The Preseason MileSplit50 Top 25 Boys Individual Rankings

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No. 2: Leo Young

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School: Newbury Park (CA)

Year: Senior, Class of 2023

2021-22 Notable Finishes: Second at RunningLane Cross Country Championships in 14:05.07, good for the second-fastest high school XC 5k in history; First at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in a three-mile PR of 13:38.10. Also ran 4:00.77 in the mile at the APU Meet of Champions Distance Classic and 8:39.57 for the 3,200m at the Sundown Track Series #2 meet during outdoor.

Analysis: Behind having one of the best cross country seasons in the high school boys history - both as an individual and as part of the elite-level Newbury Park team - Leo Young will enter 2022 potentially looking to surpass the high marks set on the course a year ago.

On paper, he's the top returner at both the 5k and three-mile distances on the grass. He comes in with an impressive resume from 2021, boasting times of 14:05.07 for 5k and 13:38.10 for three miles, both of which put him at the top of the returner rankings list solely on a time basis. That 14:05.07 5k performance made him the second-fastest 5k cross country racer ever in the U.S. behind Newbury Park's top runner Colin Sahlman at RunningLane.

Unfortunately, we didn't see much of Leo during the outdoor track season as he contested a shortened season. But all things considered, he still ran elite times of 4:00.77 for the mile and 8:39.57 in the 3,200m early in the spring. 

Keep in mind, though, that he'll have his brother Lex Young and teammate Aaron Sahlman chasing after him and his historic marks. That could shape up to be the most intriguing 1-2-3 battle of the season from both a team and national perspective.

If Leo returns to the cross country course back to his fitness from 2021 cross country, expect him to lead the talented Newbury Park squad to success and be a favorite for an individual national title.

MileSplit50 Boys Individual National Rankings Countdown

RANK

DATE-NAME

25Aug. 25 -- Noah Breker (Robbinsdale Armstrong, MN) -- Page 2
24Aug. 25 -- Aidan Ross (Uxbridge, MA) -- Page 3
23Aug. 25 -- Connor Ackley (Hilliard Davidson, OH) -- Page 4
22Aug. 25 -- Wesley Shipsey (Central Catholic, OR) -- Page 5
21Aug. 25 -- Jacob Nenow (Jesuit, OR) -- Page 6
20Aug. 26 -- Hunter Jones (Benzie Central, MI) - Page 7
19Aug. 27 -- Andrew Hauser (Rock Bridge, MO) -- Page 8
18Aug. 28 -- William Schneider (Bishop Blanchet, WA) -- Page 9
17Aug. 29 -- Rendon Kuykendall (Hope Christian, NM) -- Page 10
16Aug. 30 -- Zack Munson (Sehome, WA) -- Page 11
15Aug. 31 -- Keegan Smith (Knoxville Catholic, TN) -- Page 12
14Sept. 1 -- Jimmy Wischusen (Union Catholic, NJ) -- Page 13
13Sept. 2 -- Devan Kipyego (St. Raphael Academy, RI) -- Page 14
12Sept. 3 -- Simeon Birnbaum (Rapid City Stevens, SD) -- Page 15
11Sept. 4 -- Kevin Sanchez (Austin Vandegrift, TX) -- Page 16
10Sept. 5 -- Tayson Echohawk (Orem, UT) -- Page 17
9Sept. 6 -- Christopher Caudillo (Clovis, CA) -- Page 18
8Sept. 7 -- Rocky Hansen (Christ School, NC) -- Page 19
7Sept. 8 -- Connor Burns (Southern Boone County, MO) -- Page 20
6Sept. 9 -- Aidan Cox (Coe Brown Academy, NH) -- Page 21
5Sept. 9 -- Kole Mathison (Carmel, IN) -- Page 22
4Sept. 9 -- Tyrone Gorze (Crater, OR) -- Page 23
3Sept. 9 -- Aaron Sahlman (Newbury Park, CA) -- Page 24
2Sept. 9 -- Leo Young (Newbury Park, CA) -- Page 25
1Sept. 9 -- Lex Young (Newbury Park, CA) -- Page 26