For a full list of our final MileSplit50 athletes, check out our season-ending list below:
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By Cory Mull l MileSplit
North Rockland (NY) High sophomore Katelyn Tuohy and Atlanta Lakeside (GA) High junior Brian Herron were named as MileSplit's inaugural MileSplit50 National High School Athlete of the Year winners over the indoor campaign, with each student-athlete concluding their landmark season with national titles in New York.
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Tuohy was unquestionably the top athlete on the girls side for much of the season, with her campaign starting in earnest when she demolished the national record in the 5K at The VA Showcase in 15:37.12, a time that still stands as the IAAF's No. 6 indoor effort of 2017-2018.
She followed not only as an individual, but as a team member for North Rockland High, anchoring the club to a national title in the DMR (11:44.38) with an emphatic last leg in the 1600m (4:38.62). She set and reset sophomore class records in the 1500m (4:23.38) as well, and split 2:08.83 on an 800m leg during her team's second-place outing in the SMR at New Balance Nationals Indoor. She also won the national 2-mile championship in a sophomore class record of 9:58.89.
Over the course of the season, Tuohy also finished fourth at the Millrose Games in the elite girls mile (4:47.10), won county and section championships, and executed for a state title in New York in the 1500m (see above).
Herron was no doubt the top indoor sprinter on the boys side as well, capping his junior season with a title and meet record in the 400m with a time of 46.31 at New Balance Nationals Indoor. That time lowered his national best of 46.43 from December.
While a minor injury held back Herron's chances at qualifying for the USA Indoor Championships, the Georgia sprinter also ran the second-fastest 200m time on the season (20.95) -- and became the fastest prep athlete at the distance in December -- and set a world junior record in the 300m at the VA Showcase in 32.64.
He also anchored his Flight400 team's winning 4x400 effort at the Texas A&M Indoor Invitational.
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For a full list of our final MileSplit50 athletes, check out our season-ending list below: