Below is a quick look at how some of the Eastern Relays events are shaping up based on the milesplit virtual meet (outdoor 2016 marks). Entries are still open until Monday (4/25) night and we are expecting to pick up some more elite performers as the registration process continues.
Teams interested in entering can do so at http://easternrelays.milesplit.com through Monday night (4/25).
We will posted more comprehensive previews next week once the entries close!
Note: These previews are not based on actual event entries, only which teams are scheduled to attend the meet.
Men's Distance
The 2016 Eastern Relays distance events are looking to be one of the best yet. With multiple high profile High School athletes looking to improve upon their own personal records, Eastern Relays records, and even some threaten some national season best marks.
Friday night's 3200m field features some of the country's best and it all starts with Andrew Jordan. This year Andrew Jordan (Watkins Memorial, OH) has not raced the 3200 outdoors however holds a personal record of 9:05 set at the 2015 Eastern Relays. His senior campaign is off to a smashing start with Foot Locker Nationals 6th place finish, a sub-9 indoors ranking him 4th nationally, and a huge PR in the mile running 4:10 on 4/16. Behind him are a slew of sub 9:20 3200m runners including last year's runner up Gavin Gaynor (Hudson, OH), Javan Winders (Henry County HS, TN), Carter Lane (Cardinal Gibbons, NC), Taylor Vroon (Brentwood HS, TN), Brodey Hasty (Brentwood HS, TN), Carter Cheeseman (Brentwood Academy, TN), and Davis Holliday (Brentwood Academy, TN). South Oldham's Foot Locker Finalist Cole Dowdy will be one of KY's top represntatives.
In the mile run Andrew Jordan will also be the man to beat with the #1 time in Ohio and 7th best time in the country this year at 4:10. Kentucky's own Brennan Fields from Madison Central will also be a force to be reckoned with running just a second behind Jordan's time at 4:11. With the first and second place finishers last year graduated, 3rd place finisher Mitchell Poynter, running a season best of 4:14, is your top returner in the Eastern Relays mile.
Finally, after a few outstanding weekends, Kentucky's own Christian Wright (Central Hardin, KY) will be seeded first in the Eastern Relays 800m run with a PR of 1:52 ranking him 22nd nationally. Not to be looked over, Terrell Jackson (Memphis HS, TN) will be working to improve upon his 1:53 800m time that ranks him 47th nationally. Lastly, Andrew Powell (Brentwood Academy, TN) running a SB of 1:54 this year will make another appearance at Eastern Relays and compete to defend his title as Eastern Relays 800m run champion. These athletes all look show us all why this is shaping up to be the year that ranks above all others in Eastern Relays history!
Women's Distance
On the girl's side, the 3200 meter run is highlighted by a couple of stud performers from Tennessee looking to represent their state. However, two girls from the state of Kentucky; Michaela Reinhart (Lexington Catholic, KY) and Erin Edmundson (North Oldham HS, KY) hope to defend their home turf. Niamh Schumacher (Kings Academy, TN) will be the one to beat with a season best time of 10:41 at Raleigh Relays placing 2nd in that race. Her time ranks her as the 44th fastest time in the country this season. Closely behind her is Claire Cheeseman (Brentwood Academy, TN) at 10:57 placing her 5th at the FSU Relays. All four of these girls and many more will certainly look to improve upon their PR's racing against the excellent competition in this year's 3200m run.
The Tennessee girls also dominate the pre-meet rankings in the 1600m run with 4 of the top 5 performances. Hailey Hendry (Brentwood HS, TN) comes in at the fastest time running a blazing fast 4:51 at the Early Bird Invitational earlier this spring ranking her 15th in the entire country. Two sophomores, also from Tennessee, come in behind Hailey. Annika Sleenhoff (Ravenwood HS, TN) and Ella Baran (Houston HS, TN) both running a 5:06 earlier this year will duke it out on the track in the coming days.
The 800m could match-up a couple of 2:12 800m girls from 2015, depending on what events she focuses on Amber Tanner, a remarkable multi-event athlete, (Ravenwood, TN) and Emma Kuntz (DuPont Manual, KY) could face off with a chance to join the sub-2:10 club. Several other formidable chasers will look to push them including KY's current 2016 state leader Erin Edmundson (North Oldham, KY) and Louisville Central's Bryanna Lucas who ran 2:14 last spring.