Previewing The Sundown Track Series No. 2

Feb 18, 2022

Aaron Sahlman, right, paced bother Colin, left, in the mile at the Sundown Track Series Meet No. 1 last month in Mesa, Arizona. Saturday night at the second meet in this open series, Aaron will be pushing toward a 4-minute mile while Colin has eyes on an 8:40 target for 3200 meters. (David McBee photo)

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Section, State, and National cross country champion Colin Sahlman of Newbury Park, fresh off his historic indoor mile throwdown in New York, is scheduled to take the line Saturday evening in the 3200 meters, looking to drop a sub-8:40 at the Sundown Track Series Meet #2.

The open showcase at Azusa Pacific University, which is set to be streamed live by MileSplit, is scheduled to include Leo Young, Lex Young, Daniel Appleford, and others from the national-champion Newbury Park boys distance group in that eight-lap finale.

Sahlman and Lex Young enter the 2022 track and field season with the top two returning times for 3200 meters, 8:43.42 and 8:43.71, respectively, from last spring's CA-only Arcadia Invitational. The fast 3200-meter heat 18-runner field is scheduled to included Central Section stars Christopher Caudillo and Nathaniel Avila of Clovis HS. Caudillo's 8:51.98 from Arcadia last spring ranks as the No. 9 returning 3200m time in the U.S., and No. 2 in the junior class behind only Lex Young.

Colin Sahlman's young brother Aaron Sahlman is set to run the mile and try to do outdoors what his brother did indoors on February 5, when he became the third-fastest high schooler at the mile distance. Colin Sahlman's 3:58.81 run at The Armory -- to win a race loaded with professionals, no less -- ranks behind only Hobbs Kessler (3:57.66), and Drew Hunter (3:57.81 and 3:58.25).

Aaron Sahlman has a mile PR of 4:09.30, set last June at the Music City Track Carnival. His time ranks third nationally among returning boys in the 2023 class, behind teammates Leo and Lex Young. Sahlman's time ranks U.S. No. 16 overall among returners.

Also scheduled in the eight-race distance-only event at APU, is Ventura (SS) High freshman star Sadie Engelhardt in the girls featured mile. That 17-runner field also includes Anaheim Canyon standouts Emma Hadley and Makena Oliva, and Newbury Park's Morgan Nygren and Danielle Brotcke.

As an open event, athletes will compete unattached. High school affiliations are noted here for identification purposes.

Our friends at Finished Results will provide the timing with live results (as well as 1600m splits in the mile), while the legendary Tim O'Rourke is scheduled to be on the call on what could be another historic performance by this amazing group of high school distance athletes.

Be sure to check it out!