SOUTHLAKE, DALLAS -- Parker Wolfe didn't wait a second for his race to develop on Saturday.
Instead, the Cherry Creek (CO) High School senior and University of North Carolina recruit carefully crafted his position over the first 200 meters, before ultimately (completely) taking over in the boys elite 5K at the Texas Distance Festival.
In the ensuing laps he never looked back, producing what will go down as the event's signature moment as he scored a new meet record in 14:06.48 on Saturday on the Carroll High School Track.
Wolfe's performance surpassed Cooper Teare's former record of 14:13.26, which was last accomplished in 2017.
And yet, not only was Wolfe's time a new U.S. No. 1 time on the season but it also went down as a top 20 effort all-time, slotting home at No. 17 overall ... in his first race of the season.
Beyond Wolfe's win, some interesing developments also took place.
No other runner broke 14:30 on the day -- though two pre-race contenders, Justin Wachtel and Judson Greer, did scratch out of the field.
Wolfe's torrid start out of the gate -- he was through the first 200m in 29 seconds and the first 400 in 69 seconds -- may have altered the field's plans early on.
However, Mustangs (OK) junior Gabe Simonsen was incredibly impressive in his second-place performance in 14:35.88, while Catawba Ridge senior Sam Rich continued his torrid run of efforts, scoring a third-place finish in 14:40.24.
A total of 13 runners broke 15 minutes on the track.
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