New Balance Nationals Indoor Girls' Preview: Championship Events


800m

After she won her second straight 600m title with a big-time PR of 1:31.79, Portsmouth's Nikki Merrill told us one of her goals this weekend at the nationals in this event is to break the existing state record of 2:06.67 by former Classical great Maddy Berkson at the 2013 NBNI. Judging by how she ran at the New England's and how she has performed all season, that mark is well within her reach, and so is a trip to the podium. Merrill set PRs this winter for 1,000m (2:49.43), the mile (4;50.87) and the 600m.  Her latest proves Berkson's five-year-old record could be broken on Sunday. Merrill is entered in the final seeded heat of this race. She'll have the competition to push her to her intended goal.  We think Merrill has a chance to perform much like Berkson did five years ago when she placed third overall.