Nilsen, Duplantis set to go for big bars

New Balance Nationals Outdoor - Boys Field Events Preview

A rematch of the Great Southwest pole vault -- where Chris Nilsen and Mondo Duplantis both topped 18 feet --  is one of the marquee events of this year's New Balance Nationals Outdoor. But the field events are also loaded across the board and sure to make an impact on the 2016 national leader board.

Here’s a breakdown of the Boys Championship field events.

HIGH JUMP

Defending champion Jaron Brooks of Henry Clay KY comes into the meet looking clear 7 feet and hold onto his title. But it won't be easy. 

Eric Richards of Raymond MS has cleared 7 feet this spring and a handful of others have solid 6-10 (and above) credentials.

LONG JUMP

Rayvon Grey of Beacon NY broke Bob Beamon's 51-year-old state record in the long jump last weekend and he's looking to add the outdoor national title to the one he won indoors at The Armory in March.

Grey went 26-0.25 indoors but hasn't come within a half-foot of that outdoors yet. 

Virginia standout Grant Holloway jumped 25-5.75 at his state meet and ranks No. 2 nationally. Ja'Mari Ward of Cahokia owns the best wind-legal jump in the nation but is recovering from and injury and not in Greensboro. 

Jalen Seals from Ft Worth Boswell TX and Noah Igbinoghene of Hewitt-Trussville AL are challengers who have not yet punctuated the 25-foot barrier.

TRIPLE JUMP

Grey did not win the state title in the triple jump, but if he's on this weekend he could be the class of the field.  Dexter Neboh of Permian TX and Malachi Davis of Mt. Pleasant DE should both be in contention as well.

POLE VAULT

Nilsen of Park Hill MO is the national high school record holder outdoors (18-4.75) and backed that up by going 18-3 at Great Southwest. Duplantis is the first 18-footer indoors and the sophomore from Lafayette went 18-0 for an outdoor personal best at Great Southwest. 

Weather conditions could determine whether a new national record height is possible. Also, both jumpers will want to avoid misses at lower heights so that they can conserve energy for the big bars at the end of the contest.

DISCUS

North Carolina champion Terrell Adams of Middle Creek cranked the discus 213-9 for a new all-time state best and it might have stretched the tape a bit longer if it hadn't nailed a fence. With a nice big sector in Greensboro, there shouldn't be any obstacles to worry about. 

The national leader will surely face all he can handle in the way of competition from 204-foot throwers Bronson Osborn of Esperanza CA and Tripp Piperi of The Woodlands TX.

SHOT PUT

The boys championship should be a fanstastic show. National leader Jordan Geist of Knoch PA, who has thrown 74-5.50, takes on the two other 70-footers in California champion Bronson Osborn (71-7.25) and Texas champion Tripp Piperi (71-11).

All three of these guys are juniors, meaning the competition for supremacy in 2017 is going to be outrageous.

Geist is already the indoor national champion.

JAVELIN

National leader Trenton Allen of Derby KS has thrown 221-3, but he faces big competition from Penn Relays champion Liam Christensen of South Carolina, who has thown past 219 feet twice.

HAMMER

Bobby Colantonio of Barrington RI has owned this event in 2016 and he is chasing the all-time greats. He has thrown 251-2 and he is well-versed in the pecking order of the four throwers who have gone farther. Rudy Winkler owns the all-time record with 260-5.