Emilio Young

Emilio "Leo" Martin Young (born February 28, 2005) is an American long-distance runner. He represented his home country in the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships where he led his team to a bronze medal in the (U20) Junior race a week and a half before his 18th birthday. His 16th place was the highest from a non-East African country.[1] He qualified for the World Championships by winning the U20 race at the USA Cross Country Championships.[2]

Leo Young
Personal information
Born (2005-02-28) 28 February 2005
US
Sport
Country US
SportAthletics
Event(s)Long-distance running
TeamNewbury Park High School
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
World Cross Country Championships
Bronze medal – third place2023 BathurstJunior team

While running for Newbury Park High School, he was the only person to be a part of three National Championship cross country teams over a four-year period, interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of those races was won by a teammate, his older brother Nico Young in 2019, Colin Sahlman in 2021, and Aaron Sahlman in 2022. Leo was the last competitor each of the Sahlman brothers passed en route to their victory. With Aaron, Colin and twin brother Lex, his team set the National 4x1 Mile run record. Their time of 16:29.31 took 32+1⁄2 seconds off the previous mark.[3] Leo ran a 4:00.77-mile as a high school junior.

Lex and Leo are YouTube vloggers, documenting their adventures including training and racing under the handle L&L.[4]

2019

At the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon, Leo was the lone Freshman on the champion Newbury Park team led by his brother Nico, then a Junior.[5] The 2020 season was cancelled just as it was starting due to COVID-19.

2021

At the early season Woodbridge Invitational, Leo improved upon brother Nico's course record, running 13:38.1, considered a National Record for 3 miles. The Newbury Park team set the National Record for a team over the 3 mile distance.[6]

At the Clovis Invitational, Leo was second behind Colin as Newbury Park took the top 4 places. Their team time set the Woodward Park course record.[7]

At the CIF State Championships also on the Woodward course, Colin and Leo improved upon Nico's #2 time ever on the course. With Lex a second behind, Newbury Park had the four best times on the course behind German Fernandez' course record from 2007. The team improved upon its own course record[7] while scoring 16 points. Only a fifth place score by Zachary Ayers of Davis High School interrupted a perfect score.[8]

With the season still interrupted by COVID, the Nike Cross Nationals was cancelled. The top national teams flocked to the Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships in Huntsville, Alabama making it the de facto National Championships. Going into the race, the National High School Record for a 5K cross country course was 14:10 from Dathan Ritzenhein in 2000. In this race, the top 3 from Newbury Park all broke that time, Colin taking the win in 14:03.29, Leo second in 14:05.07 and Lex third at 14:05.49.[9] The top five Newbury Park runners averaged 14:24. All seven finished under 15:00.[10] It has been called the greatest high school cross country team in history.[11][12]

2022

Leo began the track season at the Sundown Track Series #2 meet in Azusa, California, running 3200 metres in 8:39.57.[13]

The next performance was Newbury Park's attempt to break the national 4 × mile relay record at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. Leo ran the second leg in 4:06.86 as the team took the record from 17:01.81 to 16:29.31.[3]

A week later he came tantalizingly close to breaking the 4 minute mile as a high school Junior, running 4:00.77 again at Azusa.[14]

At the Arcadia Invitational, Leo ran 3000 metres 8:27.31 on an off night. Lex finished 20 seconds ahead of him while challenging Colin for the win.[15]

In August, Leo and Lex committed to run for Stanford University.[16]

On October 8th, Leo won the Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in a time of 14:25.9

On November 26th, Leo finished 2nd at the CIF State Cross Country Finals behind brother and teammate Lex. In the previous season Leo also got 2nd having lost out to former Newbury Park Teammate Colin Sahlman.

On December 3rd, Newbury Park won the Nike Cross Nationals team title while Leo finished in 11th (All-American) on an off race.

2023

On January 21st, Leo won the USATF National Cross Country Championships with a 8k time of 23:47. This performance qualified Leo to be on the US U20 Cross Country team and compete in the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships – U20 men's race in Bathurst Australia.

On February 18th, Leo got 16th place at the 2023 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships – U20 men's race. This was the fastest time for a non-East African athlete. Leo led the US team to a bronze medal finish with a total of 81 points.

References
  1. "U20 Race Men" (PDF). aws.iaaf.org. 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. "Events". live.athletic.net. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. "Behind Newbury Park's Record Relay, History Achieved".
  4. "L&L - YouTube". YouTube.
  5. "{{ngMeta['og:title']}}". live.recordtiming.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. "Record Night at Woodbridge for Frias, Young, Newbury Park".
  7. "DyeStat.com - News - CIF Cross Country State Championships - Woodward Park All-Time Lists". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. "2021 CIF State Cross Country Championships 2021 - D1 Boys".
  9. "Nation's best youth runners shatter records at John Hunt Park Cross Country Course". 8 December 2021.
  10. "Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships 2021 - Boys Gold".
  11. "This Will NEVER Happen Again - Newbury Park High School". YouTube.
  12. "The 2021 Newbury Park Boys Are the Greatest High School Cross Country Team in US History". 2 December 2021.
  13. "Sundown Track Series #2 2022 - Complete".
  14. "Track & Field and Cross Country Statistics".
  15. "Track & Field and Cross Country Statistics".
  16. "Stanford Was Loaded. And then It Landed Lex and Leo".
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