21. Riku Sugie
2023 Notable XC Finishes: 4th at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational with a PR of 14:51.92, 1st at the KHSAA State Cross Country Championships, 2nd at the Foot Locker South Regional, and 18th at Foot Locker Nationals.
Analysis: Riku Sugie had an exceptional 2023 cross-country season, highlighted by six race wins and four course records. He captured the individual state title and led Thomas Nelson High to a program-best fourth-place finish at the state meet.
Sugie's impressive season included a 2nd-place finish at the Foot Locker South Regional championships with a time of 14:54.81, which qualified him for the national meet where he placed 18th. He also won the Class 2A State Championships with a time of 15:40.02, further showcasing his dominance. Remarkably, Sugie was unbeaten by a Kentucky runner last fall.
Off to a hot start this season, Sugie has already secured back-to-back wins and maintains a strong 5K average of 15:10. He parlayed his strong fall into a remarkable spring track season, capturing Kentucky state titles in the 1600m and 3200m. Sugie also achieved a 15th-place finish in the mile at Nike Outdoor Nationals and won the 5K with a time of 14:28.63.
COROS MILESPLIT50
PRESEASON BOYS INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RANKINGS
*Click on the athlete names below for analysis
RANK | ATHLETE |
|---|---|
| 25 | Jack Bowen, McCallie School (Tenn.) |
| 24 | Luke Pash, Ridgewood HS (N.J.) |
| 23 | Alex Fisher, Loomis Chaffee (Conn.) |
| 22 | Benjamin Anderson, Mountain Vista (Colo.) |
| 21 | Riku Sugie, Thomas Nelson (Ky.) |
| 20 | Jack Graffeo, Westford Academy (Mass.) |
| 19 | Caden Leonard, Carroll (Ore.) |
| 18 | Landon Pretre, Menlo School (Calif.) |
| 17 | Tayvon Kitchen, Crater (Ore.) |
| 16 | Josiah Tostenson, Crater (Ore.) |
| 15 | Marcelo Mantecon, Belen Jesuit Prep (Fla.) |
| 14 | Eli Fitchen-Young, Santa Cruz (Calif.) |
| 13 | Kaden Evans, American Fork (Utah) |
| 12 | Owen Powell, Mercer Island (Wash.) |
| 11 | Tommy Latham, Marist (Ga.) |
| 10 | Broen Holman, Sonora (Calif.) |
| 9 | Joe Barrett, Christian Brothers Academy (N.J.) |
| 8 | Daniel Skandera, Unattached (Ala.) |
| 7 | Juan Gonzalez, Fremont (Nebr.) |
| 6 | TJ Hansen, Freeland (Ore.) |
| 5 | Robert Mechura, Roseville (Minn.) |
| 4 | Evan Noonan, Dana Hills (Calif.) |
| 3 | Tamrat (Tam) Gavenas, Phillips Academy Andover (Mass.) |
| 2 | Manny Putz, Onalaska (Wisc.) |
| 1 | Ty Steorts, Hurricance (W. Va.) |