Noah Bontrager Breaks Four-Minute Barrier, Katy Zang Wins Girls Mile, Sianni Wynn Takes Sprint Double

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Will Nelson Photos

RESULTS

BOSTON -- Literally and figuratively, the batons were passed on Sunday at New Balance Nationals Indoor at The TRACK at New Balance. 

Since New Balance brought its national indoor championship to Boston in 2023, no athlete has done more for the growth of meet than Quincy Wilson of Bullis School MD. For four years he has been one of the cornerstones of the meet and Sunday he took his final laps as a high school racer and anchored his team to a third consecutive 4x400 relay title, in 3:09.62. 

Two members of Bullis' relay squad, Zayden Saxton and Chase Elliott, are freshmen. 

Wilson's name also came up at the conclusion of the 200 meters final, when a freshman named Steffon Lyon from the St. James Academy VA blasted a time of 20.90 in the first section of the two-section final and the time held up for the win. 

Lyon would love nothing more than to follow the example of Bullis' Olympian and win the event four years in a row. 

The final day at NBNI didn't add any more national records but it was chocked full of highlights. 

Sianni Wynn of Pennsauken PA dominated the girls sprint finals. She won the 60 meters in 7.24 seconds and returned to the track later to win the 200 meters in 23.11. 

The miles were both spectacular. Noah Bontrager became the first Indiana prep to break the four-minute barrier as he won the boys race in a time of US#1 3:59.48. Right behind him, Brian Burns of Arkansas came up just a bit short and finished second in 4:00.09.

One of the weekend's biggest breakout performers, Katy Zang of Teays Valley OH, a late addition to the girls mile field, ran off to a big lead and then held on for the win in 4:35.02. Zang took more than 27 seconds off her best ever 1,600 meters time in the race. 

Abigail Hennessy of Westford MA made a charge at the end and finished second in 4:36.74. Paige Sheppard of Union Catholic, the 800 meters champion, finished third in 4:38.29.

Zacchaeus Brocks (Novi MI) dominated the boys 60-meter hurdles and finished in a time of 7.44 seconds, the second-fastest high school performance of all-time behind Trey Cunningham's national record 7.40. 

Jordan Hamb from Chicago executed a flawless race in the girls final and won in 8.18 seconds. 

The meet ended with another baton clutched by the hand of a talented freshman. Bullis' Mya Arrendell handled the anchor duties and pulled her team into the lead against Montverde Academy FL and she brought home the victory in 3:40.55. That time was the fourth fastest in history and the three above it were all run by previous Bullis teams. 

In addition the two 4x400 victories, Bullis won the girls shuttle hurdles, the mixed 4x400 and Wilson won the individual 400. 

The other powerhouse program in the meet, Union Catholic, broke national records in the boys 4x800 and girls DMR, and also won the boys SMR and Sheppard won the 800.