Stacked distance fields in New York and Boston vie for national championship bragging rights this weekend, as Nike Indoor Nationals and the National Scholastic Indoor Championships take place. Some of the best distance runners in the country will travel to the east coast, testing their limits inside on the 200m oval one last time before shifting focus to outdoor track. From Jordan Hasay going head-to-head with Ashley Brasovan, to Robby Andrews chasing the national 800m record, this promises to be one heck of a weekend.

2. How fast will Robby Andrews go in the NSIC 800m?
Robby Andrews (Sr., Manalapan, NJ) is having one heck of an indoor campaign. He's come up big time and again indoors this winter. His most impressive performance was easily his 2:22.28 1,000m race, in which he broke Alan Webb's national record. Andrews hasn't had the opportunity to run an 800m race in a while, so just how fast can he go? He ran 1:52 for the final 800m of the 1,000m race supposedly. The national record of 1:50.55, set in 1995 by Michael Granville, seems well within reach. A sub-1:50 clocking would be unbelievable.

Top Five 800m All-Time Indoor Marks
1:50.55 - Michael Granville (CA) 1995
1:50.62 - George Kersh (MS) 1987
1:50.7 - John Marshall (NJ) 1981
1:50.74 - Karjuan Williams (NC) 2006
1:51.11 - Michael Granville (CA) 1995

3. How low will the winning time in the NIN boys mile be?
The NIN boys mile is loaded with talent. The top three finishers at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games are taking part, as Mac Fleet (Sr., University City, CA), Andrew Springer (Sr., Westerly, RI) and Pat McGregor (Sr., Hoover, AL) are all entered in the event. The three all broke 4:10 at Reebok BIG, going 4:09.96, 4:09.16 and 4:09.41 respectively. Last year the two mile was the highlight event of the weekend, while this year the mile takes back the top boys distance billing. Fleet, Springer and McGregor are all well known for their kicks, so expect this battle to come down to the final few strides. A sub 4:06.5 clocking is top three all-time.

Top Five Mile All-Time Indoor Marks
3:59.86 - Alan Webb (VA) 2001
4:02.7 - Thom Hunt (CA) 1976
4:06.6 - Vince Cartier (NJ) 1972
4:07.10 - Michael Stember (CA) 1996
4:07.12 - Jonathon Riley (MA) 1997

4. Will Illinois freshman Lukas Verzbicas run the fastest 5k and two mile at NIN?
Lukas Verzbicas (Fr., Lincoln-Way Central, IL), the freshman phenom from Illinois, has already earned national freshmen records in the mile (4:15.43) and 3,000m (8:29.16). The question now is will Verzbicas not only earn new frosh records in the two mile (current record: 9:16.65) and 5k (current record: 15:51.71), but can he win both races?

Verzbicas is the heavy favorite in the boys 5k at NIN, while the two mile is a lot more challenging with such notable athletes as Andrew Springer (Sr., Westerly, RI), Thomas Porter (Sr., Mountain View, VA) and Bobby Nicolls (Sr., Regis, CO) in the field. Verzbicas is an obvious talent, and he'll receive his first big test of his high school track career this weekend.

NIN Start List

Race of the Weekend: Girls Two Mile

The U.S. #1 runner in the girls two mile will take part at Nike Indoor Nationals this weekend. And so will Jordan Hasay (Sr., Mission Prep, CA) and Ashley Brasovan (Sr., Wellington, FL). That's how loaded the field is, that U.S. #1 Emily Jones (Sr., Bromfield, MA) is considered the third best runner in the field, running a seasons best 10:29.57 two mile. The pace promises to be fast and the clash between Hasay and Brasovan could be one of the ages. Neither athlete is race sharp, but you can bet they will be ready to face one another yet again this weekend.

Along with Hasay, Brasovan and Jones, Foot Locker finalists Lindsay Flanagan (Sr., Lake Park, IL) and Shelby Greany (Sr., Suffern, NY) are also entered. It remains to be seen what Greany does, as she's entered in both the NIN and NSIC events, but if she chooses to run NIN, she'll be fighting for a top four finish. Flanagan is known to come out of the gate and run away from her competitors. She does it in Illinois all the time. Again, it will be interesting to see how she responds to Hasay and Brasovan up front.

With five athletes in the field all capable of breaking 10:30 for two miles, this is easily the most exciting event of the weekend. Hasay alone brings enough media attention to the event, but having a strong challenger in Brasovan and a trio of other top talent battling it out for U.S. top twenty all-time marks, makes this race extra intriguing.

NIN Distance Preview

While the girls two mile is the headliner, plenty of other races will capture some attention. The boys mile is one of the strongest events on the schedule. Earlier this season Mac Fleet (Sr., University City, CA), Andrew Springer (Sr., Westerly, RI) and Pat McGregor (Sr., Hoover, AL) provided one of the finest races of the season, placing 1-3 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games in the boys mile, all finishing between 4:09.06-4:09.41. The three will meet again, all considered co-favorites in the field. Other challengers, such as, Alex Hatz (Jr., Fayetteville-Manlius, NY), Brett Johnson (Sr., Ocean City, NJ), Omar Abdi (Sr., Charlestown, MA) and Tyler Stutzman (Sr., Western Albemarle, VA) are also entered in the field.

One match up that isn't receiving nearly as much attention as it should is the Stephanie Brown (Sr., Tri-Valley, IL) v. Laura Roesler (Jr., Fargo South, ND) match up. Brown is currently ranked U.S. #1 in the event with a 2:08.41 effort, while Roesler is basically opening up her season at NIN. However, Roesler has shown that she is the best 800m runner coming into the season, after running the U.S. #2 time last spring in 2:03.08, which ranks her U.S. #8 all-time in the event. Even if Roesler isn't race sharp, this should be quite the battle. Shakeia Pinnick (Sr., Waubonsie Valley, IL), Olicia Williams (Fr., St. Anthony, NY), Arianna Neutts (Sr., Roxbury, NJ) and McKinzie Schulz (Jr., Benet, IL) are also entered.

Elsewhere, the boys two mile is stacked with talent. Numerous Foot Locker and Nike Cross National finalists are entered, including Foot Locker third place finisher Thomas Porter (Sr., Mountain View, VA). There are at least ten individuals capable of breaking the nine minute barrier in this field, but dipping much below that may be a push. Porter, Bobby Nicolls (Sr., Regis, CO), Wes Rickman (Sr., Falcon, CO) and Zach Wills (So., Mason, OH) are all considered contenders, but Andrew Springer (Sr., Westerly, RI) and Lukas Verzbicas (Fr., Lincoln-Way Central, IL) are perhaps the two most intriguing front runners.

Springer is having an excellent spring, ranked U.S. #2 in the mile and U.S. #1 in the two mile. He ran 9:02.58 earlier this season in the two mile. Meanwhile, Verzbicas ran a U.S. #2 time in the 3,000m run, beating a strong field in Arkansas with an 8:29.16 effort, crushing the freshman national record. Bobby Peavey (Sr., Kellam, VA), Bill Matthews (Sr., Baylor, TN), Kyle Satterwhite (Sr., Western Albemarle, VA) and Sean Pohorence (Sr., Morris Hills, NJ) are also entered in the field.

The boys 800m dash could also produce some very fast marks. The 800m field includes U.S. #1 Tom Mallon (Jr., Central Bucks South, PA), U.S. #2 600m runner Terrance Livingston (Sr., Great Neck South, NY), U.S. #3 600m runner Cas Loxsom (Sr., Wilbur Cross, CT) and U.S. #3 and #4 800m runners Alex Weinheimer (Sr., Fairview, CO) and Bill Ledder (Jr., Gonzaga, DC). 2008 Midwest Distance Gala 800m champion Tommy Brinn (Sr., Otsego, MI) is also in the field, ranked U.S. #8 currently with a 1:54.65 seasonal best.

While NIN has more talent and deeper fields, the NSIC will showcase some top talent as well. The headliner is easily Robby Andrews. The New Jersey standout broke Alan Webb's 1,000m national record, running an out of this world 2:22.28. Andrews takes his talents to the 800m dash this weekend, where he has a shot to break Michael Granville's national record of 1:50.55. Foot Locker champion Solomon Haile and 800m standouts Phyllis Francis and Charlene Lipsey also headline.

NSIC Performance List

NSIC Distance Preview

The top event on the NSIC plate this weekend is the girls 800m dash. Four of the top 800m runners in the country will battle it out. U.S. #2 Charlene Lipsey (Sr., Hempstead, NY) and Ajee Wilson (Fr., Neptune, NJ) head into the meet as the pre-event favorites, with 2:09.47 and 2:10.45 season personal bests.

However, U.S. #2 600m runner Phyllis Francis (Jr., McAuley, NY) and U.S. #2 1,000m runner Claudia Francis (So., Benjamin Cardoza, NY) are also entered in the event. Phyllis Francis ranked as the U.S. #3 performer outdoors last spring with a 2:04.83 best, only ranking behind Olympic Trials qualifiers Chanelle Price and Laura Roesler.

As stated earlier, Robby Andrews (Sr., Manalapan, NJ) will garner much of the attention, as he takes a stab at breaking the national 800m record of 1:50.55. Andrews broke Alan Webb's 1,000m mark last month with a 2:22.28 effort, running the final 800m in 1:52. Andrews is the clear favorite, but if he falters even for a split second, Sadiki White (Sr., Allentown, NJ) could pull off the upset. White ranks U.S. #2 in the event with a seasonal best of 1:52.40. U.S. top ten Sean Halpin (Sr., Iona Prep, NY) is also in the field with a 1:54.46 effort.

Not to be overlooked is Foot Locker champion Solomon Haile (Sr., Sherwood, MD). Haile has had a very quiet indoor season, but is entered in the two mile and 5k this weekend. Haile is the heavy favorite in both events, but finds challengers in Foot Locker finalists Ben Furcht (Sr., Lower Marion, PA) and Tyler Udland (Jr., Millburn, NJ) in the shorter of the two races.

The girls two mile ranks as the deepest event. Not only are there a half dozen of the top two milers in the country entered in the field, but also a few standouts from Canada. Briana Jackucewiz (Sr., Colts Neck, NJ), Chelsea Ley (Jr., Kingsway, NJ), Shelby Greany (Sr., Suffern, NY) and Aisling Cuffe (So., Cornwall Central, NY) are considered the top four favorites. Each should easily break the eleven minute barrier, all talented enough to possibly dip under 10:40 as well.

The stars will shine bright at the Armory in New York City this weekend. The fields are set, the athletes are ready and the races promise to be fast.

The fifth annual Midwest Distance Gala is set to take place on Saturday, June 13, 2009 in Lisle, Illinois at Benedictine University. The distance running showcase provides a fan friendly atmosphere, with amazing fields, inexpensive ticket prices (only $3) and a professional race or two mixed in with the high school races.

Last year was quite the year for the Distance Gala, with the highlight being Rob Finnerty's U.S. #7 all-time mile performance of 4:01.09. This year even better fields are expected, while even more entertainment will be provided to fans. Check out the event website at www.midwestdistancegala.com for more information.