Photo by Andrew Blake / MileSplit Indiana.
This year's boys elite heat saw one of the most impressive fields in terms of talent on the boys side including three national runner-up performers including Cameron Todd (2023 NXN), Will Conway (2024 NIN 2 Mile), and Martin Barco (2024 NBNI 1 Mile).
Jack Turnbull would set the pace early going through the first 400m in 64 before Cameron Todd would claim the lead as the pack approached the 800m at 2:08. He would sustain this lead with about a stride length advantage over Martin Barco and sophomore standout Caleb Winders who ran a 1:51 split in this year's national leading indoor 4x800m squad with Bloomington North High School.
Barco was just biding his time though as he would start to unleash his deadly kick on the backstretch to split a sub 60 closing lap which was very reminiscent of last year's effort that saw him outkick current University of Colorado freshman Kole Mathison to set the meet record last year at 4:08.
Martin Barco talks about race and goals for the rest of the season after running to a 4:11.53 to defend his Flashes Showcase Title
Holding off everyone else for second was Cameron Todd with a 4:13.01 and Kentucky's Roman Sierpina rounded out the top three with a new PR of 4:14.44. Bloomington North would have a very impressive evening as three of their entries would place in the top ten with Jack Holden, Caleb Winders, and Caelan D'Onofrio running a 4:15, 4:16, and 4:19 respectively.
1st - Martin Barco - 4:11.53
2nd - Cameron Todd - 4:13.01
3rd - Roman Sierpina - 4:14.44
4th - Jack Holden - 4:15.59
5th - Will Conway - 4:16.33
6th - Caleb Winders - 4:16.54