HOME PAGE -- RANKINGS
No. 1: Lex Young
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School: Newbury Park (CA)
Year: Senior, Class of 2023
2021-22 Notable Finishes: Third at RunningLane Cross Country Championships in 14:05.49 for the third-fastest high school cross country 5k of all-time; Third at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in a three-mile PR of 13:44.40. Also finished first in the 5,000m at the Sound Running Track Meet in 13:43.95 to run just off the American high school record during the outdoor track season.
Analysis: The elusive top preseason recognition goes to none other than Newbury Park's Lex Young, who comes off of a well-rounded cross country and track campaign last school year that solidified his reputation as perhaps the best distance athlete in the country. He'll likely be the one to chase as he looks to win it all for both himself and his Newbury Park team on the national stage.
The incoming senior ran 14:05.49 at RunningLane Cross Country Nationals in 2021, which made for the third-fastest grass 5k in history. That only comes in behind his brother Leo Young and other Newbury Park teammate Colin Sahlman, who clocked their top times in the same race. Now with Colin graduated, it opens up room for Lex to take the lead, along with Leo and Newbury Park's third fastest returner Aaron Sahlman.
But perhaps the best indicator of his fitness level comes from his 13:43.95 outdoor 5,000m performance on the track at the Sound Running meet in May, which fell just short of the incredible 13:37.91 American high school record held by Galen Rupp. Now, it's just a matter of time to see if Lex can hit a sub-14:00 5k yet again, only this time on the cross country course.
It could be a back-and-forth season between him, Leo and Sahlman for individual wins, but Lex shows he has potential to chase after his first individual national title. Maybe we'll even see him go for the 5k grass course record of 14:03.29 set by Colin last year, just like he went after the outdoor record at the same distance in the spring.
MileSplit50 Boys Individual National Rankings Countdown
RANK | DATE-NAME |
|---|---|
| 25 | Aug. 25 -- Noah Breker (Robbinsdale Armstrong, MN) -- Page 2 |
| 24 | Aug. 25 -- Aidan Ross (Uxbridge, MA) -- Page 3 |
| 23 | Aug. 25 -- Connor Ackley (Hilliard Davidson, OH) -- Page 4 |
| 22 | Aug. 25 -- Wesley Shipsey (Central Catholic, OR) -- Page 5 |
| 21 | Aug. 25 -- Jacob Nenow (Jesuit, OR) -- Page 6 |
| 20 | Aug. 26 -- Hunter Jones (Benzie Central, MI) - Page 7 |
| 19 | Aug. 27 -- Andrew Hauser (Rock Bridge, MO) -- Page 8 |
| 18 | Aug. 28 -- William Schneider (Bishop Blanchet, WA) -- Page 9 |
| 17 | Aug. 29 -- Rendon Kuykendall (Hope Christian, NM) -- Page 10 |
| 16 | Aug. 30 -- Zack Munson (Sehome, WA) -- Page 11 |
| 15 | Aug. 31 -- Keegan Smith (Knoxville Catholic, TN) -- Page 12 |
| 14 | Sept. 1 -- Jimmy Wischusen (Union Catholic, NJ) -- Page 13 |
| 13 | Sept. 2 -- Devan Kipyego (St. Raphael Academy, RI) -- Page 14 |
| 12 | Sept. 3 -- Simeon Birnbaum (Rapid City Stevens, SD) -- Page 15 |
| 11 | Sept. 4 -- Kevin Sanchez (Austin Vandegrift, TX) -- Page 16 |
| 10 | Sept. 5 -- Tayson Echohawk (Orem, UT) -- Page 17 |
| 9 | Sept. 6 -- Christopher Caudillo (Clovis, CA) -- Page 18 |
| 8 | Sept. 7 -- Rocky Hansen (Christ School, NC) -- Page 19 |
| 7 | Sept. 8 -- Connor Burns (Southern Boone County, MO) -- Page 20 |
| 6 | Sept. 9 -- Aidan Cox (Coe Brown Academy, NH) -- Page 21 |
| 5 | Sept. 9 -- Kole Mathison (Carmel, IN) -- Page 22 |
| 4 | Sept. 9 -- Tyrone Gorze (Crater, OR) -- Page 23 |
| 3 | Sept. 9 -- Aaron Sahlman (Newbury Park, CA) -- Page 24 |
| 2 | Sept. 9 -- Leo Young (Newbury Park, CA) -- Page 25 |
| 1 | Sept. 9 -- Lex Young (Newbury Park, CA) -- Page 26 |