EUGENE, OREGON, June 18–22 — Sprint prodigy Melanie Doggett had to figuratively, if not literally, bide her time while older girls and women took over Hayward Field for the USATF U20 Championships. Having just turned 15, she’s too young to qualify for the Worlds here next month.
But at the subsequent Nike Nationals, the Landmark (Fairburn, Georgia) frosh had a chance to make history.
First, Doggett claimed Saturday’s 100 in 11.18, winning by nearly a quarter-second over a field that included three seniors. She really opened eyes, however, in Sunday’s 200, powering to a 22.48, =No. 9 prep ever and matching Tamari Davis’s frosh-class record.
Doggett’s explosive, somewhat “bunched-up” starts got a lot of attention, with her “jumping out of the blocks” to great effect in her best wind-legal 100 (by 0.06). In her truly memorable run at twice the distance, she also hit another gear coming off the turn.
“It’s definitely a lot of work,” she said of developing technique that takes “its own unique structure and time… I take a lot of pride in my start and I like how unique it is and just tailored toward me.” She defeated U20 400 champ Ataja Stephane-Vazquez (22.99) and Nike Indoor 200 champ (and ’26 prep leader) Mariah Maxwell (23.10) in the process.
Meanwhile, after sweeping the Junior 100 and 200, the other Maxwell twin, Mia, took to the triple jump runway for the first time since she won NIN. First after four rounds with a best of 42-6¾, she finally broke out with 43-6 in her penultimate jump — yes, a foot shy of her PR from December, but the nation’s best prep outdoor mark of the season.
“That fifth attempt, I definitely was coming in thinking I need to get this [meet] record on this attempt,” the Texas recruit said, admitting she wanted the pressure off on the final jump of her prep career. “I just remembered the corrections that I had with my coach and kind of put that into play.”
The distances provided some fireworks as well, starting with Saturday’s 2M that turned into a runaway for Leah Starkey. The Ocean Township (Oakhurst, New Jersey) soph turned it into a solo run early and lowered her PR from 9:48.02 to 9:46.57, enough to ascend to No. 9 all-time.
Then Sunday’s mile pitted Junior 800 runner-up (and NIN champ) Ellie Barada (South, Bloomington, Indiana) against Junior 3K champ Chiara Dailey (La Jolla, California). Dailey took it out in 67.7 and kept the pressure on. At halfway (2:18.15), Barada — with a PR of just 4:43.60 coming in — moved strongly into 2nd and the two of them pulled away from the pack. Dailey tried a long kick from 300 out, but the taller UNC recruit got her turnover going in the last 200 to move ahead and prevail, 4:34.25–4:34.89.
“The mile’s never really been my thing,” Barada said. “But I was like, ‘Why not just go for it?’… I thought if I stayed in contact with the front that [with my kick] I would have a chance in the end.”
No one left Hayward Field with more individual titles than thrower Jaslene Massey (Aliso Niguel, Aliso Viejo, California). She hit a new peak in her historically great discus campaign when she nearly broke Shelbi Vaughn’s HSR in the final round of the USATF U20 comp on Thursday. That throw soared out to 197-9 and she scored a massive shot PR the following day.
Then at NON, she completed her double-double in reverse order Saturday, hitting “only” 180-3 and 54-2½. She could have been content with just her U20 victories, but staying for the weekend was good experience at what will be her new home this fall and where she’ll take up residence as an Oregon Duck in about 6 weeks.
“I had two events today, so it was really good practice for Worlds, on August 5,” she said. “It was a big learning experience and I’m ready.”
Bailey Hensgens (Incarnate Word, St. Louis) was the only other such doubler. Her 5-10¾ NON victory followed her 6-0 the day before.
A few others had the distinction of being the “first high-schooler” in their U20 event, then emerged victorious in the same discipline without the collegians at NON. Hammer thrower Kim Beard (Kings, Shoreline, Washington) — who smashed through the 200-foot barrier at U20s while placing 3rd — took a good battle with Joi Story (Edwardsville, Illinois) 195-10–192-9. Vaulter Katie Blue (Grand Ledge, Michigan), 13-7¼ at U20s (3rd), soared even higher Sunday at 13-8½.
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) ruled the girls’ relays with three wins, their best performance coming in the 4 x 800, where their decisive 8:44.91 victory marked their fifth time in the 8:40s the past 2 years.
NIKE GIRLS RESULTS
100(2.0): 1. ***Melanie Doggett (Landmark, Fairburn, Ga) 11.18; 2. Mina Lovelace (McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga) 11.42.
200 (1.9): 1. Doggett 22.48 (=9, =9 HS; =frosh-class record);
2. Ataja Stephane-Vazquez (Southeast Guilford, Greensboro) 22.99.
400: 1. Natalie Dumas (Eastern, Voorhees, NJ) 52.21.
800: 1. **Adriana Pettinelli (Scarsdale, NY) 2:06.18; 2. **Hannah Gregory’ (Can) 2:06.54.
Mile: 1. Ellie Barada (South, Bloomington, In) 4:34.25; 2. Chiara Dailey (La Jolla) 4:34.89; 3. Aleo Curtis (Ventura, Ca) 4:41.21; 4. ***Addison Kegel (Catholic, Billings) 4:41.85.
2M: 1. **Leah Starkey (Ocean Township, Oakhurst, NJ) 9:46.57 (9, x HS);
2. ***Evangeline Johnson Hess (South, Eugene) 10:05.38; 3. Kegel 10:05.59; 4. ***Karstin McCabe (Whitefish Bay, Wi) 10:06.14.
5000: 1. *Delaney Reuter (Eaton, Co) 16:20.32.
2000St: 1. *Kamilah Salim (West, Torrance) 6:43.13.
100H (0.4): 1. Rebekah-Jhade Garrett (North Canyon, Phoenix) 13.28; 2. Aaliyah Turpin (Smyrna, De) 13.42; 3. Destiny Coleman (Woodlawn, Baltimore) 13.42.
400H: 1. *Anna Schneidler (Eastlake, Sahammish, Wa) 59.21; 2. Chloe Senefeld (Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, In) 59.27; 3. Avani Hocker Singh (North, Olathe, Ks) 59.38.
5000W: 1. *Madigan White (Central, Newfield, NY) 27:06.99.
4 x 100 (Club): 1. Cedar Hill Blaze, Tx 45.26.
4 x 200: 1. SPIRE, Oh 1:40.34.
4 x 400 (Club): 1. GLS Speed TC, Wa 3:40.43.
4 x 800: 1. IMG, Bradenton, Fl 8:44.91 (8 HS).
4 x Mile: 1. Sehome, Wa 20:24.95.
SpMed: 1. IMG 4:06.28.
DisMed (State): 1. Indiana 11:36.99; 2. Kansas 11:38.94.
Field Events
HJ: 1. *Bailey Hensgens (Incarnate Word, St Louis) 5-10¾; 2. *Kira Smith (Warren Central, Indianapolis) 5-10¾.
PV: 1. Katherine Blue (Grand Ledge, Mi) 13-8½; 2. *Claire Wetick (St Agnes, Memphis) 13-4½; 3. *Ava Williams (Colliersville, Tn) 13-4½.
LJ: 1. *McKaylen Lewis (Math & Science, Woodbury, Mn) 20-8½; 2. **Parker Coes (Morton Ranch, Katy, Tx) 20-5.
TJ: 1. Mia Maxwell (APXP TC, Tx) 43-65.
SP: 1. Jaslene Massey (Aliso Niguel, Aliso Viejo, California) 54-2½.
DT: 1. Massey 180-3; 2. *Naila Ugoh (Cain, Houston) 173-0.
HT: 1. Kimberly Beard (Kings, Shoreline, Wa) 195-10; 2. Joi Story (Edwardsville, Il) 192-9.
JT: 1. Anna Millikan (Summit, Bend, Or) 160-10; 2. *Dakota O’Brien (McDonald, Anderson, Mo) 154-9.
