Locals Shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals

Solomon Haile, who graduated from Sherwood High School earlier this month, kicked off this past weekend's Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C., with a victory in the five-kilometer run. The 2008 cross-country All-Met Athlete of the Year took control early and won the race in 14 minutes 32.36 seconds, a meet record.

Friday, the first day of the three-day meet, brought Haile his fifth national 5K title. The Arkansas signee won this race last year, when he tied the meet record. He smashed it Friday by almost a full six seconds.

Haile was one of a handful of national champions from the Washington metro area. Tynita Butts, who graduated from T.C. Williams earlier this month, won the girls' high jump title with 5 feet 10.5 inches. Saniel Atkinson and Pearl Bickersteth, who graduated earlier this month from Bishop McNamara and Potomac (Va.), respectively, earned all-American honors in the event. Atkinson was third and Bickersteth was sixth.

Butts was also runner-up in the long jump with 19-11.5, finishing an inch behind champion Andrea Geubelle of Washington and half an inch ahead of Elizabeth Seton junior Adenike Pedro.

Emily Vannoy, who graduated from Thomas Johnson earlier this month, effectively won the girls' shot put championship on her first throw but used her final attempt as insurance, heaving the shot 48-2.5 and winning by four inches.

In relays, the Blazin' Raiders -- represented by Abidemi Adenikinju, Afia Charles, Jenea McCammon and Aurieyall Scott of Eleanor Roosevelt High -- comfortably won Friday's 4x200 relay in 1:36.54. The same quartet returned for Saturday's 4x100 relay and sped to victory in 45.36, a meet record.

Ballou's Demetrius Lindo earned all-American honors in the boys' 110 hurdles, finishing second in 13.9 seconds. Lorraine Graham of C.H. Flowers was fifth in the girls' 100 hurdles in 13.98 and Oxon Hill's Deseree King was sixth in the girls' 400 hurdles (1:01.73).

Scott finished fourth (23.75) in the 200 and Bill Ledder of Gonzaga was fourth in the 800 (1:51.44).

Graham Bazell, who graduated from Atholton earlier this month, placed fourth in the boys' 2-mile in 8:56, the sixth fastest time in the country this season.