* Webb School's Abby Faith Cheeseman has been named our COROS Distance Athletes of the Week
Photo Credit: Raymond Tran/MileSplit
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We're starting to get into the prime part of the track and field season, but don't tell that to the nation's distance stars.
They've been hammering top times all spring.
This past weekend, two distance superstars from Pennsylvania and Tennessee moved up to No. 2 in their respective state's record books after throwing down huge personal bests on their home tracks.
Check out the briefs below for more information about this week's winners, as well as links to the previous winners.
Drew Griffith, Butler (PA)
Class of 2024
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Over the weekend, Griffith came oh-so-close to breaking the four-minute barrier in the mile, finishing just three-quarters of a second shy of becoming the 22nd high schooler to accomplish the feat.
On his home track at the Butler Invitational, Griffith went for it, taking it out in 58 seconds before clocking off a 60, 61 and 60 to come as close as anyone this outdoor season.
Griffith crossed in 4:00.77, which was the third-fastest mile time this year, only behind JoJo Jourdon (3:59.87) and Clay Shively (4:00.47). Griffith now sits No. 2 all-time in Pennsylvania history, trailing only Archbishop Ward's Gary Martin, who clocked 3:57.89 in 2022.
Abby Faith Cheeseman, The Webb School (TN)
Class of 2025
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What's better than running the second-fastest time in Tennessee history?
Doing it on your home track in front of your friends and family.
Over the weekend, Cheeseman clocked a blazing 9:56.83 at the Webb School Fleet Feet Invitational on her home track in Bell Buckle, scoring a new junior class record in Tennessee.
And Cheeseman didn't just win. She absolutely dominated the race, crossing the line 84 seconds before the next finisher; she also lowered her own school record along the way.
This was Cheeseman's first trip under 10:00 and she's now just one of 46 girls to do so nationally.
She also became the 10th-fastest junior in U.S. history over 3,200m, joining an extremely coveted list of high school legends.
Related Links:
COROS Distance Athlete of the Week
Week 1: Ben Gabelman and Clemmie Lilley earn the first week's honor
Week 2: New Balance champions Daniel Simmons and Elizabeth Leachman rise up
Week 3: Sadie Engelhardt and Jason Parra take the tape
Week 4: Riley Smith and Braelyn Combe pick up week four honors
Week 5: Clay Shively and Addy Ritzenhein snag state records
Week 6: Patrick Hilby and Isabel Allori win at Arcadia, pick up AOW honors
Week 7: Californians Jason Parra and Jaelyn Williams take AOW honors