Top 5 high school distance performances of 2025: No. 5 – Quentin Nauman’s Festival of Miles breakthrough (and state meet quadruple)
Nauman defeated five sub-4 milers at the Hoka Festival of Miles
By Tate Sheehy
With the high school season now in the books, it’s time to look back on the performances that defined 2025. From record-breaking times to unforgettable racing moments, these were the efforts that had track fans talking. Over the next few days, we’ll count down the top five high school distance performances of the year.
Originally, we thought we had our list locked and felt pretty good about it. Then Cooper Lutkenhaus showed up at the US Championships and did what he did, forcing us to shuffle the rankings. That’s the kind of season it’s been — one where the bar kept getting raised, even in August!
No. 5 – Quentin Nauman’s breakthrough at the Hoka Festival of Miles
At first glance, the results from the Boys’ Championship Mile at the 2025 Hoka Festival of Miles might not blow you away – Quentin Nauman ran 3:58.65, a fantastic time. But, “only” he and Josiah Tostenson broke the four-minute barrier in a race many expected to produce more (yes, we’ve reached the point where a high school race with two sub-fours can feel underwhelming). Nauman set a national junior class record, but what made it extraordinary was how he won and who he beat to do it.
The 2025 Hoka FoM likely featured the deepest mile fields in high school history. (The”B” heat had a 4:02.56 winner with 15 boys running 4:07 or faster, and eight under 4:05). The Championship Mile’s start list included five sub-4 milers – Tostenson, Tayvon Kitchen, Corbin Coombs, TJ Hansen, and Tommy Latham. Amidst this depth, and without having broken four before, Nauman ran away from the field with a massive 54.7 final lap and a 1:54.6 closing 800.
Quadruple at state meet rivals German Fernandez
For those paying attention, Nauman’s 3:58 wasn’t a total shock. Nobody saw a 54-second finish coming, but he had already thrust himself into the spotlight when he ran an 8:57 3200m, a 1:47.5 800m split, 1:49.41 in the open 800m, and 3:59.60 in the 1600m across three days at the Iowa state meet. His 3:59 wasn’t just a time trial – he sat in second at the bell behind Caleb Ten Pas before uncorking a 56.9 final quarter. Ten Pas finished in 4:03.53. That kind of range belongs in the same conversation as German Fernandez’s legendary 4:00.29/8:34.23 double at the 2008 California state meet.
Nauman kept the ball rolling this year in Eugene at Nike Outdoor Nationals, where he edged Evan Noonan by a hundredth of a second, running 4:00.52 with a 1:55 close.
And in case you forgot: he’s still got another year of high school left.
Nauman’s range, championship quadruple, and record-breaking win make him a worthy choice for No. 5 on our list. Coming up tomorrow, not one, but two athletes share the spotlight at #4.
Discussion:
- Iowa State Championships Quentin Nauman 3:59.60 1600m & ridiculous (1:49, 3:59, 8:57) quadruple
- High school junior Quentin Nauman 3:58.65 — closing in 54.713!
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