Nathan Mountain's torrid summer season continued on Friday at Brooks PR in Renton, Washington. The now graduated senior from St. Xavier, who's Charlottesville, VA bound in the fall, produced an incredible 8:42.16 winning mark over the 2-mile distance to outlast Colorado-based standout Parker Wolfe, who took second in 8:43.91.
Wolfe gapped the entire field almost immediately, taking a substantial lead through the 400m split, but Mountain remained calm, holding steady in second place for the majority of the run before unleashing his patented finishing kick with just about 200 meters to go and carrying his momentum through the line for what may be the defining win of his high school career.
According to the MileSplit database and the widely renowned Jack Shepard High School Track and Field statistics manual, Mountain's effort goes down as No. 8 all-time over the 2-mile distance. His performance broke Drew Hunter's meet record of 8:42.51, which was established in the 2015 edition.
Mountain's latest honor complements a remarkable series of achievements he's attained during the past month, which includes the distinction of being Ohio's fastest all-time high school miler (4:02.54) and the national high school record holder in the 2000m Steeplechase (5:40.72).
Braun added a big-time accolade to his already stellar sprints resume. The triple crown winner at Division 1 - Hilliard Darby went 46.56 to win in Washington, holding off Charlie Bartholomew (McKinny, TX) at the line. Bartholomew went 46.66 for second place. Braun's latest effort comes on the heels of his 400m victory last week at AAU Region 4 Qualifier where he put himself in position to defend his title at the upcoming AAU Junior Olympic Games.
In 800 meter competition, Nick Plant assumed the lead late in the race and hung on to win in 1:49.39 to maintain his stranglehold on Ohio's No. 3 all-time mark. Plant, who resided at number three entering Friday's action by virtue of his 1:49.79 clocking from the Division I state meet, trails only Mark Sylvester (1:48.76) and Frank Hayes (1:49.16). One of the big storylines entering the 2022 season will be whether the rising senior from Canfield will etch his name at the top of the state's all-time leaderboard before he departs the high school ranks.
Johnson, the OHSAA Division III state record holder in the 800, lowered her personal best time with a 2:05.20 3rd place showing at Brooks. Running up front for the entirely of the race, Johnson was in the mix right up to the line, but was ultimately edged by race winner Ali Ince (Normal, IL), who clocked 2:03.98 and runner-up Addy Wiley (Huntington, IN), who recorded a 2:04.40 mark. Johnson is set to take her talents to State College, where she'll compete for the Nittany Lions beginning with the fall XC season.
Former Lancaster star Brannon Kidder earned the 800m victory against the pro field with a 1:45.43 mark. His latest effort follows his deep run at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where he advanced all the way to the finals and ultimately finished 5th against the country's best in a time of 1:45.08.
Monesmith lowered her personal best time down to 2:06.79, as she crossed the line fifth in the 800m contest. Just a few weeks removed from her victory at the RunningLane Championships, she'll enter her senior year at Hathaway Brown as Ohio's top performer over the half-mile distance.
Windle, the former New Albany High School standout, took second place in the professional 800m race in a time of 1:47.90, finishing behind the aforementioned Kidder. The Brooks Beasts representative's summer season has been highlighted by his advancement to the semi-final round of the U.S. Olympic Trials two weeks ago in Eugene, Oregon.
Louis gained valuable big meet experience during his 4th place outing in the 400. The rising junior from Bexley went 49.03, officially. This follows his Division II state meet triumph last month at Pickerington North, where he posted a personal best 47.54 mark.
The University of Kentucky bound Justus recorded a 1:52.24 mark for 8th place in the 800. The Kings grad officially wraps a senior season that saw him win the indoor state championship and take second outdoors at the half-mile distance. Justus' performance at Brooks was the third fastest of his career on the outdoor circuit.
Rhodeback earned the prestigious 110m hurdles invite to Brooks following his 300H state title and 110H runner-up effort at the Division I meet in Hilliard. During the final race of his high school career he clocked 14.23 for 7th place.
