* Kyzer Dunbar (193) ran the second-fastest time in the 600m this season
Photo: Nancy Scott/MileSplit Florida
February's debut weekend of competition was one for the record books, literally.
Whether it was in warm and sunny Gainesville or chilly and overcast Boston, statements were made and records were broke.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, February 6, and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Take a look at five of the top-performing boys from last weekend.
This Week's Nominees:
Owen Powell, Mercer Island (Wash.): The top American finisher in the Junior Boys' International Mile at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix was none other than Owen Powell, the Washington-bound senior. Powell finished runner-up to Belgium's Elliot Vermeulen in 4:01.14, notching a new PB and a new state record. Powell currently sits No. 13 in U.S. high school history and is the current national leader. Powell was consistent as it gets, splitting 1:00.15, 1:00.08, 1:00.66, and 1:00.25 in Boston.
Ryan Dierenfield, Billings-Skyview (Mont.): We're over two months into the indoor season and Dierenfield has still yet to lose in the 60m, this time winning both rounds at the BTC All-Comers meet in Bozeman, Montana. In the prelims, Dierenfield clocked 6.66, the second-fastest time in the U.S. this year, and is now tied for the ninth-fastest performance in high school history. This is the senior's third time under 6.70 this season alone, and he has yet to run slower than 6.75 in his six opportunities.
Kyzer Dunbar, IMG Academy (Fla.): Dunbar has been a beast in every race this season, but his best performance came over the weekend at The Legends of Alachua County Invitational, where Dunbar won the 600m in 1:17.99, a new PB. The unsigned senior moved up to No. 2 on the national leaderboard, trailing just Bullis School's (Md.) Quincy Wilson. Dunbar also became the seventh-fastest athlete in high school history and is just the seventh to ever break 1:18 in high school. Dunbar also shattered the Florida state record by over one-and-a-half-seconds.
Le'Ezra Brown, Dudley (N.C.): In his final semester before joining the Georgia Bulldogs in August, the hurdler has been taking care of business. At the Bulldog Invitational, Brown won both the 55mH and the 55m, making a statement in both wins. In the 55mH, Brown led Dudley teammate Tayman Howell to a 1-2 finish, stopping the clock at 7.27. In the open 55m, he narrowly grabbed the win in 6.42, with the runner-up just a hundredth of a second behind. Brown ranks No. 3 on the North Carolina all-time list in the 55mH.
Quincy Wilson, Bullis School (Md.): Should we have expected anything less in his 400m season debut? The 2024 Olympian went up against the professionals and hung on for the win. At the New Balance Grand Prix, Wilson snagged the win in 45.66, lowering his indoor national record in the process. In typical fashion, Wilson also lowered his U18 400m World Record and remains the only person under the age of 18 to ever break 46 seconds over 400m. He also sits No. 8 on the all-time U20 list.