It's always hard to say goodbye to a graduating class of seniors and the Class of 2016 is no different, especially as Noah Lyles and Michael Norman made the Olympic Trials final last week in the 200 meters.
However, there are already two youngsters chomping at the bit to make their mark on the high school scene.
Rising sophomores Brian Herron and Tyrese Cooper both set PBs this week that register on the United States all-time list.
Herron, of Lake Side High School in Ga., ran 46.29 for 400m to win the 15-16 Boys section at the USATF Region 4 Junior Olympics. That is the second-fastest mark ever recorded by an American fifteen-year-old. At the Junior Olympics, he'll be aiming for Josephus Lyles' national age group record of 46.23.
The sixteen-year-old Cooper, who goes by "Smoke," is the national freshman record holder in the 200m and 400m. He lowered that 200m mark this week from 20.68 to 20.66 in the prelims at AAU National Club Championships. His prior record dates back to February and he has run faster all season but this is the first time that the time is wind-legal and eligible for record keeping purposes.
Another tidbit about Herron and Cooper? They share the indoor national freshman record for 400m at 47.97.
Stay tuned to MileSplit this weekend to follow this developing story!
AAU National Club Championships results and coverage
USATF Region 4 Junior Olympics results and coverage