Cary Academy distance runner Thomas Graham ran the fastest time ever by a N.C. high school athlete in the 5,000-meter run at the Raleigh Relays on Friday.
Graham - the first runner to win four NCISAA cross country titles and committed to run at Stanford next fall - completed the event in a scorching 14.11.66. That time also places him 15th all-time among high school runners the United States.
There are six Olympians in the all-time top 15, and the record is held by Galen Rupp of Portland, who ran 13:37.91 in 2004.
Full top 15 list:
1. 13:37.91 Galen Rupp (Central Catholic, Portland, Oregon) 2004
2. 13:44.0 Gerry Lindgren (Rogers, Spokane, Washington) 1964
3. 13:44.70 Dathan Ritzenhein (Rockford, Michigan) 2001
4. 13:52.8 Steve Prefontaine (Marshfield, Coos Bay, Oregon) 1969
5. 13:55.65 John Zishka (Lancaster, Ohio) 2008
6. 13:55.69 Chris Derrick (Neuqua Valley, Illinois) 2008
7. 13:57.04 Joseph Cheserek (St. Benedict, Kenya/NJ) 2012
8. 13:58.2 Craig Virgin (Lebanon, Illinois) 1973
9. 14:00.2 Rick Riley (Ferris, Spokane, Washington) 1966
10. 14:01.40 Eric Mastalir (Jesuit, Carmichael, California) 1986
11. 14:04.8 Alberto Salazar (Wayland, Massachusetts) 1976
12. 14:05.79 Ammar Moussa (Arcadia, California) 2011
13. 14:06.33 Lukas Verzbicas (Carl Sandberg, Orland Park, Illinois) 2011
14. 14:07.55 Josh McDougal (Home, Peru, New York) 2004
15. 14:11.66 Thomas Graham (Cary Academy, Cary, North Carolina) 2012
Thank you to CA coach Conrad Hall for providing this information.
Comments
5000m All-Time List
Mon, 04/02/2012 - 21:08 — CoachPayneLeft out of the list, and reported by Track & Field News14:08.4 Terry Williams (Lompoc, Ca, 1973) and Robbie Perkins (Collegiate, Richmond, Va, 1973) {Source: http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/prepout_at_m.html}. Both occurred in the same race. Robbie Perkins is now Mayor of Greensboro, NC. I coached Robbie, as well as Conrad Hall's dad, Bill, who was also an outstanding runner. This stated, I'm looking forward to Thomas moving ahead of both runners. He is an outstanding runner, and is being guided by an exceptional coach in Conrad Hall!