The COROS Distance Athletes Of The Week (4/22-4/28)

May 02, 2024

* Claire Stegall is one of the top distance runners in the country

Photo Credit: Michael Giglio/MileSplit

- - -

This last weekend saw elite distance performances all over the country, from the Penn Relays to the Drake Relays.

This past weekend, a pair of distance stars from Montana and Tennessee broke their state's records, and moved into the top five in multiple events in the national rankings.

Check out the briefs below for more information about this week's winners, as well as links to the previous winners.

Nathan Neil, Bozeman (MT)

Class of 2024

- - -

In a huge personal best performance, Neil picked up a win at the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays in Portland, Oregon.

Taking down the best athletes that the Pacific Northwest has to offer, Neil led five other boys under 4:10, while breaking the tape in 4:01.31, shattering the Montana state record along the way.

Neil now sits No. 2 in the country in the mile -- one of just two boys under 4:02 -- and is now in serious contention for breaking the coveted sub-four barrier before this season is all said and done.

The University of Washington commit also ran 8:35.32 over 3,200m this month at Arcadia, a solid No. 2 in the U.S. this spring.

Claire Stegall, Nolensville (TN)

Class of 2025

- - -

Make that five wins on the season and two new state records for the junior out of Tennessee.

At the Great Eight Invitational in Nashville, Tennessee, Stegall won both the 1,600m and 800m, doing so in record-breaking and dominant fashion. In the 1,600m, Stegall lowered her own state record in the event, running a blistering 4:35.36 -- the second-fastest time in the country this season and No. 9 in high school history.

Just a few events later, Stegall threw down a 2:05.51, which was a new state record and the fourth-fastest time the country has seen.

The junior is one of just two girls this year to sit in the top five in both events.