Lex Young, Colin Sahlman Generate Historic 5K, 1,500 Efforts


Another Young sibling mantle was passed on Friday, as Newbury Park High School junior Lex Young surpassed his brother Nico en route to the second-fastest 5,000 meter performance ever recorded in high school history at the Sound Running Meet at JSerra High School in San Juan Capistrano. 

Young produced a time of 13:43.95, finishing fifth overall in the second section. The mark topped Nico's personal high school best of 13:50.55, which he produced in 2020 in a set-up race during the pandemic-shortened season. 

Related Links: 

Finished Results 

Coincidentally enough, Nico, the multiple-time All-American for NAU, ran in the first section and finished with a personal best time of 13:11.30, which is currently ninth-best in the world for the 2022 season. Lex's performance is currently No. 215 in the world. 

Lex finished behind Paul Ryan (13:34.77), Thomas Fafard (13:37.16), Julius Diehr (13:41.09) and Florian LePallec (13:41.75). 

The performance was the latest in a season of big PRs for Lex, who has also run 4:04.68 for the full mile and 8:35.72 for 3,200m. He has also been part of Newbury Park's indoor national record in the 4xmile and the fourth-fastest DMR in history. 

Alongside Young, Newbury Park senior Colin Sahlman, the reigning Gatorade National Cross Country Player of the Year, secured yet another historic time, posting a 1,500m best of 3:39.59, which landed him the fourth-fastest time in history. 

Sahlman, who broke four minutes in the mile indoors, now only sits behind Hobbs Kessler (3:34.36), Alan Webb (3:38.26) and Jim Ryun (3:39.00) all-time. 

Sahlman finished third in section two, behind Festus Lagat and Jamaine Coleman.

Like Lex, Sahlman's effort reiterated a historic season, which has also included a time of 1:48.84 for 800m, 3:58.81i for the full mile and 8:33.32 for 3,200m, the latter being a new national record. 

Both performances by Lex Young and Sahlman are new U.S. No. 1 times.