelerate and opened up a 3m lead heading into the homestretch as Sophia Beckmon(Oregon City, OR), in lane 5, passed Ford and then began to unfurl her long legs into the homestretch. 

Brahe-Pedersen continued to power down the stretch to record a new personal best by 0.18 seconds. Beckmon also lowered her personal best by 0.12 seconds to crack the 23 second barrier with her 22.99. Beckmon’s time  was a US #6 and moved her fifth best in NSAF meet history behind Tamari Davis’ 22.98 in 2018.

Photo by Ross Dettman

Photo by Ross Dettman

Ford hung on for a new personal best of 23.24 for third and junior Braelyn Baker(Bear Creek, Redmond, WA) lowered her personal best to 23.49.

Brahe-Pedersen’s time crushed the NSAF meet record of 22.94 run by Chalonda Goodman(GA) in 2009 and the Hayward Field record of 22.49 run by Kaylin Whitney(FL) in 2014. It was the third fastest time in US History, US #1 outdoors this season and broke Marion Jones(Thousand Oaks, CA) junior class record of 22.58 set in 1992.

Photo by Ross Dettman

Afterwards Brahe-Pedersen and Beckmon gleefully laughed and hugged as they celebrated their sub 23 efforts.

Brahe-Pedersen finished off the meet with her Lake Oswego teammates as they ran to a dominating 3:48.49 win in the 4 x 400m relay championship. Brahe-Pedersen split 52.8 for her third leg and fellow junior Josie Donelson closed it out with a 54.45.

Photos by Ross Dettman

Results and Video

Boys Champ Mile

Simeon Birnbaum(Rapid City Stevens,SD) could be excused for not being up for a third highly competitive race in a span of four days. His 8:34.10 2 mile win at the Brooks PR Invitational on Wednesday came on the heels of a sizzling 55.95 last 400m to edge future Oregon teammate, Connor Burns(Southern Boone, Ashland, MO) who finished second in 8:34.33. Then on Friday, he followed the pace setters perfectly and finished third in 3:37.93 for a US #2 fastest time in high school history. The time also broke the age 17 record of 3:39.0 run by Jim Ryun in 1964.

Afterwards he stated that the race was more difficult than he thought, but would race again on Sunday in the boys mile because he doesn’t “dodge” competition and wanted to race the Young twins.

So when the gun went off for the epic final filled with three sub four runners and eight sub 4:06 runners, Birnbaum’s place at the back of the pack seemed understandable. Though this was not unusual for Birnbaum who tends to linger off the pace in his races, it seemed particularly telling since the opening lap was 60.2. Birnbaum was 61.6, well off the pace and sitting in 14th place.

Photo by Ross Dettman

The pace tapered off even more over the second lap as Hunter Jones( Benzie Central, Benzonia, MI) began to struggle up front giving way to Rocky Hansen(Christ School, Arden, NC) as he reached the 880y mark in 2:03.95. Birnbaum moved up seven places to reach the 880y just a few yards behind in 2:04.58.

The injection of pace by Hansen over the next lap was matched by Leo Young(Newbury Park, CA), Burns, Carter Cutting(Wilsonville, OR), Collin Boler(Delbarton, Morristown, NJ), Birnbaum and Lex Young(Newbury Park, CA) as their group hit the 1320y mark in 3:05.54-3:06.95 range.

Birnbaum began to make his trademark move over the next 200m(29.0) as he went from seventh to second. Leo Young took the pole position heading into the final curve s and began to get some daylight on Birnbaum into the curve and into the homestretch. Young looked to be on his way to  victory before Birnbaum shifted into another gear using his patented come from behind strategy to perfection once again. Using a 14.3 last 109m to Young’s 14.7, Birnbaum erased the deficit and came up with a 4:02.22-4:02.58 win as he raised his finger to his mouth in shushing fashion and turned left to Young who was looking down at his legs willing them to turnover faster.

Birnbaum’s last 200m was run in 26.8, his final 400m in 55.8 and his final 800 in 1:57.6.

Hansen held the line as he finished third in 4:03.63 for the third time in three big races-Arcadia 3200m, Brooks PR Invitational 2 mile and NON mile. Burns finished fourth in 4:04.24 and Lex Young fifth in 4:04.60.

Photo by Ross Dettman

Birnbaum moved to #2, Young #3 and Hansen to #7 in NSAF history.

Photo by Ross Dettman

Results and video

Interview with Simeon Birnbaum and Connor Burns
Interview with Lex and Leo Young
Interview with Rocky Hansen and Carter Cutting

Boys Championship Javelin Throw 

Junior Brayden Platt(Yelm, WA) launched the javelin 228-0 to win  over Paul Catalanatto Jr(Catholic, Baton Rouge, LA) who finished second with a 209-07.

Platt entered the competition with a best of 216-0 and a runner up finish in last year’s NON with a throw of 214-00.5. However, he exceeded his best with a launch of 217-11 on his fifth throw before his rocket launch of 228-00 a US #1 this season.

The mark was second best in NSAF history behind Liam Christensen’s(SC) mark of 232-01 in 2016. It also was the US #17 All time best and the US #3 junior class throw of all time.

Results and video
Interview with Aaaron Potts

Boys Champ Triple Jump

Episcopal(Bellaire, TX) junior Karson Gordon came up big when it counted most to win the  triple jump with a 51-04.25.

Gordon opened with a 50-02 in round and nearly matched that with a 49-11.25 jump in round two. Winter Haven’s Jaden Lippett, the Florida State 4A champ, also a junior, was next best with a leap of 49-09.75.

Round Rock(TX) junior Xavier Drumgoole , the UIL State 6A champion then bounded a new personal best of 50-06.75 in round five to take the lead. The lead was short lived as Gordon responded with his winning mark of 51-04.25 in the fifth round.

Gordon’s mark of 51-04.25 was shy of his season wind legal best of 51-05.75 and was US#2 mark. Drumgoole’s mark was US #4 mark this season.

Lippett passed on his remaining three jumps and finished 49-09.75 good for US#12.

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Girls Champ High Jump

JaiCieonna Gero-Holt(Emerald Ridge, South Hill, WA) won the high jump with a 5-10.5 US #10.She had two first attempt clearances at 5-06.5 and 5-08.5 before needing two attempts to clear 5-10.5. She  made two attempts at 6-00.5 before passing on her final attempt.

Photo by Ross Dettman

Michigan LP D1 high jump state champion, Milena Chevallier, Mercy(Farmington Hills, MI) finished second with a clearance of 5-08.5.

Results and video

Girls GARMIN Champ Mile

Skyline(Sammamish, WA) teammates Anna Callahan and Rebecca O’Keefe overcame a quick start by freshman Elizabeth  Leachman, Champion(Boerne, TX) to finish 1-2 in the girls champ 1 mile in 4:44.68 and 4:46.42.

Leachman, fresh off her third place in the 2 mile, 9:57.65, tucked in behind Jade Rypkema(Nevis, MN) as the two hit the first lap split in  69.38 and 69.82. From there, Leachman went to the lead to hit the two lap split in 2:21.44(71.63).

Photo by Ross Dettman

The hard pace began to take its toll as Leachman slowed over the next circuit reached in 3:35.71(74.27).

O’Keefe’s 73.5 and Callahan’s 73.65 began the long drive home as the pair sped to catch the fading Leachman. With 200m to go, Callahan sprung into the lead and continued to barrel away from her teammate to record the win.

Callahan’s 4:44.68 was a personal best.

Photo by Ross Dettman

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Girls Champ Hammer Throw

King’s (Seattle,WA) Kimberly Beard, just a freshman, set a new personal best by one inch to win the hammer throw with her fifth round throw of 168-01, a US # 3 best this season. Her teammate and UC Berkeley bound Adrianna Coleman took second with a throw of 163-011.

Beard’s series included two 167-11 throws in rounds three and four and a 167-05 throw on her final throw. Her previous best was 168-00 set on May 28 in finishing second to Coleman at the Washington State HS HT Championships.

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Boys Champ 400m Hurdles

Gage Gose (Valley, Lander, WY) came  from behind to storm away in the final straightaway to win the 400m hurdles in a new personal best of 51.48, a US# 4 performance.

Alex Ornelas (Langham Creek,Houston, TX) was out best and led through five hurdles before Gose drew even with him. Then, through the curve Gose continued to keep the pace as Ornelas began to struggle.

Gose then powered down the final homestretch for the win. Ornelas, who had run 51.91 to win the Great SW Classic came home second in 52.06, a US #6 time.

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Girls Champ 400m Hurdles

Albemarle's (NC) Akala Garrett continued her winning ways as she claimed her third 400m hurdle title in  a row with a 57.51, a US #2 this season. UIL State 6A 300m Hurdle champion Sidney Green, Allen(TX) finished second in finished second in a US#2 time and personal best of 58.45.

Photo by Ross Dettman

Green was aggressive from the start and led Garrett through six hurdles. Then a slight bobble over the seventh hurdle gave Garrett an opening and she  pulled away for the win. Green’s previous best was a 59.05 set in winning the USATF National JO on July 31, 2022.

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Boys Champ Pole Vault

Junior Bryce Barkdull(Central, Andover, KS) cleared 16-11.5 to outlast Leo Bowen(Alamo Heights, San Antonio, TX) who finished second with a 16-08.

Barkdull and Bowen both cleared 16-08. Then Barkdull opted to attempt 16-11.5 and Bowen decided to pass and get the win on fewer misses. Barkdull got over on his third and final attempt at 16-11.5 putting him into the lead. Both missed their three attempts at 17-02.75 as Bardull held on for the win.

Though not his best this season, Barkdull recorded the US #10 mark with Bowen a US #13 mark.

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Boys Champ 3,000m Race Walk

Clayton Stoil, Langley(McClean, VA) won the 3,000m race walk in 14:19.51 after finishing second last year in 13:48.69.

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Girls Champ 3,000m Race Walk

Seventh grader, Ava Torgersen(Montera MS(Oakland, CA) won the 3,000m racewalk in 15:19.11. Last year, Torgersen was third in 16:08.67.

Photo by Ross Dettman

Torgersen also finished eleventh in the MS Mile run in a 5:18.41 which was a personal best and 30th in the long jump with a mark of 12-04.

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Girls Champ 4 x 100m Relay

South County(Lorton, VA)  sped to a 45.83 to win the 4 x 100m relay. The foursome of Mianna Mason, Cameron Thompson, Catalina Sanchious and Jordann Germain lowered their season best time from 46.40 for the second time in as many days. In the preliminaries they ran 45.55 to =US #6 time this season. Edmond, OK took second in 47.85.

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

Boys Champ 200m Dash

Langston Hughes( Fairburn,GA) sophomore Maurice Gleaton sped to 20.91 to turn back a late charge from freshman Kendrick Jones Jr(Lake Belton, Temple, TX) to win the 200m dash. Gleaton had finished second in 10.30 on day 2.

Rodrick Pleasant(Serra, Gardena, CA), in lane 5, got out quick and led through the curve and into the homestretch. However, he began to tighten up with 60 meters to go and Gleaton, in lane 7, began to gain ground and then passed Pleasant for the win. Jones, who false started in the 100m final, came out of lane 9 late to collar second place in 21.05, a wind legal personal best. Jake Andrews(Sehome, Bellingham, WA), a University of Southern California signee, was third in 21.10. Andrews had run a new wind legal personal best of 20.97 in the preliminaries.  

Results and video
Interview with Aaron Potts

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About the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation, Inc.

The National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1990, with the mission to inspire and empower student athletes on and off the track.  The NSAF supports high school and junior-aged track and field athletes through national high school competitions, including Nike Indoor and Nike Outdoor Nationals; The Great American XC Festival and HBCU Challenge and the Nike XC Town Twilight. The NSAF provides approximately $250,000 in grants annually.  For more information about the NSAF, please visit NationalScholastic.org.

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TrackTown USA, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to setting a standard of excellence in hosting premier track and field events, creating a supportive environment for elite athletic performances, being a leader in sustainable sport practices, and inspiring the next generation of track and field athletes and fans. The organization was responsible for organizing the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships, the 2015 and 2022 USATF Outdoor Championships, the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, and the 2016 and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials—Track & Field. In partnership with USA Track & Field, the organization brought the 2022 World Athletics Championships to the United States for the first time. TrackTown delivers the Wanda Diamond League’s recurring Prefontaine Classic, recognized as one of the world’s best track and field meets.