Burns' 5,000m record earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

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:

• Garrett Corcoran won the men's USATF Marathon Trail Championships at Beacon, New York, by almost five minutes in 3:55:52 on one of the most challenging courses in the country.
• Brittany Charboneau won the women's USATF Marathon Trail Championships at Beacon, New York, in 4:46:43 on one of the most challenging courses in the country.
• Katie Moon cleared a world outdoor-leading 4.81m/15-9.25 to win the women's pole vault at the Doha Diamond League meet.
• Grant Holloway ran a world-leading 13.01 in the men's 110m hurdles at the adidas Atlanta City Games.
• Kenneth Rooks of BYU set an American collegiate record of 8:17.62 in the men's 3,000m steeplechase at the On Track Fest.
• Josette Andrews moved to No. 7 on the all-time U.S. performer list in the women's 5,000 with a world-leading 14:43.36 at the On Track Fest.

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.