Sprints/Hurdles - Top Names That Would Have Appeared At NBNI
Donovan Sanders (Girard College) - 200 meters
Sanders, a senior, was fresh off an impressive 21.51 for a narrow victory for the state title in the 200. He's at US No. 11 and would have been a factor to qualify for the finals and maybe more. Sanders was also entered in the 400 meters, where his season best of 48.36 came at the indoor state meet.
Talitha Diggs (Saucon Valley) - 200 meters
After running to PTFCA indoor state titles in both the 400 and 200, Diggs was set to just go after the 200 meters, so she would be completely fresh in the one-lapper at NBNI. Diggs ran a PA No. 3 all-time clocking of 23.79 at the Ocean Breeze Invite earlier this season. Coming in at US No. 4, Diggs would have surely been in a spot to compete for the national title against the likes of reigning 400 meter national champion Kimberly Harris and fellow sprint star Kayla Davis.
Salim Epps (Saint Joseph's Prep) - 400 meters
Epps seemed primed for a big performance at NBNI after winning the indoor state title in the 400 meters with a time of 48.04, a US No. 9. The 2019 AAA outdoor state champ ran 47.48 last spring as a junior. His performance at states was a nice indoor PR and he would have been right in the mix in a deep quarter mile field paced by US No. 1 Justin Braun of Ohio.
Margaret Conteh (Girard College) - 400 meters
After not even contesting the 400 meters last winter, Conteh rose the ranks to become one of the state and nation's top quarter milers. Conteh ran 54.94 at Eastern States to place second to Diggs and then took runner-up honors to Diggs again at the indoor state meet. She was set to be a contender to make the 400 finals at NBNI and compete for All American honors.
Kevin Thomas (The Haverford School For Boys) - 60m Hurdles
Thomas was already among the favorites in the high hurdles, entering the indoor state meet, but the sophomore standout dropped a very impressive 7.83 in the final to win his first state title. That time also put him squarely on the national radar -- US No. 4. In a wide open field with no clear favorite and an event where anything can happen, Thomas was set to be a nice sleeper pick in the hurdles.