5. Sam Rich, Catawba Ridge (SC)
1,600m: 4:18.81, US No. 8
2-Miles: 9:05.14, US No. 1
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For distance runners, improvement can often be seen twofold: In both time and tactics.
While personal record times go a long way, so too does racing at the highest of levels.
And over the weekend, Rich, a junior from Catawba Ridge (SC), may have had two of the best races of his track and field career, first dueling with Wilson Georges at 1,600 meters, where he finished second in a new PR of 4:18.81 -- a positive result considering the late surge Rich proved over the last 200 meters.
Then, just a day later, he dueld Valor Christian's Ty Garrett (above) for 2-miles before making a move in the last K to win in a US No. 1 time of 9:05.14.
Rich, a South Carolina state cross country champion who posted a 5K PR of 14:52.51 in November, is well on his way toward a fantastic junior campaign.