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Knoxville Catholic (TN)
Class of 2025
Just a week removed from his Tennessee state distance double, where Smith won Class 2A state titles in the 1,600m and 3,200m, the sophomore clocked a personal record 800m at the Parilla Thrilla, authoring a time of 1:52.57.
That performance was significant in a number of ways. Not only did it rank Smith No. 2 in Tennessee over the 2023 outdoor season, but it was also a personal record by three seconds and leapfrogged him up to the No. 3 all-time sophomore effort in state history.
Abby Faith Cheeseman
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The Webb School (TN)
Class of 2025
We're sticking with Tennessee here. Cheeseman, at this point a long-tenured star in the state, put down the best mile of her career at the HOKA Festival of Miles, clocking a time of 4:44.59 to finish seven in an elite girls field.
That performance moved her up to No. 12 on the U.S. leaderboard, No. 3 over sophomore performances and No. 1 in Tennessee for girls. It's been a good last couple of weeks for Cheeseman, who scored a Tennessee state triple in the 800m, 1,600m and 3,200m at the Class 1A Championships.
Benjamin Shue
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Bergen Catholic (NJ)
Class of 2025
Shue has gotten use to the number 60 pretty often in 2023. The sophomore from New Jersey netted another big shot put throw at the Night at the Horse Farm meet on May 30, launching a winning mark of 62 feet, 3 inches.
That throw netted him his eighth-straight bomb over 60 feet this spring, a season which continues to see him leading all sophomores in both the shot put and discus. Shue currently leads all U.S. sophomores with marks of 64-0 and 200-10 in the shot put and discus, respectively.
Photo Credit: Barry Houchin/Tennessee MileSplit
Addison Ritzenhein
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Niwot (CO)
Class of 2026
Ritzenhein added to her already dazzling season of accomplishments, clocking a time of 10:29.42 in the 3,200m at the Music City Track Carnival on June 3. That run bumped her up to No. 7 on the U.S. leaderboard for freshmen and No. 1 for first-year girls in Colorado all-time.
Ritzenhein's season includes times of 2:17.76 for 800m, 4:58.04 for 1,600m and 10:29.42 for 3,200m.
Caleb Kelly
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Class of 2025
Kelly may not have won his first state titles as an Ohio athlete this weekend, but he did put down new personal bests in the 100m and 200m, clocking times of 10.58 and 21.08, respectively. Later efforts netted him third- and fifth-place finishes in those events while his times, which were both wind-legal, put him at No. 15 and No. 3 in the state on the season.
His 200m time was also the fastest in Ohio history for a sophomore, while his 100m put him inside the top 10 for second-year athletes all-time in the state.
Photo Credit: Rachael Glauber/Virginia MileSplit
Shakayla Lavender
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Oscar Smith (VA)
Class of 2026
Lavender already owned Virginia's top hurdle marks as a freshman. She entered the state championships with Va. No. 1 marks of 13.55 in the 100mH and 42.87 in the 300mH.
At her first Class 6 state championship this weekend, she added her first high school titles, pumping in winning times of 13.88 and 43.17 seconds. She also finished sixth in the 200m (24.97) and even high jumped at state, too.