Engelhardt clocks 4:38.24 to eclipse 2017 mark by Halladay, with Aaron Sahlman running 4:05 mile, setting the stage for Newbury Park teammates Colin Sahlman (8:33.32), Leo Young (8:39.57) and Lex Young (8:43.93) in marquee 3,200 at APU

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Chuck Utash

AZUSA – The most impressive aspect of what the Newbury Park boys continue to accomplish on the track isn’t what Colin Sahlman, Leo Young, Lex Young and Aaron Sahlman have already achieved during the first seven weeks of the year.

It is the reminder that they are only getting started when it comes to what promises to be a record-breaking sixth-month run all across the country.

Following the most successful fall cross country season by any high school team in U.S. prep history, in addition to a memorable trip in early February to the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge in New York, Newbury Park continued to build its momentum Saturday night at the fifth edition of the Sundown Track Series, but the first one held on California soil.

RESULTS | CHUCK UTASH PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS

Colin Sahlman ran the fastest time ever by a prep athlete in a 3,200-meter race to lead three teammates under 8 minutes, 45 seconds, with Aaron Sahlman clocking 4:05.00 in the mile and Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura High producing the national freshman class girls mile record with her 4:38.24 effort at Cougar Stadium at Azusa Pacific University.

Colin Sahlman, a Northern Arizona commit, clocked 8:33.32 to join Lukas Verzbicas, German Fernandez and Jeff Nelson as the only high school competitors ever to run under 8:37 for the full 2-mile distance, including converted 3,200 marks.

Sahlman’s performance, including a 59.08 final 400, converts to 8:36.3 for a 2-mile effort, matching the 1979 performance at the Pepsi Invitational by Nelson.

Verzbicas clocked 8:29.46 in the 2-mile race at the 2011 Prefontaine Classic and Fernandez ran 8:34.40 to win the 2-mile title at the 2008 Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Leo Young ran 8:39.57 to help Newbury Park become the only team to have two athletes run sub-8:40 for 3,200 meters and elevate to the No. 10 all-time prep competitor including 2-mile races and converted marks, with Lex Young clocking 8:43.93, just off his national sophomore class record of 8:43.71 from last year’s Arcadia Invitational.

Chris Caudillo, a junior at Clovis High in California, was fourth in 8:59.99, with Ku Stevens of Yerington High in Nevada placing fifth in 9:01.38, as 10 athletes ran under 9:10.

Aaron Sahlman covered the first lap in 58.64 and closed in 59.95 over the final 400, but couldn’t maintain the pace with a solo effort in between, elevating to No. 17 all-time in California to lead seven athletes to sub-4:20 races.

He produced a 4:03.57 split for 1,600 meters, and is one of only four prep athletes – including Colin Sahlman’s 3:58.81 effort indoors at the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge – to run 4:05 flat or faster on any surface this year.

All four Newbury Park athletes are scheduled to travel to The Armory in New York in March to challenge the national 4xMile relay record at New Balance Nationals Indoor. Engelhardt is expected to compete at the event as well.

Engelhardt, who achieved the fastest mile in the world by a 14-year-old female athlete last year by running 4:40.16 in Alabama, eclipsed the freshman all-time mark before her first high school outdoor season officially began.

Engelhardt produced a crucial 68.24-second split on her third lap to provide plenty of cushion entering the final 400, as she eclipsed the 2017 freshman mark of 4:41.80 by former Mountain View High of Idaho standout and current Brigham Young athlete Lexy Halladay.

Engelhardt, who elevated to No. 3 all-time in California and the 10th-fastest competitor in U.S. prep history, achieved a 1,600-meter split of 4:36.39.

Emma Hadley, a senior at Anaheim Canyon High, was second in 4:55.12, with a 1,600 split of 4:53.61.

Casey Monoszlay, a Cal Poly Pomona graduate who helped pace the first two laps for Engelhardt, returned to win the 3,200 in 10:55.49.

Isabella Frisone, a Boise State-bound senior from Anaheim Canyon, was the top high school competitor in 11:05.15.

Alden Keller of The Breck School in Minnesota won the unseeded section of the 3,200 in 9:16.75, followed by Justin Singer of Cypress High in California clocking 9:18.32.

Elias Wiggins of Buena High in California won the unseeded section of the mile in 4:26.01, with Joshua Thomas of Chadwick High in California clocking 4:27.45.