Filiatreau Breaks Middle School National Record!!!

On March 24, 2024, the KYtrackXC.com 5K Showdown was run at the beautiful Bethlehem Athletic Complex.

The races were exciting with Flora Biro from Dupont Manual running 17:47 which is the 8th fastest 5k ever run by a girl athlete on the track in State history. Kathryn Harris of Bowling Green placed 2nd in this loaded field running 18:04.9 which is the 14th fastest 5k of all time. 

Then, it was time for the boys race where all eyes were set on James Ndayishimiye from Lafayette high school. Before the race, the Ky Milesplit team on site was told that James was attempting to break Lane Hoyes's 5000m record of 14:33.68 which he set at the 2022 USATF U20 Championships. The showdown even brought in an unattached pacer, Dylan Allen, to take James through 2000m as he set himself up for the record. At the halfway point, James was on pace coming in right at 7:00 through 2400m. Unfortunately, as James had to run solo in the windy conditions, he slowed just a bit, running 14:55.89. This is 22 seconds off of the record Hoyes set in 2022, however, it is still the 6th fastest 5000m on the track in Kentucky State History. 

Unbeknownst to us in attendance though was that a different record was being set. Daniel Filiatreau from Thomas Nelson ran 15:38.08 in the 5000m. While this effort seems great on the surface, it doesn't fully encapsulate what happened. For starters, Filiatreau is only an 8th grader. The previous state record for middle school 5000m runs on the track was 16:36.77 run by Connor Hayes in 2017. Filiatreau smashed that time by a full 58 seconds. Not only that, he set himself apart as the fastest Middle Schooler in United States history over the track 5000m. In addition, if we include cross country results, it is the 11th fastest time ever run by a Middle Scholer across any season. After many of the greatest runners in state history graduated over the past 5 years (Lane Hoyes, Jackson Watts, Nolan Hester, Keeton Thornsberry) it appears that Kentucky may have their next star in the making. 

(All results gathered on Milesplit)

The 7th grade list includes three times run by high school seniors and the MS List itself includes two times run by high schoolers as well. At minimum, it is the 8th grade National record.