Boys 5000m
While TDF hosts a wide variety of distance-based events, none are more highly anticipated or competitive than the elite boys 5000m. Over its ten-year history, this race has seen a who's who of Texas running talent along with some future NCAA champions and some of the fastest Americans in history. While the opportunity to run a track 5000m proves to be rare, those lucky enough to run it at TDF usually take advantage of it.
Across the decade of talent-rich competition at this race, current University of North Carolina Star, 13:13 5000m runner, and ACC champion Parker Wolfe holds the meet record of 14:06.48. Other notable names in this race's all-time bests include NCAA champion and 3:50 miler Cooper Teare, and NCAA runner-up and 13:11 5000m runner Alex Maier.
While the meet record feels out of reach given how impressive it is, with this year's star-studded field a lot feels possible. With a host of state champions and just about every big name Texas has to offer, we're sure to see an incredible field and the fastest 5000m in the country.
Caden Leonard
Although not officially listed under the current entries, one could safely assume that current state champion Caden Leonard will return to run the 5000m this year at what's essentially a home meet. Leonard needs no introduction to anyone familiar with the Texas running scene as he's quickly cemented himself as the state's top runner as only a sophomore. He contested this race last year as a freshman and came away with a fourth-place finish in a time of 14:33.51. He'll surely look to improve upon that this year and based on his improvement this fall, he's on track to do so.
Leonard had one of the best freshman track seasons you'll ever see off the back of an impressive first cross-country season. He ran 15:08 on the grass as a freshman and came away with sixth place at his first state meet. He then parlayed this success with a great spring where he qualified for the state meet in the 3200m and finished the season with personal bests of 9:06.49 and 4:15.02. It's obvious that Leonard had an impressive start to his career, but he blew any high expectations into the stratosphere in the fall where he broke the 15:00 barrier three times, won the state meet, and finished with a personal best of 14:55.8.
Based on his incredible start to his career, Caden Leonard will come into this race as the obvious favorite if he indeed decides to run it again. He's already gotten off to a hot start this spring with a new personal best of 4:10.26 which he just set at the Carroll Invitational. Caden Leonard is shaping up to have one of the best careers we've ever seen and he could further that likelihood with an impressive performance at TDF.
Joseph Bariola
Coming in second on the official entries is our first non-Texas of this group in the form of Hot Spring, Arkansas native, and University of Missouri commit Joseph Bariola. Much like the other runners on this list, Bariola has shown an ability to run incredibly fast over a variety of races. He's been the best runner in the state of Arkansas over the last year and he'll look to shake up a field full of Texas talent at TDF this year.
Much like the other entrants on this list, Bariola came into high school as an already talented runner and he proved himself right away. He ran sub-4:30 his freshman year and then transitioned well into his second cross-country season where he finished the year with a new personal best of 15:43. However, Bariola made a massive jump in performance heading into his junior track season where he quickly showed he was the best runner in the state. Over the course of the 2023 season, Bariola lowered his personal bests drastically. He ran 1:56.93 in the 800m, 4:09.99 in the 1600m, and 9:06.15 in the 3200m, winning the state championship in the 1600m and finishing second in the 3200m.
Heading into the
fall, Bariola looked to build on what was an incredible track season and
that's exactly what he did. He won the Arkansas State Cross Country Championship and later won the NXR South Regional Championship
in a time of 14:52.90. Bariola is undoubtedly one of the most
well-rounded runners in the country and he'll look to further prove that
at TDF. Look for him to mix it up at the front and come away somewhere
in the low 14:40s or faster.
Hudson Haley
Coming in third on the official entries is Austin Vandegrift star and UIL State Championship runner-up Hudson Haley. Haley has continued to prove himself as one of the top three runners in the state as he continues to get faster and place on the podium at big meets. His strengths reside over longer distances, however, he's proven himself to be one of the best all-around talents Texas has to offer, and he's sure to be a key player at the front of this race.
Haley is one of those guys who has been fast since the moment he stepped on campus at Austin Vandegrift. He ran 4:26 and 9:42 as a freshman which placed him as a name to watch going into his second season. And he's continued to be a name to watch since then as he followed up in his sophomore season by setting new personal bests of 4:16.63 over 1600m, 9:18.61 over 3200m, and 15:26.39 over a cross-country 5K. Haley clearly set the foundations for a great fall and he capitalized on it, achieving a second-place finish at the state meet and lowering his personal best even further to 15:04.20.
Coming into TDF, Haley will look to improve on his performance at last year's meet where he placed sixteenth in a time of 14:52.83. The top three will undoubtedly be tight as this trio has proven to be stuck to one another throughout their careers. The key for Haley will be to stick up front and utilize his fast finishing capabilities to pick up a good result and likely dip into the low 14:40s and maybe even lower.
Benjamin Montgomery
Slotting into the number four spot and completing the same trio that finished on the podium at the state meet in the fall is Benjamin Montgomery. Since he joined a Bridgeland program that continues to evolve into one of the best in the state, Montgomery has been nothing short of incredible. Montgomery is truly an elite runner across any distance and he's shown that throughout his career at Bridgeland up to this point.
Montgomery moved to Bridgeland at the start of his sophomore year and quickly became the class of the program. He finished his first cross-country season with the team with a new personal best of 15:22.8 and placed 22nd at the state meet. While Montgomery may have been dissatisfied by his standards, it clearly didn't affect him as he made a sizable leap in performance on the track in the spring. He showcased a great mix of strength and speed over the 1600m where he set a new personal best of 4:16.97. However, his most impressive performances came over 3200m where Montgomery ran six races under the 9:20 mark, the fastest of those being his effort at the state meet where he ran 9:00.71 for fifth place.
Heading into this track season, Montgomery has safely asserted himself as a top-three runner in the state. He placed third at the UIL State Championship in the fall and came away with a personal best of 15:00.20 and an NXN birth. Last year he had a good race at TDF where he ran 14:53.41, but he'll surely look to improve upon that this year. Look for Montgomery to mix it up at the front and easily dip into the 14:40s with the potential for more depending on how the race goes.
Ethan Gonzalez
Taking the fifth spot in our official entries up to this point is yet another Texas state champion in the form of Richland Hills' Ethan Gonzalez. Although he doesn't compete in the more recognized 6A division, Gonzalez has proven himself to be one of the most talented runners the state has to offer. Gonzalez is nothing short of a savant over longer distances and he'll look to prove that on the biggest stage at TDF.
Unlike the other runners on this list, Gonzalez wasn't immediately a stud when he stepped on campus his freshman year. He was by no means slow, but he wasn't the guy who was running 4:20 and placing top-ten at the state meet. However, something changed over the winter of 2022, as Gonzalez came into the 2023 outdoor season and lowered his personal best by forty-six seconds in the 1600m and forty-five seconds in the 3200m, giving him personal bests of 4:29.40 and 9:34.53. Coming into the fall, Gonzalez would look to build on his improvement and he did exactly that, smashing the 15:00 barrier and running 14:55.80 on his way to a state title.
Coming into TDF, Gonzalez has already run some impressive times to start his season. He smashed the field and ran 9:03.44 in his first race. Gonzalez has had one of the most impressive and rapid improvements we've seen over the last few years and he'll look to improve even more. He's clearly in shape to start the year and we wouldn't be surprised if we saw him dip into the 14:40s at TDF this year.
Runners to Watch
While the top-five of this list is undoubtedly the best field we'll see in the state this year, there's still a plethora of talent looking to break the 15:00 barrier at TDF this year. Some of these names include:
Neeraj Kulkarni: 15:07.70 (XC)
Dylan Schieffelin: 14:58.29 (Track)
Owen Kelley: 15:16.30 (XC)
Sam Golla: 15:02.80 (XC)
Henok Hagos: 15:03.60 (XC)
Girls Race (5000m)
Similarly to the Boys 5000m race, the Girls race is often considered the most anticipated race of the weekend with many of the state's top talent usually showing up. This year's race looks to be no different as some of the best talent from Texas and the surrounding states are looking to leave it all out on the track. Historically, this race has seen some of the best girls in the state's history go toe to toe for the win and we'll continue that trend with another strong field this year.
The legendary Brynn Brown currently holds the meet record which she set in 2021 in the form of an astounding 15:56.89. Over its history, this race has also seen several lightning-fast performances including Natalie Cook's 16:39.91, London Culbreath's 16:44.83, and Ashlyn Hillyard's 16:45.60 to name a few. This year's field features a host of talent, with one runner who could potentially put the seemingly untouchable meet record under duress.
Elizabeth Leachman
It seems like there's nothing about Elizabeth Leachman's short but illustrious career that we could say that hasn't already been said. Simply put, she's had one of if not the best starts to a career we've ever seen. She's shown amazing talent across every facet of middle and long-distance running and she'll be looking to add yet another record to her already outstanding career by taking advantage of one of the faster fields she'll likely see this year at TDF.
As previously mentioned, Leachman needs no introduction as she's established herself as arguably the best runner in the country through what she's done. She came into her freshman year and immediately made a difference, finishing the year with personal bests of 10:17.81 and 4:47.28, bringing home a state title in the ladder. With this good of a starting point, it may be hard to imagine Leachman being able to make another sizable jump in performance but that's exactly what she did.
Over the fall, Leachman made one of the biggest jumps in performance from an elite runner that we've ever seen. She thoroughly destroyed any semblance of competition and set an eye-watering personal best of 16:07.60 at NXR. Leachman has also had a great start to 2024, running 4:48.55 over a full mile and 9:43.74 over 3200m. Leachman has a real shot at Brown's incredible meet record, and as only a sophomore Leachman could end up being the best runner in Texas history by the time her career ends.
Sydni Wilkins
Slotting into the number two spot in the current entries is University of Texas commit and Frisco Liberty senior Sydni Wilkins. As evidenced by her commitment, Wilkins has been one of the top runners in the state throughout her career. She's seen a ton of success over her career, with her best performances tending to come over 3200m and 5000m. She's a true distance runner and she'll look to further lower her already impressive personal best at TDF.
Throughout her career, Wilkins has been a very well-rounded runner, showcasing a diverse skill set from 800m to 5000m. She's had the most success in cross country but it's translated well onto the track. She's qualified for the state meet multiple times and currently holds a personal best of 17:38.69 which she set at the Southlake #2 XC Invite. On the track she's also showcased an ability to run well over 3200m, running a new personal best of 10:58.62 to start the season this year.
Wilkins has been a true distance runner her entire career and she's done it well. If her recent performances are any indication, she's in the best shape of her career and will look to take advantage of it at TDF. Look for her to run around the 17:20s and push for a place on the podium.
Kathryn Koonts
Coming into the third spot in our official entries at this point is Klein senior and University of Tulsa commit Kathryn Koonts. Koonts's career has best been defined by steady progression which has eventually led to her becoming one of the best runners in the 6A division. She's proven to be a strong all-around runner from 1600m to 5000m and will contest the upper part of her range at TDF.
Koonts started off her career as a good runner with good range, she finished twentieth at the state meet her first season and used that benchmark to have a great track season where she ran 5:06.83 and 11:15.26. Over the next three years, she would qualify for the state meet an additional four times, with her highest finish being fifth in 2021. She currently holds personal bests of 5:00.37 over 1600m, 10:45.67 over 3200m, and 17:42.00 over 5000m. She's truly one of the most well-rounded runners in the state and will utilize this skill set to likely qualify for the state meet again this year.
Coming into TDF, Koonts is coming off the best cross-country season of her career. Look for her to be near the front at TDF and likely dip into the 17:30s and pick up a new personal best along with a potential spot on the podium.
Adelynn Rodriguez
Coming into the fourth spot of our official entries is El Paso Eastwood junior Adelynn Rodriguez. Throughout her career, Rodriguez has proven to be a phenomenal middle-distance runner who also possesses the ability to perform well in cross-country. She'll take a step up in distance at TDF this year, but if her recent performances are any indication she'll have no trouble producing a good race over 5000m.
Throughout her career, Rodriguez has proven to be at her best over 800m and 1600m. She had the best season of her career in 2023 where she ran 2:17.50 over 800m to go along with a sub-5:00 1600m in the form of a 4:59.42. She also had a good cross-country season which saw her qualify for the state meet where she placed in the top forty-five. Her current personal best over 5000m is 17:42.21 which she set in 2022. She's clearly well-rounded meaning this step up to a distance that she hasn't competed at as often shouldn't carry much difficulty for her.
Coming into TDF, the key for Rodriguez will be to make sure she's in good shape to run a 5000m. We know what she can do over shorter distances, but the 5000m can be a different animal. That being said, she's shown that she can run the right race at the right time throughout her career, and because of this, we'll likely see her put in another good performance at TDF.
Caroline Fender
Sliding into the fifth and final spot on our current entries is our first non-Texan on the list in Colorado's Caroline Fender. Fender is another name on this list who has proven to be very well-rounded over the course of her short career. She's shown an ability to run well anywhere from 1600m up to cross-country and she'll test her fitness over 5000m at TDF. She's started the year off with a good indoor season and we'll see if it translates this spring.
Fender has proven to be a great runner throughout her short career. She's shown an ability to perform well over a variety of distances, making her a true threat for the win over any distance. She holds current personal bests of 5:12.19 over 1600m, 10:51.11 over 3200m, and 18:04.00 over 5000m. She's had the most success over 3200m, but she's been able to perform at an elite rate in every race she's competed in.
Coming into TDF, Fender will look to knock her 5000m personal best down below the 18:00 mark and she looks to be in a good position to do so. Based on her recent performances she should be able to easily break into the 17:50s and maybe even lower with the right race.
Runners to Watch
Molly Garrison: 18:21.80
Claire Collins: 18:24.40
Lexi Cooper: 18:35.00
Be sure to stay tuned as we'll have more content for you as entries continue to come in. TDF will surely be another great meet this year and you won't want to miss anything.