For the first time in the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation's history, the organization will be bringing a contingent of eight American high school athletes overseas to compete in an indoor meet on February 3 in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Over the last 10 years, the NSAF has created international opportunities for high school athletes to compete overseas, often tallying a selection of competitors to compete in the Caribbean. February will mark the first time that the organization will compete over the indoor season at the Reykjavik International Games.
The Games will take place over two weeks and include a single-day indoor track meet on February 3. The event, which has been sanctioned for both Senior- and U20 events, will be held inside the country's national indoor arena, which includes a 200m banked Mondo track.
Athletes making the trip to Iceland include:
- Marcellus Moore, Plainfield North (IL)
- Ashton Allen, Bullis School (MD)
- Leah Phillips, Bullis School (MD)
- Nia Frederick, Bullis School (MD)
- Hannah Waller, South Lakes (VA)
- Mary Gregory, South Lakes (VA)
- Malcolm Johnson, St. Stephens & St. Agnes School (VA)
- Mordecai McDaniel, St. John's College (DC)
"Four or five years ago a person from the event contacted me about bringing athletes over, but that all fell through at the time," Jim Spier, the NSAF Executive Director, said of the indoor event. "I did some research later, though, and thought it might be a good idea to bring a small team. I contacted the head of the Iceland Athletics Federation in early 2018 and arranged to bring these eight in 2019. Our board approved the funding and we proceeded."
Because the event is predominantly sprint-based, the NSAF said the roster evolved as a result of that impact. Moore, Phillips and Johnson will compete in the 60m. Allen, McDaniel and Gregory will contend in the 400m. Frederick will race at the 800m distance.
The event will include a 4x200 relay versus Iceland and USA athletes.
The team will leave for Iceland on Feb. 1 and return on Feb. 4.
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