How low can Connor Burns go?
It's hard to imagine just what Southern Boone County senior Connor Burns has in store for us this spring.
After his historic solo effort in the Class 3 3200, running a state meet record 8:48.76, he proceeded to stun the entire state and nation with his junior class record 3:58.83 full mile, downing the great Jim Ryun's longstanding record.
This fall, Burns continued to dazzle us all with a 14:22.20 3 mile mark and 14:27.30 5k, both of which were overall state records. He won the Class 3 State Championship by just over 1:00, running 15:01.20. The 14:27.30 came in the slush at Lavern Gibson Cross Country Course in Indiana en route to a runner-up finish at Nike Cross Regionals.
Burns tripped up a bit with a 32nd place finish at the Nike Cross Nationals meet, but we expect to see him back in full force at some of the nation's most prestigious indoor meets this winter and challenge those incredible outdoor times once again.
The question is: Just how low can he go? All three overall state records are in play - 1:49.35, 4:03.54 (already bested by his mark at Festival of Miles) and 8:43.40. The national records in the 800 and 1600 may be tough to snag, but Colin Sahlman's 3200 record of 8:33.32 and Lukas Verzbicas' 2 mile of 8:29.46 are both very attainable for the senior from Ashland.