* Erriyon Knighton (clockwise), Quincy Wilson, Holly The Mini-Golden Poodle, Hobbs Kessler and Sadie Engelhardt all earned praise and attention for their performances in 2021
A return to quasi-normalcy came to define the year 2021 in high school track and field.
And with it came a renewed focus on history and records.
A spectacular fortune of events took place over the calendar year, with particular attention paid to high schoolers like Erriyon Knighton, Jaylen Slade and Hobbs Kessler. All three found extraordinary success through the indoor and outdoor months, though only the 17-year-old Knighton reached the pinnacle of his sport -- the Olympics -- and finished fourth in a World final.
But both Slade and Kessler were record-breakers, too, and adequate praise was bestowed upon each as they climbed higher and higher up the sport's ladder.
Beyond individual success at the highest of levels, viral moments like 'Holly The Mini-Golden Poodle' and the 400m brilliance of 12-year-old Quincy Wilson also consumed our feeds. And then, as there are every year, there were national records, national qualifiers and stories of hope, courage and tragedy.
Below are the top 50 most read pieces of content on MileSplit over 2021.
The Top 50 Most Popular Stories of 2021
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1. MileSplit: Erriyon Knighton, 17, Drops Insane 9.99 For 100 Meters (May 2)
2. Flrunners: Erriyon Knighton Breaks Usain Bolt's U18 World 200m Best (June 1)
3. MileSplit Indiana: Meet The Newest American Record Holder From Indiana (June 19)
4. MileSplit: Five Races You Missed From The Weekend (April 19)
5. MileSplit: Jaylen Slade Breaks National HS 200m Record (February 21)
6. MileSplit: What Did U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifiers Run In High School? (June 18)
7. Flrunners: Rheinhardt Harrison Attempting To Be Youngest Sub-4 American (March 16)
8. MileSplit: Future Stars: The Top Seven Underclassmen Boys So Far (October 7)
9. MileSplit New York: 2021 NYSPHSAA Boys State Championship Preview (November 8)
10. MileSplit Utah: Meet Holly, The Mini Golden Doodle Track Star (April 22)
11. Flrunners: Erriyon Knighton Forgoes High School Eligibility, Goes Pro (January 3)
12. MileSplit: The 10 best Individual Boys Performances Of The Year (Dec. 22)
13. MileSplit: High Schoolers Qualify For The U.S. Olympic Trials (June 2)
14. MileSplit: The MileSplit50 Boys Rankings Are Back (August 19)
15. MileSplit: Quincy Wilson, 12 Years Old, Drops 51-Second 400 (February 26)
16. MileSplit New York: 2021 NYSPHSAA Girls State Championship Preview (November 8)
17. MileSplit: What Did NCAA Indoor Championship Athletes Run In High School (March 16)
18. MileSplit: CFP National Championship Track Fan Viewers Guide (January 11)
19. MileSplit: Check Out State-By-State T&F '21 POY Girls Winners (July 7)
20. MileSplit: Third Update: Class Of 2022 Top 50 Girls Recruits (May 5)
21. MileSplit: The MileSplit50 Top 25 Boys Team Rankings (Sept. 2)
22. MileSplit: Paige Sommers Sets Outdoor National Pole Vault Record (April 4)
23. MileSplit Kansas: From Small Town To Big Time -- Brett Meyer Passes Jim Ryun (February 16)
24. MileSplit New York: Eastbay Regionals Northeast Preview (November 24)
25. MileSplit: The MileSplit50 Girls Rankings Return (August 19)
26. MileSplit: Current Class of 2022 NCAA Track And Field Commitments (November 9)
27. MileSplit: After Historic Season, Athing Mu Is Going Pro (June 19)
28. MileSplit: The Big 15: The top Boys To Watch At RunningLane (Dec. 2)
29. MileSplit California: Remembering 1987: McFarland Facts Vs. Fiction (November 29)
30. MileSplit New York: Eight New Names To Know From Spring Track 2021 (June 3)
31. MileSplit: The 10 Best Girls Performances Of The Year (December 23)
32. MileSplit: Hobbs Kessler Sets Insane Indoor National Mile Record (February 8)
33. MileSplit: 16 High School Athletes Would Have Been All-Americans At NCAAs (June 14)
34. MileSplit: Jaylen Slade Clocks Wind-Legal, US No. 3 All-Time 10.09 (May 31)
35. MileSplit: Sadie Engelhardt Breaks World Age Group Record In Mile (June 13)
36. MileSplit: The Top Six Girls Races To Watch At The VA Showcase (January 13)
37. MileSplit: Rewinding Devonta Smith's HS Track Career (January 6)
38. MileSplit Utah: Car Accident Claims Life Of Lone Peak Runner Jackson Keate (January 2)
39. MileSplit: A Performance Much Deeper Than A Race On Saturday Night (February 28)
40. MileSplit: The Top 7 Girls Storylines At Garmin RXC2 (December 3)
41. MileSplit: Abby Steiner Has Never Stopped Driving Forward (March 15)
42. MileSplit: Which State Has Performed The Best At State? Here's The Data (June 4)
43. MileSplit: 2021 NFL Draft Viewer's Guide For Track And Field Fans (April 29)
44. MileSplit: Roisin Willis Drops 2:00.78 To Hit U.S. Trials Qualifier (May 21)
45. MileSplit New York: Rain Can't Stop Return Of XC States (November 15)
46. MileSplit: The MileSplit50 Girls Team Rankings Return (August 19)
47. MileSplit: Shawnti Jackson & Hannah Douglas Run Fastest 400m (March 28)
48. MileSplit Minnesota: 8 Bold Predi tions For The MSHSL State Track And Field Meet (June 15)
49. MileSplit: The Fab 15: The Top Girls Contenders At RunningLane (December 2)
50. MileSplit: Eastbay Is The New Title Sponsor Of Nationals (October 14)
Holly The Mini-Golden Poodle's Big Viral Moment (Roughly 1:30 mark)
* Erriyon Knighton (clockwise), Quincy Wilson, Holly The Mini-Golden Poodle, Hobbs Kessler and Sadie Engelhardt all earned praise and attention for their performances in 2021