ASICS Future Stars: Freshmen Boys Update #1
ASICS Future Stars: Freshmen Boys Update #1
Freshman year for high school boys is always a tough transition for distance runners, but this list of 10 has conquered the uptick in competition better than any other 9th graders across the country.
Here is the ASICS Future Stars Freshman Boys’ Update #1:
Conant Smith (Middletown, OH)
Middletown freshman Conant Smith cracked the 16:00 5K barrier for the first time on September 5th, crushing a 15:43 to win the Miamisburg Invitational. Smith’s mark is the fastest for all 9th graders in 2015.
Dolan Owens (James Island, SC)
James Island (SC) frosh Dolan Owens had already made a name for himself in South Carolina running circles before arriving on campus, as Owens ran 4:24 (1600) and 15:54 (5K) in 8th grade. The experienced freshman has picked up right where he left off, running 15:45 twice this fall, second-best for the Class of 2019.
Bradley Peloquin (Gig Harbor, WA)
Gig Harbor (WA) has quite the legacy in cross country, as they were the 2013 NXN champions, and now they appear to have a future star in the form of freshman Bradley Peloquin. His 15:45 5K at the highly competitive Sundodger Invite last weekend was good for an 11th place finish, tops among freshman and sophomores at the meet.
Zachary Kinne (Naperville, IL)
Neuqua Valley’s Zachary Kinne was the top freshman at the crazy fast Richard Spring Invitational 3-mile at Detweiler Park in 15:04, which makes him the fastest frosh in the country over the distance. Kinne has a very experienced team at Neuqua to train with, and should improve dramatically as the season progresses.
Keeton Thornsberry (Louisville, KY)
Keeton Thornsberry ran a stunning 10:08 3200m on the track this spring as an 8th grader, the fastest among middle schoolers in 2015. Now a freshman, Thornberry has led his Holy Cross squad at each of their first two meets, including a 16:06 5K at the Franklin County Invite last weekend.
Kevin Ramos (Riverside, CA)
Rubidoux High (CA) freshman Kevin Ramos was the top frosh at the super quick Woodbridge XC Classic on September 19th, running 15:13 to place 42nd. That time makes him the second-fastest frosh in the country over 3-miles.
Brent Smith (Pacific Palisades, CA)
Palisades Charter High’s Brent Smith was fourth in the Gold - Varsity race at Woodbridge last weekend in 15:18, the third-fastest mark by a freshman in 2015.
Ronald Kigen (Newark, NJ)
St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey is known in the running world as the alma mater of Oregon superstar Edward Cheserek, but fellow Kenyan Ronald Kigen is looking to build his own legacy at the school as he opened his prep career with a 15:50 5K on September 12th.
Carter Cheeseman (Brentwood, TN)
When you run a 4:28 mile as an 8th grader like Carter Cheeseman did this past spring, you clearly belong on a future star list. The Brentwood (TN) freshman has raced just once so far this fall, a 16:21 5K on August 29th, but expect much faster results this season given Cheeseman’s track speed.
John Thrapp (Wenatchee, WA)
Wenatchee (WA) freshman John Thrapp broke 16:00 for the first time at Sundodger last weekend in Seattle with his 15:57 15th place finish. His time makes him the fifth-fastest frosh in the country over 5K.