INDIANAPOLIS — Breaking a national high school record that had stood since 2004, Connor Burns (Ashland, Missouri/USATF Missouri Valley) earned recognition as the 17th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023. Burns, a senior at Southern Boone High School, ran 13:37.30 for 5,000m at the On Track Fest in Walnut, California, to break the existing high school national record of 13:37.91 that was set by Galen Rupp in Heusden, Belgium. Finishing fifth in his section, Burns moved to No. 9 on the all-time U.S. U20 performer list. Already a member of the sub-4:00 mile club after clocking a 3:58.83 last June that ranks him as the seventh-best prep performer ever, Burns won the New Balance Nationals indoor two miles in 8:43.24 in March to move to sixth on the all-time high school indoor performer list at that distance. Other top performances from last week:
Now in its 22nd year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2023 Winners: January 17, Emily Sisson; January 24, Ednah Kurgat; January 31, Woody Kincaid; February 7, Grant Holloway; February 14, Yared Nuguse; February 21, Anna Hall; February 28, Talitha Diggs; March 7, Alicia Monson; March 14, Jasmine Moore; March 21, Keyzelle Thomas; March 28, Camille Herron; April 4, Hillary Bor; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Britton Wilson; April 25, Brooke Andersen; May 2, Gabby Thomas; May 9, Connor Burns. We welcome your nominations! To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org. Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF. Photo Credit: Megan Sanders.