Kehoe runs Oklahoma all-time best 16:38.47, Parra rallies with impressive last lap to clock 14:32.69, leading seven athletes under 14:40 on opening day at Hayward Field

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE, Ore. – With the majority of the opening day schedule at Nike Cross Nationals focusing on emerging elite, freshman and middle school competitions, the only championship events Thursday also highlighted a pair of rising stars, with two sophomore standouts capturing titles in the 5,000-meter races.

Liesel Kehoe of Edmond North produced an all-time Oklahoma state best by clocking 16 minutes, 38.47 and Franco Parra of TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas in San Antonio, representing Celerity Performance, covered the final lap in 60.96 seconds to rally for victory in 14:32.69 at Hayward Field.

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Sydney Masciarelli of Marianapolis Prep in Connecticut was the last sophomore to win the girls 5,000 in 2019, with Ryan Oosting of Arlington High in Massachusetts the last 10th-grader to secure the boys 5,000 title in 2017.

Kehoe eclipsed the March 18 performance of 16:48.78 achieved by Payton Hinkle of Broken Arrow at the Southlake Carroll Texas Distance Festival, adding to her Oklahoma 3,200-meter state record 10:30.30 from April 1 at the Owasso Ram Relays.

Kehoe elevated among the top five sophomore athletes in the 5,000 in meet history, along with being included among the top 20 all-time competitors in the event.

Charlotte Richman of Ida B. Wells just missed the Oregon all-time best, placing second in 16:46.45 in her final prep competition before reporting next week to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

Lani Bloom of Ithaca High in Michigan, a Purdue signee who won the Nike Indoor Nationals mile title in March, took third in 16:59.67. Bloom finished fourth in the 5,000 last year in 16:59.41.

Parra ascended among the top 15 performances in meet history, leading seven athletes to sub-14:40 efforts, including twin brother Marcelo, who clocked 14:37.65 to place seventh overall.

Logan Law, a junior at Milwaukie High in Oregon, placed second in 14:34.29, with BYU-bound Jayden Fitzgarrald of American Fork High in Utah finishing third in 14:34.88.

Kevin Sanchez of Austin Vandegrift High in Texas, who was 11th at the Eastbay Cross Championships in December in San Diego, placed fourth in 14:35.60 after leading entering the final lap.

Cameron Antoine of Pearland High in Texas led a competitive opening day in the boys decathlon, with three athletes separated by 32 points.

Antoine is the midway leader at 3,549 points, with Aiden Carter of Brentwood High in Tennessee accumulating 3,537 points and Connor Munson of Westwood Regional in New Jersey third overall at 3,517 points.

The only emerging elite competitions featured the javelin throw, with junior Morgan Reiner of Milton Area High in Pennsylvania producing a nine-foot improvement on her previous-best effort in the sixth round to triumph with a mark of 138-7 (42.26m).

Sam Romerhaus, a junior at Calvary Christian in Florida, won the boys emerging elite javelin with a mark of 166-7 (50.79m).