Future Stars: These Four Underclassmen Keep Getting Faster

Downingtown West 01 (Pa.)

Class of 2028

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For the fourth time this season, Kelly walked away with a new lifetime best, running 9:32.73 for 3000m at the Henderson Invitational at the Ott Center. Stepping up to the line with a 9:51.95 PB to her name, the sophomore took off nearly 20 seconds as she picked up the win over a field of mostly upperclassmen. Now the fourth-fastest Virginian in history, Kelly became the 18th sophomore to ever dip below the 9:35 barrier, sitting No. 14 on that list, and atop the class leaderboard nationwide. 

Grafton (Va.)

Class of 2028

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At the VHSL Regions 3A/4A Indoor TF Championships, Logan won the first title of his young career, running 1:04.02 in the 500m. Crossing the line nearly a quarter of a second ahead of the senior runner-up, Logan notched a PB for the fourth consecutive meet, breaking 1:05 for the first time. The 4A Indoor State Championships will commence on the first weekend of March, where Logan will aim to pick up the first state title in a prep career that could see many. His big-time run propelled him up to the sixth spot on the all-time sophomore list, behind a few of the best sprinters in high school history.

Sayville (N.Y.)

Class of 2029

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Now that the season has shifted into "win or go home" mode, Duffy kept her alive with a runner-up finish at the Section XI State Qualifier Meet. Focusing on the 1000m in her first indoor season at the high school level, Duffy has shaved over 12 seconds from her PB in the last three races, clocking 2:56.18, a seven-second improvement. Exactly a quarter of a second away from the win, Duffy did more than enough to secure her spot. In a state that has had its fair share of historically talented distance runners, including Mary Cain (Bronxville) and Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland), Duffy became the 57th freshman to break 3:00, but sits No. 29 in the state's freshman record books after just her third race.