byLarry EderGunnar Nixon, 2011 NB Nationals Indoor, photo by PhotoRun.net
The 2011 New Balance Nationals Indoor, Day 2, was quite a day indeed, as Gunnar Nixon defended his national title and then destroyed the national record! Read Chris Lotsbom’s story……
NIXON EARNS NATIONAL RECORD IN PENTATHLON, HIGHLIGHTS DAY TWO OF NEW BALANCE INDOOR NATIONALS
By Chris Lotsbom
By Chris Lotsbom
NEW YORK CITY (12-Mar) —
Day two of the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet did not disappoint in
the least here at the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory
in New York City. The meet, which brings all of the nation’s best high
school talent together, saw records fall and athletes rise under the
bright lights of the Big Apple.
Day two of the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet did not disappoint in
the least here at the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory
in New York City. The meet, which brings all of the nation’s best high
school talent together, saw records fall and athletes rise under the
bright lights of the Big Apple.
Gunnar Nixon, 2011 NB Nationals Indoor, photo by PhotoRun.net
In the pentathlon, Gunnar
Nixon of Edmund, Oklahoma not only defended his National Championship
title from a year ago, he one-upped it with a national record in the
process.
Nixon of Edmund, Oklahoma not only defended his National Championship
title from a year ago, he one-upped it with a national record in the
process.
Nixon, NB Nationals Indoor, photo by PhotoRun.net
The high school senior started the meet off very strong, finishing first in both the hurdles and long jump.
Gunnar Nixon, 2011 NB Nationals Indoor pentathlon long jump, photo by PhotoRun.net
Going into the shot put,
Nixon’s point total was 1831, on pace to break Donovan Kilmartin’s
national high school record of 4303 points, set in 2003. In the shot,
the Arkansas-bound Nixon launched a throw of 47 feet, 11.75 inches
(14.62m). By that time, thoughts of Kilmartin’s national record were
clearly on his mind.
Nixon’s point total was 1831, on pace to break Donovan Kilmartin’s
national high school record of 4303 points, set in 2003. In the shot,
the Arkansas-bound Nixon launched a throw of 47 feet, 11.75 inches
(14.62m). By that time, thoughts of Kilmartin’s national record were
clearly on his mind.
Nixon in the 2011 NB Nationals Indoorpentathlon high jump,
photo by PhotoRun.net
photo by PhotoRun.net
In the high jump, Nixon
survived a hiccup, one of the few flaws in his overall performance.
Passing on 6’8″, Nixon came back in and attempted jumping 6’9″, but was
unable to convert on one of his three attempts. Thus, his point total
for the event was 803, lower than what he expected.
survived a hiccup, one of the few flaws in his overall performance.
Passing on 6’8″, Nixon came back in and attempted jumping 6’9″, but was
unable to convert on one of his three attempts. Thus, his point total
for the event was 803, lower than what he expected.
Gunnar Nixon in the high jump, 2011 NB Nationals Indoor,
photo by PhotoRun.net.
photo by PhotoRun.net.
“I thought everything was
going so smooth,” he said. “But then my rhythm was just off. You’re
going to have events that you falter in, and I’m glad it only happened
in that one event.”
going so smooth,” he said. “But then my rhythm was just off. You’re
going to have events that you falter in, and I’m glad it only happened
in that one event.”
With one event left, the 1000m, Nixon knew what he had to run if he wanted the national record: 2:37.30.
When Jose Veras of Jersey
City, New Jersey took the pace out fast, Nixon stayed close on his tail.
Passing 800m in 2:04, Veras had a three meter lead on Nixon.
City, New Jersey took the pace out fast, Nixon stayed close on his tail.
Passing 800m in 2:04, Veras had a three meter lead on Nixon.
As the bell rang, the crowd
came to their feet and cheered for the tall Nixon, as they knew the
record attempt would come down to the wire.
came to their feet and cheered for the tall Nixon, as they knew the
record attempt would come down to the wire.
Coming around the final bend, Nixon gritted his teeth and snuck a look at the clock coming down the homestretch.
“I was trying not to look at the clock, but I glanced over there and waslike ‘Oh my gosh, it’s coming, I gotta run!'”
With a lean across the
line, Nixon did it; he ran 2:37.00, three-tenths of a second ahead of
the time he needed. Throwing his hands in the air, Nixon was elated and
relieved at the same time.
line, Nixon did it; he ran 2:37.00, three-tenths of a second ahead of
the time he needed. Throwing his hands in the air, Nixon was elated and
relieved at the same time.
Gunnar Nixon running 2:37.00 for 1,000 meters, 2011 NB Nationals Indoor Pentathlon, photo by PhotoRun.net.
“I was exhausted,” he said, reflecting on the final laps of the race.
But Nixon’s night was far
from over- he was also set to compete in the high jump. Nixon had one
last opportunity to try and redeem his miscue from earlier on. And that
he did, jumping 6’9″, good for fourth place overall.
from over- he was also set to compete in the high jump. Nixon had one
last opportunity to try and redeem his miscue from earlier on. And that
he did, jumping 6’9″, good for fourth place overall.
Nixon wasn’t the only star
of the show tonight, though. Other highlights of Saturday’s competition
included Runner’s High (Red Bank Catholic, NJ) in the Women’s 4x800m
Relay, where Molly McNamara anchored the squad with a 2:10.5 split.
Their mark of 8:56.94 is good for #3 all-time in the US.
of the show tonight, though. Other highlights of Saturday’s competition
included Runner’s High (Red Bank Catholic, NJ) in the Women’s 4x800m
Relay, where Molly McNamara anchored the squad with a 2:10.5 split.
Their mark of 8:56.94 is good for #3 all-time in the US.
Marquise Dendy leaped
25’3.25″ in the long jump, Laura Leff won the freshman mile coming from
behind in 5:02.16, and Andrew Irwin jumped a new Armory record in the
boy’s pole vault, hitting 17’3.75″.
25’3.25″ in the long jump, Laura Leff won the freshman mile coming from
behind in 5:02.16, and Andrew Irwin jumped a new Armory record in the
boy’s pole vault, hitting 17’3.75″.
Gunnar Nixon getting some “air” in the NB Nationals Indoor pentathlon long jump, photo by PhotoRun.net.
