National Boys Performer of The Week (6/3-6/9)

Jun 10, 2024

* Daniel Simmons shattered the outdoor 5,000m national record, running 13:25, becoming the first-ever high schooler under 13:30

Photo Credit: Raymond Tran/MileSplit

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A week ago, Elyria (OH) senior Mateo Medina single-handedly won a team title, securing victories in the 100m, 200m and 400m at the OHSAA Division I State Championships with times of 10.82, 21.67 and 45.88.

Medina helped Elyria win the team title over Wayne by just one point. Across all three events this season, Medina posted a 29-2 record.

Medina collected nearly 74-percent of votes (631), while Butler's (PA) Drew Griffith was second with 14-percent (126).

Just like last week, voting for this week's poll will close at 12:00 p.m. on Friday.

This Week's Nominees:

Daniel Simmons, American Fork (UT): What can't this guy do? The BYU-bound senior added another accolade to his decorated high school career, tallying his second 5,000m national record. Simmons ran 12.5 laps at the Portland Track Festival alongside the pros, obliterating the previous record set by Lex Young (13:34.96). Simmons clocked 13:25.86, lowering the record by exactly nine seconds. Simmons is also the fifth-fastest 3200m runner in high school history.

Jaden Marchan, Leonia (NJ): He truly could have ran any combination of sprints he wanted, but at the the NJSIAA Group Championships, Marchan won both the 400m and 400mH titles. In the quarter-mile, Marchan stopped the clock in 46.53, over a second ahead of the rest of the field. He followed that up with a dominant two-second win in the 400mH, running 52.18. In New Jersey history, Marchan sits No. 4 and No. 20 in both events, respectively.

Juriad Hughes Jr, Irondale (MN): A trio of state titles will have to do for the Minnesota senior, winning the 100m, 200m and long jump. Hughes Jr. ran a wind-aided PB of 10.35, along with a 21.22. He also jumped 24-5.25, his second best mark of the 2024 season. He now sits with four state titles to his name, and ends his in-state season with an impressive 22-3 record across all three events.

Robert Mechura, Roseville Area (MN): Undefeated, a personal best, and two state titles? Mechura had a season to remember this Spring, winning both the 1600m and 3200m in 4:08.89 (PB) and 9:06.85, winning by three seconds and seven seconds to take down a field loaded with experienced upperclassmen. Mechura's junior campaign was better than he could have possibly expected, starting back in the fall with his state title and eventual state record at NXR Heartland.

Yashahya Brown, Washington TWP (NJ): One of the nation's best hurdlers won yet another NJSIAA Sectional Championships title, this time in the 110mH with a new PB of 13.43, his second time under 13.5 this season. Brown won by two-thirds of a second in the finals, running 13.43. Brown was also the lone boy under 14.00 in the prelims, clocking 13.65. If that's not enough, Brown also took 2nd in the 100m, running 10.79.