New Balance Boys — Asinga’s Sprint Fireworks

Issam Asinga capped an indoor campaign in which he clipped 0.29 and 0.28 from his pre-’23 bests at 60 and 200. (KEENAN GRAY)

BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS, March 09–12 – Not since ’10 had a HS nationals landed in Beantown. With the opening of The Track At New Balance, many elite preps took full advantage of the modern and spacious facility for a final curtain call of the 2022–23 undercover campaign.

Three national records on the boys’ side highlighted the four days of competition in resounding fashion. Sprints and distances dominated throughout while locals had a key role in some of the recordsetting performances.

Just a brilliant sprint weekend on the lightning-fast track for Issam Asinga (Academy, Montverde, Florida) who captured both the 60 and 200. First up he destroyed the 1-lap HSR, running 20.48 in the final ahead of Brody Buffington (Catoctin, Thurmont, Maryland) at 20.71, who jumped to No. 6 all-time.

Asinga’s time bettered Jaylen Slade’s old record of 20.62 set in ’21.

“I knew I had to go out fast because I had Brody right in front of me,” Assinga told milesplit.com. “I knew he was going to push me to something crazy. Once I passed him I knew I was in contention for something special. I didn’t know it was gonna be that special, but hey, I can’t complain. Great day!”

Asinga then came back in his qualifying round of the 60 and tied the 24-year-old record of Casey Combest, running 6.57 before taking the final in 6.59.

Connor Burns (Southern Boone, Ashland, Missouri) got things rolling on Friday for the boys, holding off Jackson Heidesch (Dowling Catholic, Des Moines, Iowa) in the 2M. Burns, who had gapped Heidesch by 7 seconds heading into the final 400, held on to win by just over a second in 8:43.24. The mark moved Burns to No. 6 all-time.

Heidesch followed up his runner-up performance with a 4:02.25 mile ahead of Devan Kipyego (St. Raphael, Pawtucket, Rhode Island) at 4:02.30. Kipyego was looking to become the first New Englander to go sub-4, but it wasn’t to be on this day.

The top two DMR teams just missed breaking 10:00, with the 10:00.20 time of Crater (Central Point, Oregon) grabbing the win over Delbarton (Morristown, New Jersey) at 10:02.81. Collin Boler anchored for the runner-up quartet in 4:03.80.

The 11-year-long reign of 5000 recordholder Edward “King” Cheserek came to an abrupt end after a sterling contest which saw the top 4 finishers all within striking distance with 100m remaining. It finally came down to the trio of Tyrone Gorze (Crater, Central Point, Oregon), Daniel Simmons (American Fork, Utah) and Lex Young (Newbury Park, California).The strength of Gorze prevailed in a record 13:56.82, with Simmons at 13:59.96 (No. 3 all-time) and Young 14:00.64 (No. 4).

It was the fastest-ever mass finish in the event and the first time two runners dipped under 14:00 in the same race indoors.

Quincy Wilson (Bullis, Potomac, Maryland) grabbed the yearly lead at 400 and the frosh-class record with a come-from-behind victory in 46.67 over Jacob Andrews (Squalicum, Bellingham, Washington) 47.11.

A closely contested 800 saw the top two finishers claim places 3 & 4 on the all-time list. Tinoda Matsatsa (St. Andrew’s, Potomac, Maryland) grabbed the early lead and never looked back finishing in 1:48.27. Alex Leath (Vestavia Hills, Alabama) was not far behind in 1:48.46.

Three teams, led by IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida), sprinted their way into the all-time top 10 in the 4×2. IMG scorched the No. 2 all-time performance, clocking 1:26.06.

Rounding out the boy’s action, Seton Hall (West Orange, New Jersey) notched the No. 6 all-time 4×4 performance, 3:14.53.


NEW BALANCE BOYS RESULTS

60: 1. Issam Asinga (Academy, Montverde, Fl) 6.59 (x, =3 HS);

2. Brody Buffington (Catoctin, Thurmont, Md) 6.64; 3. *Jerrae Hawkins (IMG, Bradenton, Fl) 6.69.

Heats: VIII-1. Asinga 6.57 =HSR (=HSR Casey Combest [Owensboro, Ky] ’99).

200: 1. Asinga 20.48 HSR (old HSR 20.62 Jaylen Slade [IMG, Bradenton, Fl] ’21);

2. Buffington 20.71 (6, 7 HS);

3. Tyler Floyd (Prep, Seattle, Wa) 21.05; 4. Abdoul Sy-Savane (Parkview, Stone Mountain, Ga) 21.06; 5. Xavier Donaldson (Seton Hall, West Orange, NJ) 21.07.

Heats: IXX-1. Asinga 20.64 (HSL) (=3, =3 HS).

400: 1. ***Quincy Wilson (Bullis, Potomac, Md) 46.67 (HSL) (frosh-class record);

2. Jacob Andrews (Sehome, Bellingham, Wa) 47.11; 3. *Shamar Heard (Chippewa Valley, Clinton Township, Mi) 47.62; 4. Alexander Sadikov (Ocean Township, NJ) 47.65.

800: 1. Tinoda Matsatsa (St Andrew’s, Potomac, Md) 1:48.27 (HSL) (3, 3 HS); 2. Alex Leath (Vestavia Hills, Al) 1:48.46 (4, 4 HS); 3. Daniel Watcke (Central, Hinsdale, Il) 1:49.59 (8, 8 HS); 4. Andrew Regnier (Waunakee, Wi) 1:49.69 (9, 10 HS);

5. Simeon Birnbaum (Stevens, Rapid City, SD) 1:51.03; 6. Migiuel Pantojas de Jesus (Hagerty, Oviedo, Fl) 1:51.09.

Mile; 1. Jackson Heidesch (Dowling, West Des Moines, Ia) 4:02.25 (3:46.46); 2. Devan Kipyego (St Raphael, Pawtucket, RI) 4:02.30 (3:46.62); 3. Aaron Sahlman (Newbury Park, Ca) 4:05.70; 4. Birnbaum 4:06.13; 5. Collin Boler (Delbarton, Morristown, NJ) 4:06.38; 6. Kole Mathison (Carmel, In) 4:06.48; 7. *Clay Shively (Trinity, Wichita, Ks) 4:06.51.

2M: 1. Connor Burns (Southern Boone, Ashland, Mo) 8:43.24 (6, =8 HS) (8:08.24 HSL—9, 9 HS); 2. Heidesch 8:44.45 (x, 10 HS);

3. Mathison 8:47.11; 4. *Drew Griffith (Butler, Pa) 8:48.01; 5. Brian DiCola (Hatboro-Horsham, Horsham, Pa) 8:50.68; 6. *Byron Grevious (Phillips, Exeter, NH) 8:51.00; 7. Connor Ackley (Davidson, Hilliard, Oh) 8:51.10; 8. Sam Hansen (Woods Cross, Ut) 8:51.17; 9. Noah Breker (Robbinsdale-Armstrong, Plymouth, Mn) 8:53.47; 10.. Jacob Laney (Porter Ridge, Indian Trail, NC) 8:53.92.

5000: 1. Tyrone Gorze (Crater, Central Point, Or) 13:56.82 HSR (old HSR 13:57.04 Edward Cheserek [St Benedict’s, Newark, NJ] ’12) (in/out: 9, x HS);

2. *Daniel Simmons (American Fork, Ut) 13:59.96 (3, 3 HS); 3. Lex Young (Newbury Park, Ca) 14:00.64 (4, 4 HS); 4. *Patrick Koon (Leon, Tallahassee, Fl) 14:11.92 (6, 6 HS); 5. Aidan Cox (Coe-Brown, Northwood, NH) 14:21.98 (9, 10 HS).

60H: 1. Sy-Savane 7.59 (HSL) (=4, =9 HS);

2. Jayden Douglas (Beechcroft, Columbus, Oh) 7.72; 3. Joshua Mooney (Stonington, Pawcatuck, Ct) 7.80.

MileW: Rowan McDonald (Gorham, Me) 7:12.96; 2. Kodi Quimby (Mt Blue, Farmington, Me) 7:50.03; 3. *Carter Butterfield (Mt Abram, Salem, Me) 7:54.48.

Relay Events

4 x 200: 1. IMG, Bradenton, Fl 1:26.06 (HSL) (2 HS); 2. Carroll, Washington, DC 1:26.77 (=6 HS); 3. Oakland Mills, Columbia, Md 1:26.88 (9 HS).

4 x 400: 1. Seton Hall Prep 3:14.53 (HSL) (6 HS);

2. Cuthbertson, Waxhaw, NC 3:16.27; 3. Pennsauken, NJ 3:17.10; 4. North, Toms River, NJ 3:17.19 ; 5. Bullis 3:17.23; 6. IMG 3:17.88.

4 x 800: 1. Hinsdale Central 7:43.82 (HSL);

2. Episcopal, Newtown Square, Pa 7:45.61; 3. Cinco Ranch, Katy, Tx 7:45.89; 4. Phillips, Exeter, NH 7:47.45; 4. Northville, Mi 7:48.64; 5. Westfield, NJ 7:50.06.

4 x Mile: 1. Union Catholic, Scotch Plains, NJ 17:34.17; 2. Marlington, Alliance, Oh 17:34.29; 3. South, Plainfield, Il 17:40.60; 4. Xavier, Middletown, Ct 17:41.99; 5. Loyola, Los Angeles, Ca 17:43.34.

SpMed: 1. Seton Hall 3:27.42 (HSL);

2. Pennsauken, NJ 3:29.31; 3. Newton North, Newtonville 3:30.80; 4. McNamara, Forestville, Md 3:30.96; 5. St. Johnsbury, Vt 3:31.03.

DisMed: 1. Crater, Central Point, Or 10:00.20 (HSL) (8 HS) (Gorze 4:07.28);

2. Delbarton, Morristown, NJ 10:02.81 (Boler 4:03.80); 3. Ridgefield, Ct 10:09.56; 4. Phillips 10:11.63; 5. Centennial, Ellicott City, Md 10:12.17.

4 x 55H: 1. Hopkinton 31.15; 2. Northern Valley, Demarest, NJ 31.18; 3. North, Toms River, NJ 31.22; 4. Winslow Township, Atco, NJ 31.29.

Field Events

HJ: 1. Mason Kooi (Lutheran, Springfield, Il) 6-9.

PV: 1. Maddox Hamm (Scottsboro, Al) 17-8½ (HSL);

2. Wyatt Stewart (Madison Central, Richmond, Ky) 17-¾; 3. *Dyson Wicker (Heath, Rockwall, Tx) 16-8¾.

LJ: 1. Robert Handelsman (Woodberry Forest, Va) 23-8¼; 2. *Broderick Davis (Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La) 23-8; 3. *Drew Dillard (Carroll, Washington, DC) 23-3½.

TJ: 1. Kyle Johnson (Montverde Academy) 48-4½; 2. *Ty’Heak Buie (Potomac, Dumfries, Va) 48-½; 3. Donte Dockery (duPont, Wilmington, De) 47-8.

SP: 1. Hayden Dixon (Schuyler, Queen City, Mo) 64-2½; 2. *Luke Himes (Heritage, Indianapolis, In) 63-9½; 3. Jacob Cookinham (Stang, North Dartmouth) 63-6¼.

Wt: 1. Kellen Kimes (Hart, Mi) 78-4¼ ; 2. Keith Daigneau (Hendricken, Warwick, RI) 75-6¼ ; 3. Christian Toro (Lincoln, RI) 74-8¼ .

Pent: 1. Sam Fisher (Lipscomb, Nashville, Tn) 3661; 2. Cooper Williams (Fayetteville, Ar) 3601; 3. Michael Johnson (Mills, Burlington, Ct) 3595; 4. *Neil Howard (Taconic Hills Central, Craryville, NY) 3550. ◻︎

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