Newbury Park's Nico Young Runs Fourth-Fastest 5K In History


Nico Young, the reigning Nike Cross Nationals champion from this past cross country season, ran the fourth-fastest 5K in high school history on Tuesday at Franklin High School in Portland, Oregon, finishing in a time of 13:50.55.

Young's performance sits behind Galen Rupp's national record of 13:37.91, which was set in 2004; Gerry Lindgren's 13:44.0 from 1964; and Dathan Ritzenhein's 13:44.70 from 2001. 

While Young didn't surpass Rupp's national record -- his ultimate goal heading into the race on Tuesday -- he will leave with a California state record, having shattered the former mark of 14:01.40, which was last produced by Eric Mastalir in 1986.


Only three athletes finished in the field after five began. Ahmed Ibrahim, a recent graduate from Parkrose (OR), ran 15:31.76, while his brother Abdi Ibrahim, who graduated Parkrose in 2019, ran 16:17.36. 

Young came through the 3,000 meter mark at 8:09.99. He ran his last four laps in 67.46, 68.17, 68.44 and 68.94. 

Early pacesetters Logan Orndorf, a former athlete at the University of Portland, and Sam Truax, a former athlete at Gonzaga University, dropped with seven and nine laps to go, respectively. 

This performance also came over four months removed from Young's last performance on the track, when the Northern Arizona University signee and Newbury Park High School graduate set an indoor national 3,000 meter record in February at The Armory in New York City. It was then when Young surpassed a pretty legendary mark formerly held by Drew Hunter in a time of 7:56.97. 

Young, who set a NXN record in December with his 5K time of 14:28.50 at the Glendoveer Course and shattered record after record across the fall season, leaves his high school career with personal record outdoor marks of 3:48.74 in the 1,500m, 4:08.82 in the mile and 8:40.00 in the 3,200m.

Indoors, he will leave with an indoor national record and a 1,500m best of 3:52.39. In cross country, Young ran 13:39.70 for 3-miles, the fastest-mark all-time at the distance on grass for a high school boy.