The seeded section of the girls 400 meter hurdles at the Bullis Bulldog Invitational turned out to be one of the most thrilling and national significant races of the day.
The results churned out US #2, US #3, US #5, and US #7 times, but not the ordered as expected. Nansemond River (VA) senior Kori Carter came in as the top seed and favorite owning the fastest 300 meter hurdles PR among the field at 41.93.
It was clear coming off the final turn that the race would be wide open with four athletes in contention between Neumann Goretti's Sydni Townsend (PA), Franklin's Tylar Colbert (MD), and Friendley's Antoinette Bradley (MD).
Townsend, a Pennsylvania state champ indoors in the 400 meters and outdoors in the 300 meter hurdles, was fourth heading into the second to last hurdles set, but ended up as the race champion in a US #2 personal best time of 1:00.91.
Bradley, a versatile athlete who also excels at the 800, was a close second in a US #3 time of 1:00.95.
Colbert, a 2016 Maryland state champion in the 300 meter hurdles and AAU Junior Olympics national champion last summer in the 400 meter hurdles, was third place in a US #5 time of 1:01.31.
The 5-time Virginia state champ Carter, who came back later to win the 100 dash finals in 11.70, finished 4th in the race with a US #7 performance of 1:01.59.