Reason #1: This is going to be a first. For the first time in the United State's history, a Jamaican high school will field a relay team indoors. Though they are veterans of the Franklin Field (Penn Relays) oval, the Jamaican powerhouses have yet to run indoors. This is of course all changing with St. Jago making this historic trip up to the states. Their 2016 splits add up to a sub 1:37 performance and if they even improved a little from last year it is going to be a fast one.
Reason #2: The two-time 200m national champion and one time 100m champion, Jayla Kirkland, will be showing off her speed not just at nationals this year. All you have to know is she owns a 11.33 personal best in the 100m dash and is a killer when it comes to nationally elite finals. Ask anyone in that national final if you don't believe us.
Reason #3: The Girls' 300 will be the greatest race ever. Period. You will have the aforementioned Jayla Kirkland, you will have the 400m national champion Lynna Irby, and you will have Olympian Sydney McLaughlin all on the track at the same time. Wrap your mind around these stats: 11.33, 51.39, and 54.15. Those are Kirkland's 100m time, Irby's 400m time, and McLaughlin's 400m hurdle time. You could run 37.5 in this race and get third.
Reason #4: If anyone asked you who the best young 400m runner is in the entire world, the answer is going to be Tyrese Cooper (American-FL). Despite only being a freshman last year, he posted times of 10.36, 20.46, and 45.23 in the 1-2-4. Yep, those are not typos either. He is the real deal already and will be doubling with the 60m and 300m dashes. He will have US #1 returner (Micaiah Harris -Western Branch) seeded next to him and that could make for a very fast... maybe even sub 33 race in the 300.
Reason #5: The five lap race will be the greatest of all-time as well. People often underestimate how difficult it is for the stars to align and face off but sometimes fate just works in your favor and all the pieces fall into place at the perfect time. This is the case this year when everyone is finally going to get to see the best runners ever face off in probably the best distance for this matchup, the 1K.
Right now, you have Sammy Watson (2:45.32), Kate Murphy (2:45.36), and Nevada Mareno (Foot Locker National Runner-up and 2:49 1K from 2015) all entered. If you add in Heather Holt and Rachel McArthur then just consider this something that won't happen again for along time.