Over the next few weeks, MileSplit RI will feature what we consider the best performances of the outdoor track & field season. This was an arduous task to undertake as there was an abundance of fine efforts turned in by our Rhode Islanders throughout this spring campaign. Here's our latest...
Nikki Merrill
1,500-meter run, Rhode State Championships - June 3
The Portsmouth sophomore has proven this year that her future is bright not only on a state and regional level but nationally, too. This past spring campaign she continued her excellence on the oval from an indoor season that saw her win three state titles. Merrill had many memorable races the last few months. She improved on her previous best by nearly nine seconds in the 1,500-meter run at the Mount Pleasant Invitational where she broke away from La Salle's Emily Kane late in the race to win with a time of 4:30.4. She ran a five-second best in the 800m , breaking 2:10 for the first time at the New England Championships where she finished third overall in 2:09.70.
But the performance we list as at the top of the list occurred at the State Meet where she again had to battle a gritty Kane to snare the win. The Ram sophomore did what she had to do against Merrill, who has sub 60-second speed for the 400m and has won her share of races with her devastating kick. Kane took the race out hard and had a considerable lead on her rival after just two laps. But Merrill slowly whittled away at the gap and did what she has done so many times this year and blasted past Kane with just about 200m remaining and won the overall title with an all-time best of 4:29.70. Kane hung on for second with an impressive 4:31.94, also a best. Merrill would come back later and earn her second straight crown by taking the 800m with a quality 2:14.99 clocking.