Brianna Nerud Places 5th in the World
National Junior & High School Record

Senior Brianna Nerud's running career at North Shore High School came officially to a close with an historic race at the World Junior Track and Field Championship in Barcelona, Spain.

In the trials on Tuesday Brianna broke the National High School Record, running 10:08.15. The previous mark was 10:15.

In the final yesterday, Brianna placed 5th overall and in addition to the National High School Record, broke the American Junior Record (under age 20) by running 10:00.72. Considering Brianna is only 17 she has two more years to improve on a time that no one has ever accomplished in United States history at the Junior Level.

Brianna's time would have placed 3rd in the Division 1 NCAA championships and 12th in the Olympic Trials.

She will be heading to Syracuse in the fall, and we will be looking to watch her career as she will strive to make the Olympic team in 2016. Congratulations and best of luck, Brianna!

Below is a story on Brianna's race written by USA Track and Field:

Women’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase

Brianna Nerud (North Shore, N.Y.) set a new American Junior Record – and, for the second time in these championships – broke the national high school record in the women’s steeplechase. Nerud finished fifth in the event’s final with a run of 10:00.72, topping the previous AJR held by Providence’s Shelby Greany of 10:00.88 set at the 2010 NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Nerud wanted to break away from a tepid pace at the start and moved to the front of the pack for the first two laps. Eventually, the chasers kept up which included gold medalist Daisy Jepkemei of Kenya. Nerud broke away from that pack with a little more than a lap to go.

“I didn’t realize I was so close to breaking ten (minutes),” said Nerud. “Overall, it was a tough race. Everyone was really going for it. Even if I missed the medals, I ran as fast as I could, and I got a PR.

“It started a little slow, then I picked up the pace and then they took it, and I tried to hang on to them and do whatever I could. In the last two laps, I knew I had a little more left and I tried to pick off those last two girls (for a medal).”

When it comes to women’s American distance running, the U.S. Junior team in 2012 could be remembered as the squad that sparked the fire to a bright future. With Wilson’s win in the 800 meters, a 4-8 finish in last night’s women’s 5000 final, and now Nerud’s American junior record, these young runners are thinking about the future.