The COROS Distance Athletes Of The Week (4/08-4/14)

Apr 18, 2024

* Jaelyn Williams was third in the 3,200m at the Arcadia Invitational and currently has the the No. 3 time in the country

Photo Credit: Raymond Tran/California MileSplit

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In one of the more quieter weeks of the season, there was still plenty to talk about on the distance side of things, as both COROS Distance Athletes of the Week got back to work following the Arcadia Invitational.

For Week 7, both athletes picked up a pair of wins over the span of two meets, solidifying themselves as two of the best distance runners in the state.

Check out the briefs below for more information about this week's winners, as well as links to the previous winners.

* Jason Parra was runner-up last may in the CIF State Championship 3200m

Jason Parra, Millikan (CA)

Class of 2024

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The Notre Dame-bound senior has had a busy last few days, running three races in four days.

At his dual meet versus Poly, Parra won both the 1,600m and 3,200m in 4:18.7 and 8:58.9.

Parra put 15 seconds between him and the field over the course of the four-lap race, following that up with a dominant 1:24 victory in the 3200m. A few days later in the Millikan Mile, Parra won again, this time in a new mile personal best of 4:10.38, winning by 27 seconds.

That performance ranks him No. 8 in the state.

Parra is one of the top athletes in the state, checking in at No. 18 in the 1600m and No. 6 in the 3,200m.

Jaelyn Williams, Eastlake (CA)

Class of 2026

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At the Olympian v. Eastlake dual and the Jaguar Invite last week, the sophomore out of San Diego notched two wins in two distance events, winning the 1,600m and 3,200m in new personal best times.

Williams got her weekend of racing started off last Thursday in a dual on her home track, winning the 1,600m in 4:43.2 and taking over a second off of her previous best. Williams' win was the definition of a solo effort as she won by 46 seconds.

A few days later, Williams was oh-so-close to running under 10:00 for the first time in her career, clocking 10:00.3 to take the dub at the Jaguar Invite. Over the course of eight laps, she put an entire minute between herself and the rest of the field.

This season, Williams is the fastest Californian in the 3200m, and if she can go under 10:00 this season, she'll join Sadie Engelhardt, Hanne Thomsen and Claudia Lane as the only sophomores in state history to break 10:00.

In the 1,600m, Williams trails only Engelhardt, the national leader, and is the only other girl under 4:45 in the state.