National Boys Performer of The Week (6/10-6/16)

Jun 17, 2024

* Cooper Lutkenhaus is the fastest underclassmen in the 800m ever, and the only one under 1:49

Photo Credit: Chris Langford/Texas MileSplit

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A week after qualifying for the NJSIAA Group Championships in the 100m and 110mH, Yashahya Brown added the NPOTW honor to his growing list of accolades.

At the NJSIAA Sectional Championships, the Washington TWP (NJ) senior won the 110mH title in 13.43, lowering his personal best by a few hundredths of a second. He also took second in the 100m, clocking a time of 10.79.

In last week's poll, Brown took down a tough batch of nominees, including Leonia (NJ) senior Jaden Marchan.

The final tally saw Brown collect 54.16-percent of the votes, to Marchan's 21.7-percent.

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

This Week's Nominees:

Christian Miller, Creekside (FL): Next up, the Olympic Trials! The Florida senior continued to make big waves in the 100m dash this last weekend, clocking sub-10 for the second time this season. At New Balance Nationals Outdoor, Miller ran away with the top time in the prelims, running a wind-legal 9.95, a new NBNO meet record. He called it quits from there. Miller also ran 9.93 earlier this spring, and currently sits No. 5 in the world.

Drew Griffith, Butler (PA): In the last month alone, Griffith easily established himself as the top high school distance runner in the country, and one of the best of all-time. Last Wednesday at Brooks PR, Griffith won the two mile in 8:31.46, which was the No. 2 performance of all-time. It also converted to the fastest 3,200m showing in high school history, an unprecedented 8:28.64. A few days later, Griffith made the trip out to Philadelphia to win the New Balance Nationals outdoor mile in 3:59.0, a new meet record. The legendary high school career of Griffith is one that will be remembered for years to come.

Vance Nilsson, Gilbert (AZ): One of the greatest hurdlers in American prep history, Nilsson wrapped up his high school career with a 400mH title at the U.S. U20 Championships. The 300mH national record holder punched his ticket to Lima, Peru, running 50.23, which was the 16th-fastest time in high school history. The future Florida Gator's decorated career ends with national records, national championships, and a chance to represent the United States on the biggest stage.

Cooper Lutkenhaus, Justin Northwest (TX): He's only a freshman! Lutkenhaus burst onto the scene earlier this spring and continued to climb his way up the record books this weekend. In his freshman finale at Brooks PR, the UIL Class 5A state champion ran 1:47.58, lowering his freshman class record and becoming the seventh-fastest half-miler of all-time. A few days later, he also won a title at Nike Outdoor Nationals, running 1:50.4. As one of only 20 high schoolers to break 1:48, and the only freshman ever under 1:49, Lutkenhaus has the chance to make history.

Quincy Wilson, Bullis School (MD): It was a meet record and another lifetime best for the sophomore, who ran 45.13 to win by nearly half-of-a-second over a loaded quarter-mile field at NBNO. Wilson's illustrious career continues to dazzle, as he moved up to No. 7 all-time. Wilson followed that up with a 45.10 anchor leg in the 4x400m, leading Bullis School to a meet record 3:09.43, the ninth-fastest time in high school history, and the fastest time the program has ran since 2019. This Friday, Wilson's journey to Paris 2024 gets underway, with the opening round of the 400m the first track event of the Trials.

Indoor Season Review: