Caribbean Scholastic Invitational | National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Back to Havana! Team NSAF headed to Cuba again in 2019

After traveling to and competing in Freeport, Bahamas in 2018, Team NSAF is thrilled to be returning to Havana, Cuba this spring! We have selected 28 student-athletes from around the country to compete with us in the 2019 Memorial Barrientos, the multi-nation international meet taking place June 7-9 in Havana’s Estadio Panamericano.

Our Team NSAF includes a great mix of state and national champions, list leaders and rising stars. They represent 18 states – from Rhode Island to Texas, and from Washington to Florida – and some of our best and brightest young stars in the sprints, hurdles, jumps, throws and middle distances. Team NSAF will also be looking to continue its tremendous success in the relays – which have never dropped a baton under Coach Paul Limmer!

It’s been four years since our historic first trip to Cuba – and 13 since we started the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational in Puerto Rico in 2006.

Team NSAF Boys Photo Page(updated) and Girls Photo Page

Team NSAF will travel to Havana on Wednesday, June 5, then Thursday, June 6 will provide an opportunity for a brief pre-meet workout and to take in some of the Cuban culture, with the Memorial Barrientos set for Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9. Team NSAF will return to the States later Sunday.

The NSAF started the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational in 2006 in Puerto Rico, with the intent of providing rising star athletes – generally high school juniors considered Youth or Junior Team USA prospects – an opportunity for a first international team experience in a low-pressure environment. We continued to hold the meet in San Juan through 2013.

In 2015 we were able to move the meet to Cuba (see this story for the history), giving our squad the amazing bounty of not only their first international team training and competitive experience, but the chance to do so as historic “athletic diplomats,” if you will, to the eternally unique city of Havana and it’s incomparable venue, Estadio Panamericano. It’s been something each of them will never forget – the team, the meet, the experience.

That team – featuring record-setters and future world champions like Noah Lyles, Grant Holloway and Anna Cockrell – battled many top Cuban Youth and Junior athletes to produce two days’ worth of stellar performances. The hospitality shown Team NSAF by our Cuban hosts was also unforgettable, highlighted by an opening ceremony that featured outstanding musical performances and a finale that featured both NSAF and Cuban teams in the stage waving their national flags together!

The 2015 meet in Havana was essentially a Team NSAF-Cuba dual meet. Subsequent meets were part of the historic Memorial Barrientos, Cuba’s top international meet, which afforded opportunities for our team to compete against Youth/Junior athletes from multiple nations, as well as some Senior-level athletes.

With Estadio Panamericano undergoing renovations last year and the date of the Memorial Barrientos moved, Team NSAF traveled to and competed in the Bahamas in 2018 (see below, after team listings).

2019 Team NSAF

Girls Sprints

Jonah Ross

100m/200m – PRs 11.60, 23.79i, 23.94
Garner HS, Garner NC, Class of 2020
Notes: With her 3rd-place finish (23.79) in the NBNI 200m in March, just .01 behind senior runner-up Thelma Davies, Jonah made a big step up to the national championship level … she swept the NBNO EE 100 and 200 last spring with her meet record 11.60 PR and a 23.99 (then PR) … she was also USATF JO 100m runner-up last summer … has also run 7.53 for 60m and 38.64 for 300m … father is Duane Ross, Director of Track and Field at North Carolina A&T State.

Zariere Dumas

100m/200m – PRs 11.83, 24.23, 24.50i
Hillcrest HS, Simpsonville SC, Class of 2020
Notes: Zariere has had strong success across all sprints the past few years, most recently stepping up to a 55.23 400 PR to win the Bojangles Classic … she was 2nd in the 400 and 4th in both the 100 (her 11.83 PR) and 200 at 5A state last year … showed her short sprint speed with 7.57 60 PR for 4th in NBNI EE final … Zariere was also 2nd in the ’18 NBNI EE 200 with her indoor best of 24.50.

Serena Clark

100m/200m – PRs 11.66, 23.97, 24.09i
Lakota East HS, Liberty Twp OH, Class of 2020
Notes: Serena’s stellar indoor campaign was highlighted by a D1 state 200 title and 60m runner-up finish, two weeks after big PRs in those events at the Kentucky Invite (24.09 1st, 7.52 2nd prelim) … she came within .04 of making the 200 final at NBNI … Serena was the 200 runner-up in last spring’s Ohio D1 outdoor state meet … was also a member of the Lakota East 4x100 state championship-winning quartet.

Kimberly Harris

400m – PRs 52.33, 52.62i
Buford HS, Buford GA, Class of 2020
Notes: Kimberly scored the biggest victory of her young career at NBNI when she edged Britton Wilson in the championship 400 with a US#1 and indoor PR 52.62 … outdoor 52.33 PR came last May while winning Atlanta Georgia Relays 400 … followed that with runner-up 52.54 at NBNO … has great range from 7.45 60m (NBNI EE victory) to 2:19.60 800m, with 11.65 100m, 23.39 200m, 37.36 300m in-between … has also long-jumped over 20 feet.

Talitha Diggs

400m – PRs 54.21i, 54.95
Saucon Valley HS, Hellertown PA, Class of 2020
Notes: Talitha’s outstanding indoor season peaked at NBNI, where she ran her PR 54.21 to finish 5th in 400 championship … she also ran PRs of 7.54 60, 24.16 200 and 39.26 300 this winter … outer end of her range includes 2:20 800 and she has long-jumped 19-3 … Talitha was the state 400 runner-up in ’18 (and ran her 23.90 200 PR at NBNO), then indoors won 1st state 400 title … she is the daughter of U.S. 800 legend Joetta Clark Diggs.

Ken’Naria Gadson

400m – PRs 54.29, 54.84i
Wharton HS, Tampa FL, Class of 2020
Notes: Ken’Naria’s strong regular-season concluded with a 3rd in the 3A state 400 final at 54.75 (54.54 prelim), not far off the 54.29 PR she ran in finishing 2nd at the Louie Bing meet … she also had bests of 12.09 100m and 24.28 200m this spring … indoors, Ken’Naria ran her first NBNI, taking 7th in the final at 55.50 after a 54.84 prelim … has very good range, having run 7.89 for 60m and 2:12.87 for 800 (4th 4A state in ’17).

Boys Sprints

Dylan Brown

100m/200m – PRs 10.89, 21.42i, 21.65
Renaissance HS, Detroit MI, Class of 2020
Notes: Dylan’s 6.84 60 (6th) and 21.42 200 (3rd) sprint double at NBNI was a great way to finish off a super winter … the 21.42 was a PR; the 60 was just off his 6.82 best set at Spire … also part of outstanding Track Life TC 4x200 that ran 1:28.41 indoors … outdoor 10.89 100 and 21.65 200 bests came in AAU JO competition last summer; he would take 4th and 3rd in respective 100/200 AAU national finals (15-16 yo).

Malcolm Johnson, Jr.

100m/200m – PRs 10.50, 21.40
St. Stephens & St. Agnes, Alexandria VA, Class of 2021
Notes: Malcolm is rejoining Team NSAF after competing with us in Iceland in Feb. and an outdoor season that includes a VISAA 100 title (10.58) and 200 runner-up (21.43) ... he won the NBNO frosh 100 in '18 with a meet record 10.62 (the top frosh 100m mark in US for '18) ... Malcolm set his 60m PR with 6.86 at NBNI in March (8th in final) ... in Iceland he was 3rd in 60 and ran on winning 4x200.

Da'Marcus Fleming

100m/200m – PRs 10.43w, 10.57, 21.01
Miami Northwestern HS, Miami FL, Class of 2020
Notes: Da’Marcus’ season came to a spectacular peak in the 3A state meet, as he spearheaded the Bulls’ team title with his sprint double (200 PR, 100 within .05) and 4x1 anchor … he had not won either district or region titles in either event after showing that form with his 10.44w, 21.11 sweep of the GMAC titles in March … a 4-star wide-receiver, Da’Marcus transferred from Miami Southridge before the ’18 track season and was 4th in the 3A state 200 for his new team.

Willie Johnson

400m – PRs 47.34, 48.39i
East St. Louis HS, East St. Louis IL, Class of 2020
Notes: Willie’s new 47.34 400 PR came in a strong runner-up finish at the Sugar Bowl Classic … that followed a short, but sweet indoor season that included a 48.39 victory in the NBNI Emerging Elite 400 … in 2018, Willie hit his peak in the summer when he won the AAU JO National 15-16 title at 47.82 … his strong range includes a 1:57.87 800 best back in ’17 as a freshman, down to a new 22.32 PR at 200.

Ryan Willie

400m – PRs 47.96, 48.71i
Bullis School, Potomac MD, Class of 2020
Notes: Ryan has gained national recognition not just as a rising star sprinter individually, but as part of the Bullis School’s national-record-setting relays indoors: 3:12.53 in the 4x400 and 1:25.60 in the 4x200 … he ran his first individual sub-48 400 at Arcadia, where he took 3rd … he also has new 100 (10.82) and 200 (21.19) bests this spring … one of Ryan’s big highlights indoors this past winter was a 33.89 PR 300m in the Millrose Games for 2nd place.

Christopher Chuparkoff

400m – PRs 48.44, 49.04i
IMG Academy, Bradenton FL, Class of 2020
Notes: Chris enrolled at IMG Academy – coming from Saline, Michigan – this year and dividends came in March with a 49.04 400 indoors PR for 2nd in the NBNI Emerging Elite final behind new NSAF teammate Ryan Willie … as a Saline HS soph in ’18, he was 4th in the D1 state 400 at 48.44 … his bests outdoors at IMG this year include 48.90 400, 22.14 200 and 11.13 100.

Girls Hurdles

Jasmine Jones

100m Hurdles – PR 13.33
Greater Atlanta Christian School, Norcross GA, Class of 2020
Notes: Jasmine’s 100m hurdling prowess hit new peaks outdoors last month in a West Coast trip that included victories at Stanford (13.49) and Arcadia – the latter with a US#2 13.33 PR (2nd only to pro Tia Jones on the list) … she made a huge national splash indoors in ’18 with a 3rd in the NBNI 60H (8.17 after 8.15 prelim), then followed this winter with a runner-up 8.22 … Jasmine also has PRs of 11.86 100, 24.17 200, 41.81 300H, 1:00.67 400H and 19-8.25 LJ … already has 4 state outdoor hurdle titles going into her junior year state meet in mid-May.

Aasia Laurencin

100m Hurdles – PR 13.54
Oak Park HS, Oak Park MI, Class of 2020
Notes: Aasia hit new heights indoors this winter when she took a strong 3rd in the NBNI 60H behind new NSAF teammate Jasmine Jones – at 8.32 after a new 8.25 PR in the prelims … unbeaten in the 100H outdoors so far in ’19 with a 14.04 best, following her 13.54 PR in ’18 (2nd D1 state) … Aasia also won the AAU JO 100H title (15-16s) at 13.75 last summer … she has 7.67 60, 12.03 100 and 24.20 200 sprint speed.

Boys Hurdles

Brevin Sims

110m Hurdles – PR 13.68
Arts and Sciences, Chattanooga TN, Class of 2020
Notes: Brevin’s early outdoor efforts have yielded big results, with a 13.68 110H PR at the Sweet 16 Invite and 38.09 300H best at the Signal Mountain meet … those beat his 13.89w and 38.45 PRs from ’18, when he swept the D1 state titles … Brevin impressed indoors with a 7.92 60H best, then was 3rd in the NBNI EE 60H final … he also brings 7.04 60, 11.00 100 and 21.91 sprint speed to the table.

Jevon Williams

110m Hurdles – PR 13.94
Blanche Ely HS, Pompano Beach FL, Class of 2020
Notes: Jevon completed a spectacular regular season at his 3A state meet, sweeping the 110H (14.08, -0.3w) and 300H – the latter by .04 with a big PR and US#1 36.54 … he is unbeaten in both events this year … his 110H time was close to the 13.94 PR (US#7) he established at the BCAA Champs in March … the 300H title was Williams’ second after winning in ’18; he was 5th in the 110H last year.

Girls Mid-Distance

Kami Joi Hickson

800m – PRs 2:08.58i, 2:12.04
Neumann-Goretti HS, Philadelphia PA, Class of 2020
Notes: Kami Joi enjoyed a huge breakthrough in the 800 at NBNI in March, running a 3-second PR 2:08.58 for 2nd in the unseeded race and 8th overall in the super-deep championship … she also anchored her team’s victorious 4x800 (2:11.76) and ran 2nd on their runner-up 4x4 – just as she did at NBNO last June … Kami Joi’s 2:12.56 2018 individual outdoor best got her 7th in the tight NBNO EE final last June.

Boys Mid-distance

Kyle Lund

800m – PRs 1:53.13, 1:54.86i
Oakdale HS, Ijamsville MD, Class of 2020
Note: With his 1:54.86 800 in the NBNI Emerging Elite 800, Kyle earned notice as a rising star and he’s backed it up outdoors – clocking a 1:53.13 PR to win the Scorpion Classic … he has five 800 victories so far this spring, while also improving his 400 and 1600 PRs to 50.03 and 4:16.54 … Kyle anchored his school’s DMR in the Penn Relays championship, as well as his 4x400 squad … he captured 2A state titles in the 800 and 1600 this past winter, too.

Girls Jumps

Morgan Smalls

High Jump – PRs 6-3.25i, 6-0.75
Panther Creek HS, NC, Class of 2020
Note: Morgan authored one of the most electrifying performances at NBNI in March, soaring over 6-3.25 in Friday’s high jump championship to set a meet record and become #2 all-time … she was also 2nd in the TJ with a 41-9.75 PR and 4th in the LJ … this followed a stunning 4A indoor state meet triple in the same events … Morgan has leapt 6-0.75 and 41-4 so far this spring, and defended her Bojangles HJ title … on the track, she’s run 11.94, 24.55 and 56.72.

Claire Bryant

Long Jump – PRs 20-8.75, 21-2.25w, 19-8i
Memorial HS, Houston TX, Class of 2020
Notes: With a stunning 21-2.25w, Claire captured the Texas Relays long jump title in a great battle with Jasmine Moore … she also had a wind-legal 20-8.75 in the series; both are national outdoor leaders and she’s unbeaten in the event headed into her 6A state title defense … Claire was also 3rd at NBNO last spring and 2nd in AAU JOs … her other PRs include 5-8 HJ (3rd at state last year), 38-8.25 TJ and 12.24 100.

Riley Burger

Triple Jump – PRs 41-3, 39-7.75i
Notre Dame HS, Cape Girardeau MO, Class of 2020
Notes: Riley is in her second year as a member of the NSAF’s Project Triple Jump and, so far this spring, is unbeaten with a 41-3 best – in the nation’s top 10 and a couple inches off top 3 … she went over 41 for the first time in the NBNO Emerging Elite TJ last June, winning at 41-2.5 … that followed her 2nd straight state title … Riley also has PRs of 19-1.25 in the LJ, 5-6 in the HJ and 12.42 in the 100 … she recorded the highest test score ever at the Sanford Sports Science Institute last summer.

Boys Jumps

Trey Allen

High Jump – PRs 7-0i, 6-11
Oak Mountain HS, Oak Mountain AL, Class of 2020
Notes: Trey had an outstanding winter high jumping – tied for US#1 at 7-0, winning his state title, then capturing the NBNI crown at 6-10.75 … last weekend, he finished an unbeaten outdoor regular season with a 6-11 best and 7A state title … he was state runner-up ’18, then 5th at NBNO … a University of Louisville signee, Trey has also improved his long jump significantly this spring to 22-7.25, which earned him 6th at state.

Christian Lewis

Long Jump – PRs 24-3.75i, 23-4.25
Frederick Douglass HS, Lexington KY, Class of 2020
Notes: Jumping in the Music City Invite in early February, Christian had a big breakthrough for his first career 24-foot LJ – 24-3.75, beating his 23-9.75 season opener from a week earlier … in ’18 he was AAA state champ and a 23-4.25 leaper … Christian is looking forward to his first outdoor 24-footer and has PR’d for Douglass HS on the track with 11.16 100, 22.50 200 and 51.34 400 … he’s also a 43-1 triple jumper and has dashed 7.01 over 60 meters.

Jadan Hanson

Triple Jump – PRs 50-6i, 49-4.25
Uniondale HS, Uniondale NY, Class of 2020
Notes: Jadan is in his first year with the NSAF’s Project Triple Jump, having earned notice with his 49-3.25 state runner-up breakthrough performance as a soph in June ’18 … he followed up with a spectacular indoor campaign, including several major wins, his first state title (49-7.5) and a barrier-breaking 50-6 effort at NBNI to earn the bronze medal … Jadan has started outdoor strong, too, including a Penn Relays 4th with an outdoor PR 49-4.25 … his other PRs include 22-2.5 LJ and 6-5 HJ.

Girls Throws

Sydney Juszczyk

Javelin – PR 161-8
Trinity Catholic HS, St. Louis MO, Class of 2021
Notes: Sydney is a first-year thrower with the NSAF’s Project Javelin Gold, having impressed since her middle school days … she was AAU and USATF JO champ in ’17 after her 8th grade year and had a best of 144-3 … she was Class 3 state champ as a frosh last May, then threw a massive 161-8 PR for 2nd at JavFest … this spring, Sydney threw 155-0 in March, then improved to 155-6 in early May … her other PRs include 14.84 for 100H and 36-6.25 for TJ, and she swept 100H, TJ and javelin in her conference meet.

Cheyenne Figueroa

Hammer – PRs 169-4, 61-0.25 WT
Classical HS, Providence RI, Class of 2020
Notes: Cheyenne started May off with a bang, hitting a PR 169-4 to win the Brian Moretti Invite … that topped her 167-5 best from ’18 … indoors, she ranked 2nd nationally in the weight throw, with a 61-0.25 PR during her Millrose Games victory … she went on to win her state and New Englands titles, then place 3rd at NBNI … Cheyenne was 5th in the hammer at NBNO as a soph last June … she also has PRs in the shot and discus of 39-1.75 and 122-4.

Boys Throws

Zech Blake

Javelin – PR 214-4
IMG Academy, Bradenton FL, Class of 2019
Notes: It’s exciting to see what Zech might do this spring and as a senior after his recent transfer to IMG Academy from John Curtis HS in Louisiana … he finished last spring with a bang, taking 2nd in the NBNO javelin with a PR 214-4 heave after winning 5A state and Iron Wood titles … Zech is a true triple threat thrower, with PRs of 173-0 in the discus and 58-3.25 in the shot – the latter mark winning the Louisiana 5A indoor title before he transferred … he won two golds and a bronze in the throws as a soph at state in ’18.

Trey Knight

Hammer – PRs 254-0, 86-7.5 WT
Ridgefield HS, Ridgefield WA, Class of 2019
Notes: With his recent PRs of US#1 254-0 for the HS hammer (#4 all-time) and 213-9 for the international implement (Junior Class national record), Trey continues to become one of the greatest preps ever in the hammer and weight … he won his 2nd straight NBNI weight title in March at 80-0 after improving to 86-7.5 (#2 all-time) in February … Trey now owns 7 national class records in the hammer and weight … a super all-around thrower, he also has 63-5.5 SP and 189-4 DT PRs, winning 2018 state titles in each.

Team NSAF shines during first Bahamas meet

The 28 athletes of Team NSAF – competing at the Frederick Bastian Track and Field Classic at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport – produced a full day’s worth of outstanding performances during their first-ever trip to the Bahamas this past Saturday (June 2). Team NSAF had competed previous years in its own Caribbean Scholastic Invitational (CSI), launched in 2006, then in Cuba in a dual with Cuban Youth and Juniors (2015) and at the Memorial Barrientos (2016 and ’17).

Warm weather and lots of sunshine greeted Team NSAF at the Grand Lucayan Hotel for the three-night stay, as well as during Saturday’s meet – where nearly 300 Bahamian athletes of all ages provided the competition.

Here are some of the highlights:

US-leading 177-0 javelin by Project Javelin Gold’s Skylar Ciccolini (#4 all-time), leading a throws sweep by teammate Sam Hankins (jav), Patrick Piperi and Chloe Lindeman (both shot put).
4x100 relays double by Team NSAF’s boys (40.44 by Gatlin Lawson, Charles Lewis, Andre Turay and Caleb Jackson) and girls (46.39 by Aliya Wilson, Ally Henson, Darci Khan and Kailei Collins), continuing a streak of no-dropped batons by Team NSAF since CSI began.
Strong hurdles victories by Turay (PR 13.86) and Khan in the 100H, then Rayniah Jones and Dominick Houston-Shepard in the 400H. Myles Marshall (both hurdles) and Henson (100H in a rerun race with teammate Khan) also performed well.
Short dash triumphs by Caleb Jackson and Wilson (both 100m), then Matthew Boling and Collins (both 200m), with Lewis and Lawson (boys 100) powering in just behind.
Fast, victorious 400s by US top-5 performers Nick Ramey (46.69) and Meghan Hunter (53.30), followed by strong runs by teammates Randolph Ross (boys) and Jan’Tajiah Ford, Nicole Payne and Dajour Miles (girls).
Impressive horizontal jump 1-2 sweeps by Project Triple Jump’s Titiana Marsh and Tosin Alao, a 1-2 long jump finish by Boling and Kevin Snyder, and a thrilling high jump “jump-off” that saw CJ McBride outlast teammate Randolph Ross.
Middle-distance domination by Hugh Brittenham (800 and 1,500) and Brynne Sumner (800).

Equally important: Team NSAF had the bounty of veteran guidance from Coaches Paul Limmer, Carmen Jackson and Sports Psychologist Dr. Margaret Ottley; treatment from the greatest medical staff in the sport; and bonded together over the four-day trip!

2017 Recap: Juantorena inspires, NSAF performs!

Capped off by an inspirational meeting with Cuban Olympic legend Alberto Juantorena, Team NSAF experienced another tremendous Caribbean Scholastic Invitational trip in Havana in 2017.

After the final event, Juantorena joined the NSAF contingent at the behest of Tracy Sundlun, the NSAF board member who first met Juantorena during his historic 1976 Olympic 400-800 double. Sundlun and Juantorena together created the opportunity for CSI’s move to Cuba three years ago. During the talk, El Caballo pulled out one of his ’76 Montreal gold medals, looking as new as can be after nearly 41 years. He was accompanied by countrymen Javier Sotomayor – history’s only 8-foot high jumper (1993) and the 1992 Olympic gold medalist – and Anier Garcia, the 2000 110H Olympic gold medalist.

Meanwhile, Team NSAF again competed strongly in the Memorial Barrientos

NBNI pentathlon champs Kyle Garland and Anna Hall swept the junior multis, with Garland hitting a PR and US#1 6,959 and Hall not far off her PR at 4,796.
Dalton Hengst (3:54.90) and Krissy Gear (4:34.49) claimed the 1500s, both showing off strong kicks. Gear also set an 800 PR of 2:09.57 in 5th.
Kelcie Simmons captured the 100 at 11.61 (plus 3rd in the 200). Alexis Brown followed in 3rd at 11.64 (after 11.60 prelim)
Eric Edwards blasted to victory in the 110H (13.52), then PR’d in the 400H in 5th at 52.68
Tyson Jones won the Junior shot put and was also 2nd in the discus and Senior shot put
Brian Herron was 2nd in the 400 (46.7h) and 5th in the 200
Veronica Fraley set PRs of 157-2 in the discus and 44-0.25 in the shot
Tiara McMinn scored a pair of 3rds in the 100H (PR 13.67) and high jump.
Also competing well with near-PRs were Sterling Lester, Eric Allen, Tiondre Toomer, Jacory Patterson and Vivette Green in the sprints; Jared Briere, Gianna Rao and Jay Judge in the hammer; Jasmine Moore (42-4.75 TJ), Cameron Murray and Patterson in the jumps; De’Andreah Young in the 400H (59.94); Roman Mitchell and Cassie Jones in the javelin; and Anna Marian Block and Ian Delgado in the mid-distances.
Team NSAF scored 3rd-place finishes (1st among Junior teams) in each of the four relays. It was Brown, Simmons, Moore and Green in the girls’ 4x1 (46.59); Lester (53.45), Young (55.37), Gear (58.27) and Block (57.63) in the girls’ 4x4 (3:44.77); Edwards, Herron, Murray and Patterson in the boys’ 4x1 (40.65); and Toomer (47.53), Patterson (47.35, Garland (49.57) and Herron (46.60) in the boys’ 4x4 (3:11.05).