4. Can Austin Kratz Win A National Title This Season
Dock Mennonite (PA) High's Austin Kratz is having himself quite the season.
And by any measure, regardless of how he ends the indoor campaign -- with a national title or not -- there's no doubt the sprinter can consider this season a success.
But in the last few weeks Kratz has also quietly put together the kind of efforts that deserve more respect, especially after his US No. 2 performance of 21.23 seconds in the 200m at the Ocean Breeze High School Invitational on Saturday in New York. That time stands just .01 seconds away from tying a Pennsylvania record at the distance.
He's gone US No. 12 in the 55m in 6.40 seconds, US No. 2 in the 200m, US No. 5 in the 300m (33.77) and split 50.42 in the 400m -- in just his second attempt at the distance.
Can he win a national title in the 60m or 200m?
That's a question that won't get answered until March at New Balance Nationals Indoor. But Kratz is definitely in the picture now.
| PLACE | ATHLETE | TEAM | RESULT | WIND | H# | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Kratz | 12 | Dock Mennonite Academy | 21.23 | 1 | |||
| 2 | Sayyid Saunders | 12 | Harry S Truman | 21.47 | 1 | |||
| 3 | Miles Green | 12 | Saint Joseph's Prep | 21.84 | 1 | |||
| 4 | Savion Hebron | 11 | Neshaminy | 21.89 | 1 | |||
| 5 | Romaine Rhoden | 12 | Lower Merion | 21.91 | 1 | |||