6 Athletes That Are Absolutely Crushing The Outdoor Season

Matt Strangio, Carmichael Jesuit (CA)

There's no denying Strangio has been on a tear to begin the outdoor track and field season. The high school junior put down the fastest 3200m performance in March history at the Dublin Distance Festival, going 8:47.97 on March 16th, then followed with a US No. 11 effort in the 1600m at the Stanford Invitational, finishing second overall in 4:14.40.

He also posted a top 50 effort nationally in 800m to begin the month in 1:55.11. 

But what's crazy is that Strangio can't feel safe. That loss? It came against defending NXN champion and Gatorade National Cross Country Player of the Year Liam Anderson of Larkspur Redwood High School. There's also a host of other talented athletes in the state like Newbury Park's Nico Young. 

Strangio is the defending 3200m champion from last year's CIF State Championships, and he looks like he could become the first runner since 2009 to break 8:40 at the distance, but both Anderson and Young are more than prepared to go up against him come state season. 

If anything else, Strangio will have to fight to remain on top in California, and perhaps that's one key reason why he's started off with such a bang. Maybe the competition is just what he's looking for, too.