An Eight-Lap Prelude

It was quite a day at the Hispanic Games on Saturday as one window provided a glimpse at the excitement destined for the Millrose High School Girls' Mile on Feb. 11.

First was a 3,000-meter cat-and-mouse battle between two runners who'd already qualified for the Millrose Games. In the end, it was a tremendous kick from Benjamin Cardozo's Alexis Panisse that left North Shore's Brianna Nerud behind.

Shortly thereafter, perhaps learning the lesson from her teammate's fate, North Shore's Samantha Nadel decided to run hard from the start in the invitational mile, which would yield two automatic bids to the Millrose Mile. Nadel put a wide gap between herself and the field and ran away with not just the race, but an Armory record by finishing in 4:46.11. Another star — Bronxville sophomore Mary Cain — earned the other spot a few seconds back.

Ajee' Wilson of Neptune (N.J.) was originally scheduled to run in the invitational mile at the Hispanic Games, but opted to run the 1,000m at the Metropolitan Coaches Collegiate Invitational on Friday instead. She ran 2:48.31, the 10th-fastest time in U.S. high school history.

The boys' Millrose field got bigger as well as Ned Willig of Great Valley (Pa.) and Everett Price of New Providence (N.J.) joined the field with a 1-2 finish in the Hispanic Games invitational mile. Willig won in 4:15.61, followed closely by Price in 4:16.22.

Among the other standout girls' performers on the day were Kadecia Baird of Medgar Evers, who won the invitational 400m (55.85) and anchored the victorious 4x200m relay; Myasia Jacobs of Paramus Catholic in New Jersey, who won the 55-meter dash in a quick 6.87; Theresa Picciallo, the field athlete of the meet for putting the shot 46-5 1/4; and John Glenn's Kaitlin Whitehorn, who repeating her high jump victory from the Loughlin Games.

For the boys, some of the stars included Najee Glass of St. Peter's (N.J.), who won the 200m dash in 21.48; Dondre Echols of Potomac (Md.), who won the hurdles in a meet-record 7.36; and Xavier McAllister of Newburgh, who cleared 6-6 in competition and then got over the bar at 6-8 in a jump-off victory.

Echols was named the running most outstanding performer while McAllister took the honors in the field.

The Hispanic Games concludes on Sunday as the program focuses on the younger athletes.