Northern Arizona signee runs fastest time by U.S. prep athlete since Galen Rupp achieved national record 13:37.91 in Belgium in 2004, misses out on becoming first individual to set mark on American soil since Gerry Lindgren in 1964

By Erik Boal and Doug Binder, DyeStat Editors

Newbury Park High graduate Nico Young set a California high school record and ran the fastest 5,000-meter prep time since 2004, clocking 13 minutes, 50.55 seconds Tuesday night at Franklin High in Portland, Ore.

Young, who returned to Portland for the first time since capturing the Nike Cross Nationals individual and team championships Dec. 7 at Glendoveer Golf Course, was looking to eclipse the high school record of 13:37.91 set July 31, 2004, at the KBC Night of Athletics meet in Heusden, Belgium, by Central Catholic of Oregon graduate and former University of Oregon star Galen Rupp.

RACE REPLAY | PHOTOS | RESULTS

Young, who broke the California state 5,000 record of 14:01.40 set in 1986 by Eric Mastalir of Jesuit High, elevated to No. 4 all-time in U.S. prep history, moving ahead of another former Oregon prep legend and University of Oregon standout, Marshfield High graduate Steve Prefontaine, who clocked 13:52.8 in 1969.

"I think for the first seven laps I was feeling pretty good," Young said. "When I got to lap 9 or 10, I got pretty tired."

Young now trails only Rupp, along with the 13:44 run in 1964 by Gerry Lindgren of Rogers High in Spokane, Wash., and the 13:44.70 achieved in 2001 by Dathan Ritzenhein of Rockford, Mich.

Young set the national high school indoor 3,000-meter record Feb. 8 by running 7:56.97 against a field of professional and college athletes at the NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory in New York, his last significant race before Tuesday, aside from pacing Newbury Park teammate and Colorado signee Jace Aschbrenner for the first seven laps of a 3,200 time trial May 23 at Concordia University in Irvine, Calif.

"Obviously if you are in a race that's going, and you have a winner at 13:20 and (more finishers) up to 13:40, it would be awesome because he could just get in the mix and not think, just run," Newbury Park coach Sean Brosnan said. "We tried to do the best we could with the circumstances.

"He ran his heart out today and it was awesome."

Young matched Rupp’s 8:09 split through 3,000 meters in Belgium, with aid from the early pacing of Gonzaga’s Sammy Truax and former University of Portland runner Logan Orndorf during the first 2,400 meters. Young's 3,000-meter split was 8:09.99.

"I was going lactic at that point," Orndorf said."When I say I haven't raced (lately), I haven't raced in more than a year, since I was in college. Going that fast and trying to hold that pace ... it was a lot."

Orndorf was pressed into duty after the intention was that Rupp would pace Young to the record himself. But the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon champion developed some tenderness in a hamstring and decided he couldn't risk an injury, although he remained supportive of the record attempt. 

"I think it's really cool that (Young) is taking a shot at it," Rupp said before the race. "I really hope he breaks it. It's been there long enough."

Rupp plopped a lawn chair down in Lane 8 of the homestretch and cheered for Young while maintaining distance and wearing a mask.

In the end, though, there was not enough pacing help. 

With only Young on the track to cover the final six and a half laps, the Northern Arizona signee produced back-to-back splits of 67.5, followed by 68.2 and 68.4, before completing the last 400 in 68.9. His final 1,600 meters were covered in 4:33.

Young was not only looking to take down Rupp’s record, but also trying to become the first American prep athlete to achieve the standard on U.S. soil since Lindgren’s effort June 5, 1964, at the Compton Invitational in Southern California.

Aschbrenner watched the livestream and said he was proud of his teammate.

"Nico’s performance was pretty awesome," he said. "He came through super solid at 3,200 meters, but going through 8:43 solo after five laps takes a toll on you. I think the shorter-than-expected pacing job took some life out of his last couple laps, but he didn't die hard, he fought for that 13:50, and I've seen firsthand all the work he's put in. I'm proud of him for knocking Pre down to No. 5 all-time."

Young was also trying to become the first high school competitor since Lindgren in 1964 to simultaneously hold both the national indoor 3,000 and outdoor 5,000 records. Lindgren ran 8:06.3 for 3,000 as part of an overall 8:40 2-mile effort Feb. 15, 1964 at an indoor event in San Francisco.

Graduated Parkrose OR senior Ahmed Ibrahim completed the 5,000 meters in 15:31.76 after pressing himself hard through 3,000 in 8:24. His older brother, Abdi, also was in the race and clocked 16:17.36.

"It was amazing to be part of. History was being made," Ahmed Ibrahim said. "I wish he would have gotten (the record). It was awesome just to be here and compete."