Sydney Sutton, Elise Cooper, Ashley Fulton Among The Standouts In The Girls Sprints At The Armory; Quincy Wilson Ready To Roll In 600; U.S. Leader Nick Spikes Gets Another Shot At 300 Meters

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Junior Sydney Sutton of Bullis MD will get her first chance to race on the indoor oval Friday at The Armory in New York this season at the U.S. Marine Corps Holiday Classic. 

Sutton was the New Balance Nationals Outdoor runner-up in the 400 meters last year with a personal-best 53.88 seconds and was also part of championship victories in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays. She is on the entry list in both the 200 and 300 meters.

The Marine Corps meet will be one of the biggest indoor meets so far this season and is attracting top athletes from Rhode Island to North Carolina. 

In addition to Sutton, the Bullis contingent is expected to include Colin Abrams, US#2 in the boys 1,000 meters, and Kassidy Hopkins, US#3 in the 55-meter hurdles. Sophomore Quincy Wilson is set to race in the 600 meters with an eye on, at minimum, the class record of 1:18.87. 

WATCH THE U.S. MARINE CORPS HOLIDAY CLASSIC (+PLUS required)

Elise Cooper of McDonough School MD, another of the nation's most talented juniors, will return to The Armory as the U.S. leader in the 55-meter dash, 200 meters (23.57) and 300 meters (38.44). Cooper is entered in the 55 meters and the 400 this weekend.

A potential matchup between Sutton and New York's top sprinter, Ashley Fulton of Elmont Memorial, looms in the 300 meters. Fulton is expected to make her season debut on the track after winning the New York state title in the 200 meters last June. She owns a 300-meter best of 38.48.  

Nick Spikes, a senior from Paint Branch MD, owns the US#1 time in the 300 meters with 33.57 seconds, which he achieved at the Grant Holloway Holiday Invitational on Dec. 16 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

That time put Spikes less than a tenth of a second away from making the all-time top 20. 

Spikes could go head to head against Antonio Smith of Western Branch VA, the defending champion in the 300 and also a top hudler. 

Joseph McDonald, Jr. of Kingston of Kingston NY will return to The Armory to try and improve upon his US#2 high jump clearance of 6-10, which he achieved on Dec. 9 at the Jim Mitchell Invitational.

Also in the jumps, Rocco Carpinello of West Islip NY is US#7 in the triple jump at 45-11. And Antoine McNair, Jr. of Calvert Hall MD comes to the meet with a best long jump mark of 23-6.75 from last June. 

Adam Beaudry of Woonsocket RI is the top entrant in the boys weight throw, with US#8 62-10.75.