The state of Indiana saw two national champion from this past weekend's New Balance Nationals in New York City and both happen to attend the same school at Pike High School. The bigger surprise or upset of the two winners had to be Pike senior Rahman Minor cleared over 7 feet for the first time in the high jump. Minor was third in last year's indoor nationals and was able to achieve going over the bar cleaning for the first time at the height of 7 feet this weekend.
Photo by Michael Vinson
A remarkable accomplishment and clutch performance considering his season leading up to nationals had been seeing many second place finishes and a season best at 6'9.50". Minor cleared 7'0.25" on his first attempt to give him the tiebreaker on two other competitors in JuVaughn Blake from Alabama and Daniel Claxton from New York both cleared the height as well, but only after their second attempt.
The Armory HS Sports Foundation - Site License 3/11/2017 - 7:14 PM
2017 New Balance Nationals Indoor - 3/10/2017 to 3/12/2017
New Balance Track & Field Center
at The New Balance Armory, New York, NY
Event 31 Boys High Jump Championship
==========================================================================
Opening Height: 6-03.25. Then 6-05, 6-07, 6-07, 6-10.75
7-00.25, 7-01.75
Natl, Meet: N 7-05.25 3/14/2004 Scott Sellers, Cinco Ranch,Katy, TX
Armory HS: A 7-03.75 3/14/2003 Mike Morrison, Willingboro, NJ
Freshman: F 6-08 1998 Ivan Schmidt, Penncrest, Media, PA
Sophomore: O 7-02 1/11/2003 Scott Sellers, Cinco Ranch, Katy, TX
Junior: J 7-05.25 3/14/2004 Scott Sellers, Cinco Ranch, Katy, TX
Senior: S 7-05 3/11/1978 Gail Olson, Sycamore, IL
Senior: S 7-05 2/12/2005 Scott Sellers, Cinco Ranch, Katy, TX
Name Year School Finals
==========================================================================
Finals
1 Rahman Minor 17 Indianapolis, IN 2.14m 7-00.25
1.91 1.96 2.01 2.06 2.10 2.14 2.18
OPP O O O O O XXX
2 JuVaughn Blake 17 Huntsville, AL J2.14m 7-00.25
1.91 1.96 2.01 2.06 2.10 2.14 2.18
PPP O O O O XO XXX
3 Daniel Claxton 17 Nesconset, NY J2.14m 7-00.25
1.91 1.96 2.01 2.06 2.10 2.14 2.18
PPP O O O XO XO XXX
Photo by Kyle Brazeil
Meanwhile, Lynna Irby of Pike who was a World Junior medalist last summer in the 400 meter dash, was able to secure her first New Balance Nationals title in the 200 meter dash finals on Sunday afternoon. Irby was held off a strong challenger in Symone Mason from Florida by a hundredth of a second in her 23.62 thrilling victory.
She had run an indoor best of 23.58 in the prelims to secure her spot with top lane preference in the fast section finals. Irby finished fourth in the 60 dash finals earlier in the day in a 7.39 PR clocking, while opting to skip out on running the 400 meter dash this weekend.
Pike High School was certainly put on the national map this weekend by their two championship performers.
