EUGENE, OREGON, June 12–15 — A battle of the nation’s top prep shot putters highlighted the Nike Outdoor Nationals, with soph Jackson Cantwell of Missouri’s Nixa High facing the season’s other two 70-footers, national leader Ben Smith (Wisconsin) and Dillon Morlock (Ohio). The youngster wasted no time, taking the lead with his first-round put of 69-8¾ and producing four other throws that also would have been winners, topped by his last-round 73-5¼. Smith would finish 3rd at 67-9 behind the PR 68-1 for Texan Brandon Schirck. Morlock finished 7th. Smith bounced back later in the day to win the discus at 204-10 over fellow Wisconsinite Bryce Ruland’s 202-9.
Another great battle came in the girls vault, where Ella McRitchie of Bainbridge Island, Washington, captured the win with her clearance at a PR 14-4½, while three others also cleared 14ft, among them list leader Jathiyah Muhammad (California), who tied for 2nd at 14-½.
Michigan’s Seth Norder came off his surprise mile win at Brooks PR to capture another one, this time kicking to a 4:02.20 over the 4:02.81 of JoJo Jourdon (Utah). The girls race was much more of a solo affair, with Utah’s Jane Hedengren leaving 5000 HSR-setter Elizabeth Leachman (Texas) behind to win by more than 5 seconds in 4:38.50.
In the boys 400H, Vance Nilsson (Arizona), recent setter of the 300H HSR, was initially disqualified, but a video review put him back on top in 51.54.
After placing 2nd in the 100, Celeste Robinson (TX) came back stronger in the deuce, hitting 22.82 to tie the national leader.
NIKE BOYS RESULTS
100(-0.3): 1. Maurice Gleaton (Hughes, Fairburn, Ga) 10.25; 2. Amir Thompson (Hendrickson, Pflugerville, Tx) 10.50.
200(2.6): 1. Gleaton 20.61; 2. Jordan Coleman (Granada Hills, Ca) 20.96.
400: 1. *Elijah Ferguson (Mayde Creek, Houston) 47.15.
800: 1.***Cooper Lutkenhaus (Northwest, Justin, Tx) 1:50.40; 2. Max Armstrong (Vestavia Hills, Al) 1:50.45; 3. **Wilson Schmidt (Belgrade, Mt) 1:50.82.
Mile: 1. *Seth Norder (Grand Haven, Mi) 4:02.20; 2. Jojo Jourdon (Olympus, Salt Lake City) 4:02.81; 3. *Tommy Latham (Marist, Brookhaven, Ga) 4:03.09; 4. Nathan Neil (Bozeman, Mt) 4:03.35; 5. Anthony Fast Horse (Ventura, Ca) 4:06.18; 6. *Asher Danielson (Wells, Portland) 4:06.62; 7. Grant Morgenfeld (Palo Alto) 4:06.86.
2M: 1. Evan Noonan (Dana Hills, Dana Point, Ca) 8:52.41; 2. Corbin Coombs…
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