The 2024 New Balance Nationals Indoor meet kicked off in Boston for the second straight year on Thursday. The NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships are also in town and kick off Friday at the two-year-old The Track at New Balance, forcing NBNI to the Reggie Lewis Track Center for its first three days of competition before finishing up on Sunday at The Track.
Some Middle School and Freshman events and the 4x1 Mile Relays were held on Thursday, and despite a smaller field size as the Rising Stars division won't be held this year with the smaller capacity of the Reggie Lewis limiting the number of accepted entries, more than 25 Missouri athletes did and are scheduled to compete.
New Balance Nationals Indoor Info
Day 1-Thursday
St. Louis University High School freshman phenom Jackson Miller captured the Freshman Mile in a 5-second PR of 4:17.87. The Class 5 State Cross Country 6th placer in November took the lead at 250 meters in the 7th and final second of the event and never looked back. He won by more than 4.5 seconds. He was just over 3 seconds behind the event's record of 4:14.63 from the 2022.
He wasn't the only Missouri winner Thursday. University Academy Charter freshman Christian Davis won the Freshman 400-meter dash. The Kansas Citian ran 49.68 in the 18th of 18 section and won by 1/3 of a second.
Staley freshman Orryn Wright placed 10th in the Freshman 400 in 59.70 while MICDS freshman Justyce Sanders was 14th in 1:00.26. Logynn Spain, a St. Louis 7th grader, ran 1:05.42 to place 86th out of 113 in the Middle School 400.
While oldest brother Connor is off to college and older brother Brian running in the high school Championship Mile, Southern Boone County 8th-grader Sean Burns ran a 2+ second PR of 4:38.58 to place 10th in the Middle School Mile.
Others set to compete on the final three days include:
Distance
Middle-distance superstars Elyse Wilmes, a Tolton Catholic junior, Kirkwood senior Josie Baker, and Harrisonville junior Kayleigh Norris will race in Boston. Wilmes in the Championship 800, Baker in the Championship Mile, and Norris in the Championship 1 and 2 Miles.A trio of boys will race in the high school distance races. Rock Bridge senior Andrew Hauser is set to race in the 2 Mile Championship. As mentioned, Southern Boone County sophomore Brian Burns will race in the Championship Mile. Ft. Zumwalt East senior Tyler Anderson will race in the Championship 800.
Sprints
Four St. Louis hurdlers will take to the track in the 60-meter hurdles and combine as Team STL in the 4 x 55-meter shuttle hurdle relay.
Parkway Central senior Skyye Lee - 60H and 4x55 SH Championships
John Burroughs senior Aaliyah Elliott -60H, LJ, and 4x55 SH Championships
Cardinal Ritter junior Kyndall Spain - 60H and 4x55 SH Championships
Timberland senior Alexa Adams - 60H and 4x55 SH Championships
Pattonville senior speedster A'Laji Bradley will try to do what Raytown South's Zaya Akins did last year and win the 400-meter dash championship title.
-Grandview senior Griouard Weddington - 60 and 200 Championships-Lee's Summit North junior Devan Mathis - 60 Hurdles and 400 Championships
-Blue Springs South junior Jasmine Ross - 60 and Long Jump Championships
-Staley senior Shane Smith - 400 Championship
-Staley freshman Orryn Wright - 60 Freshman
Jumps
Macon junior Caelan Harland will jump in the Championship Pole Vault
-Westminster Christian Academy senior - Joseph Anderson Championship Triple Jump
-Blue Springs South junior Jasmine Ross - Championship Long Jump
Throws
Cor Jesu senior Madison Fowler - Championship Shot Put and Weight Throw
Parkway North junior Mark Goldman - Championship Shot Put and Weight Throw
Multis
Helias Catholic senior Matthew Malmstrom - Heptathlon