We're now just one day away from the return of track action in the Midwest region. Tuesday evening, at Indiana Wesleyan University, the Midsummer Nights Distance Open will mark the Hoosier State's first meet in several months due to the Covid-19 prompted hiatus on all sports.
Meet director, Courtney Bishop has set-up a series of distance races that will be, purposefully, light on entries, but high on quality of competition. Stellar line-ups have been assembled for each of the six contests with representatives from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois all expected to be in attendance.
The festivities kick off at 7:30 ET and on the docket will be the 800, 1600 and 3200 events.
MileSplit contributors will be out in full force to gather race videos, photos and athlete interviews. You can follow the action on our meet page, where you'll notice several content pieces already applied with many more still to come.
Coverage -
To help set the table for what's sure to be a great night of racing, here are some of Ohio's own who'll be making the trek over to Muncie for their 2020 outdoor track debuts.
Boys 1600
Brendan Pitcher / Mason
On paper Pitcher looks to be the clear favorite in the 1600, as he enters Tuesday's action with the fastest seed mark (4:22.90). Pitcher knows that paper means little once the gun sounds, though. The rising senior is a key member of the Comets' formidable XC and track relay teams, who he's gained plenty of big meet experience with over the years. And who could forget him authoring one of the 2020 indoor season's best finishes, which you can watch HERE.
Jailen Willis / Pickerington Central
Willis knows high stakes and pressure as last year, during his sophomore campaign, he was relied upon by Pickerington Central's coaching staff to represent the Tigers 4x800 team at the Division 1 state meet. That decision proved to be beneficial, as he and teammates, Terry Simuel, Garner Wallace and Brady Johnson struck gold at Jesse Owens Stadium. The AAU Junior Olympic Games veteran will toe the line in 1600 and 800 races on Tuesday. He owns all-time personal bests of 4:28.66 and 2:01.84, respectively.
Alex Deroussel / Mason
New Balance Nationals Outdoor vet, Alex Deroussel will look to make an impression over 4-laps at the IWU track. He's seeded at 4:30.80, which stems from his 8th place finish at the ultra-deep OHSAA - Mason District meet back in 2019. He also mixed it up last year against some of Ohio's best distance specialists over the imperial mile at Rod Russell, where he produced a 4:33.08 clocking.