* Sadie Engelhardt is the top miler in the country and showed that over the weekend
Photo Credit: Raymond Tran/California MileSplit
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Over the weekend, two California superstars didn't hold back as they each made their outdoor debuts in their respective events.
Ventura (CA) junior Sadie Engelhardt and Millikan (CA) senior Jason Parra stole the show this weekend, picking up impressive wins and simultaneously producing state leads.
Take a look at this week's COROS Distance Athletes of the Week.
Sadie Engelhardt, Ventura (CA)
Class of 2025
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It's Sadie Engelhardt's world and we're just living in it. The Ventura (CA) standout miler and COROS NextGen athlete toed the line alongside the professionals in the women's 1,500m at The TEN.
Making her outdoor debut, Engelhardt took down an experienced field, stopping the clock at 4:09.7, which was a new personal best to bring her under 4:10 for the first time in her career.
Engelhardt became just the fifth high schooler to break 4:10 all-time and the North Carolina State commit is currently No. 1 in the U.S. this year across all high schoolers and No. 8 among all American women outright. With a strong win over the pros, Engelhardt's junior campaign is off to an incredible start.
Name School Time 1 Mary Cain Bronxville (NY) 4:04.62 2 Alexa Efraimsoon Camas (WA) 4:07.05 3 Kate Murphy Lake Braddock (VA) 4:07.21 4 Christina Aragon Billings Senior (MT) 4:09.27 5 Sadie Engelhardt Ventura (CA) 4:09.70 6 Elise Cranny Niwot (CO) 4:10.95 7 Katie Rainsberger Air Academy (CO) 4:12.62 8 Ella Donaghu Grant (OR) 4:14.11 9 Ellie Shea Belmont (MA) 4:14.35 10 Katelyn Tuohy North Rockland (NY) 4:14.45
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Jason Parra, Millikan (CA)
Class of 2024
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The Notre Dame-bound senior looked great for his first race since Nike Cross Nationals.
The cross country state champ opted for eight laps to open up his year, coming within four seconds of his lifetime personal best from a year ago.
Parra cruised around the track at the California Relays in 8:50.61, which was the third-fastest time in the country this season. Parra put about roughly 35 seconds between himself and the field and he was the lone man under 9:25.
This was his seventh-time running under 9:00 and it's the fastest he's run in the event since the Arcadia Invitational in 2023. Right now, Parra is the only Californian under nine minutes this season.