Colorado prep standouts continue to build momentum toward New Balance Nationals

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Rock Canyon senior Emily Sloan was running side by side with reigning 400-meter hurdles World champion Kori Carter, with American record holder in the 60-meter hurdles Sharika Nelvis two lanes over and the all-time best in the 100-meter hurdles Keni Harrison in the middle of the track.

And that was just the semifinals of the women's 60 hurdles at the USATF Indoor Championships.

Anna Hall, a junior at Valor Christian, was taking high jump attempts in competition before three-time national indoor champion and 2016 World Indoor gold medalist Vashti Cunningham.

For the pair of Colorado high school stars and two of the country's elite prep athletes, although they weren't able to improve on their personal bests Sunday at Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico, the FK Elite standouts gained wisdom, experience and inspiration in their collective pursuit of winning titles March 9-11 at New Balance Nationals Indoor at The Armory in New York.

Sloan clocked 8.15 seconds to place 11th overall in the semifinals. Hall finished ninth in the high jump with a 5-9.75 (1.77m) clearance.

"My goal was to run 8.15 this weekend, so the fact that I'm upset about it is good news," said Sloan, who ran 8.07 in Saturday's prelims to improve to the No. 2 all-time prep performer, third in U.S. U20 history and No. 6 on the world U20 list.

"I think it prepared me really well for New Balance to run against the world record holder and then go back and run against high school girls. I know it will be a good race at New Balance, too."

Hall had a strong first attempt at a potential personal-best 5-11.50 (1.82m), but the back of her legs barely brushed the bar after the rest of her body was already over.

"The last few weeks, all my jumps have been within one centimeter of each other, and consistency is really important to have in the high jump," Hall said. "Right now, I'm 3.5 inches higher than what I jumped at the meet going into New Balance last year, so I'm really excited and hopefully I'll PR there."

Sloan has her sights set on the national high school 60 hurdles record of 8.02 set in 2016 by Tonea Marshall of Seguin, Texas, and possibly the American U20 record of 8.01 established in 2015 by Dior Hall during her freshman year at USC.

"Knowing that their times are that much faster than mine, I know I can get there with the perfect race. I'm looking forward to it," Sloan said. "It makes me excited for the future."

Hall has an indoor personal-best of 5-10.50 (1.79m) from last year's New Balance Nationals and is looking forward to competing against Rutherford NJ sophomore Jenna Rogers and Noblesville IN junior Shelby Tyler, who have both cleared a national-leading 5-11 (1.81m) this season.

"Just to be around people who are that good at what they do, I just think it brings everybody's level up, so I'm just really excited," Hall said. "Hopefully it will help me PR."