Boys' Field/Multis Preview
Shot Put
Knoch's Jordan Geist is back at it, looking to defend his national title in the shot put. Geist is coming off two of the best meets of his career and he'll have his sights set on Ryan Crouser's national record. The senior has said that priority number one is to win, though. Adrian Piperi of Texas will be Geist's best competition. Piperi sits at US#2 behind Geist.
Also in the field is Hickory's Evan Blaire, who sits at US#3. This will be Blaire's first time in the "Championship" section of NBNI. Saint Marys Area's Tom Bojalad (PA#3), Chambersburg's Kelton Chastulik (PA#4), Hempfield Area's Alex Murray (PA#5), Southern Lehigh's Andrew Rochon (PA#9), and Greencastle-Antrim's Campbell Parker (PA#10)
High Jump
Germantown Academy's Kyle Garland, Williamsport's Qayyim Ali, and Penn Wood's Dennis Manyeah went 1-2-3 at the Pennsylvania indoor state meet and those three are all entered for NBNI this weekend.
Garland broke the state meet record, cleared 6-10.75 last week. Now Garland will look to get up and over seven feet it what will be a busy meet for him. Both Ali and Manyeah cleared season bests of 6-9 at the state meet and should be ones to watch. PA#2 Daniel Claxton of New York and JuVaughn Blake of Alabama will be among the top seeds along with the PA jumpers.
Pole Vault
Hatboro-Horsham's Nick Marino will make on last stop this indoor season: indoor nationals. The senior is nterd in the pole vault and will look to improve on his PR of 16 feet from the state meet. A few days later, Marino took home first at Eastern States at The Armory. He'll return once again to NY this weekend. East Pennsboro's Payton Morris and West Chester Rustin's Charley Dever are also in the field.
The top seed is high school national record holder Mondo Duplantis. He'll be the heavy favorite and one of the biggest locks this meet has to offer, but the PA vaulters could be chasing some big heights.
Long Jump
PA#1 Brian Kaufmann of Upper Dublin is the lone PA entry here. Kaufmann was fourth at PA states, so he'll look for a big effort this weekend. Maryland's William Henderson is the top seed in the event.
Triple Jump
Dayo Abeeb of Strath Haven was second at indoor states and now he'll be on the hunt for more at indoor nationals. Noah Igbinoghene of Alabama has jumped over 50 feet this season and the US#1 will b favored to take the event this weekend.
Weight Throw
Jordan Geist of Knoch is also entered in the weight throw in addition to the shot put. He sits at US#2 in that event. He'll face off with Ohio's Jake Wickey, who is US#1. The two had a great duel in the event at SPIRE a few weeks ago, so this will be a good rematch. North Pocono's Matt Slagus (PA#2 and US#10) is also in the field and should be in contention for All-American status.
Pentathlon
Last year, Germantown Academy's Kyle Garland was second at NBNI to Grant Holloway in the pentathlon. Holloway is currently in the midst of a successful freshman season at the University of Florida. Garland, a junior, is a year older and better in every event contested. Garland had transformed into a superstar this season.
He looks to be the favorite in the event this year and it should be interesting to see how much he can improve on his total of 3699 from lat year.