Sophomore From Texas Runs 15:28.90 In Her First Crack At 5,000 Meters On A Track

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

John Nepolitan photos

First, Elizabeth Leachman ran 3,200 meters on local San Antonio tracks faster than Katelyn Tuohy's national high school record three times at low level outdoor meets in February. 

Then on Saturday in New York, Leachman got her first chance to a run a 5,000 meters on a track and cruised past Tuohy's national high school record with 15:28.90. 

That might not beat NCAA champion Parker Valby, but it would have been good enough for ninth in the NCAA Indoor women's final on Friday.

After a weekend that also included a 9:44.16 2-mile, the Foot Locker champion's stature as an all-time great at the prep level is growing steadily.

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Maddie Gardiner from Formula Track Club in Virginia was second in 16:17.32 and Sophia Rodriguez from Mercer Island WA broke the freshman class national record with 16:22.72 for third. 

Patrick Koon of Leon FL ran 13:59.69 to win the boys 5,000 meters and became the fourth prep to dip under 14 minutes indoors. Manny Perez of Graveyard of Los Angeles (Cathedral CA) ran the No. 6 all-time performance with 14:01.61.

Dylan McElhinney, who attends Hunter College in Manhattan, ran a US#1 time of 2:06.88 to win the girls 800 meters title. 

Owen Powell of Mercer Island WA joined his father, Andy, as a national indoor champion by rallying late to win the 800 meters in 1:52.59. Andy Powell, the men's coach at the University of Washington, won the scholastic mile title in 1998.  

In the boys 400 meters Jayden Horton-Sims of The TEP (Imhotep PA) ran a personal best 46.85 to win the championship. 

Skyler Franklin (Somerset Academy FL) won the girls 400 meters title with 53.44 seconds. 

Noah Nielson of American Fork UT, who made his way to New York from Boston, was second in the 800 in 1:52.53.

Adrenaline TC of Delaware (Tatnall) won the girls 4xMile relay with 20:14.42. 

In the boys race, Dreamville TC (Buccholz FL) stayed behind Herriman UT and anchor Riley Smith brought the baton home with a 4:10.29 carry to bring his team home with a two-second win in 17:25.44.

San Juan Capistrano (J Serra CA) ran 8:54.14 for US#2 to win the girls 4x800 relay. Georgia Jeanneret ran 2:08.64 on the anchor. 

McCallie of Tennessee won the boys 4x800 in a US#1 time of 7:44.40. 

Meagan Humphries (Castaic CA) won the girls pentathlon title with 3,813 points. 

Neil Howard III from (Taconic Hills Central) won the boys pentathlon with 3,881 points. 

Jaden Lippett from Winter Haven FL won the boys triple jump with 50-2 moving to US#3.

Skylynn Townsend of Rock Hill TX extended her US#1 in the girls triple jump to 42-6.

In the boys shot put, Ben Smith from Hortonville WI uncorked a US#1 throw of 68-4.25. 

Texan Madeleine Fey (Midlothian) won the girls shot put title with 45-9.75.