Mar 25, 2021

Emmanuel Sgouros finishes the Texas Distance Festival 1,600m in a with a new 4:12.28 PR

It happened right before our eyes two years ago at the South Regional at The Woodlands. We saw SPC and TAPPS distance runners out run UIL runners head to head to earn National Championship berths in both national cross country meets.

This happened a little more quietly with the pandemic affecting cross country season where meets were limited to the amount of teams and athletes. Add that with the SPC's lack of an official cross country season due to conference COVID-19 safety protocols and it was hard to find motivation to train and find ways to compete.

But still, the emergence happened and thanks to last weekend's TDF (Texas Distance Festival) boy's 1,600m race, the reality happened on the biggest stage and right in front of our eyes and now there is no denying it.

Another private school runner is making a campaign to be Texas' best distance runner. That runner is none other than Houston St. John's junior Emmanuel Sgouros.

Sgouros dropped a gem of a 1,600m race pacing with perhaps the best runner and the best field so far this season in the nation. He hit solid splits and showed the determination on the last lap to race it out with some outstanding runners.

The time? Well, that resulted in a PR and now not only ranks Sgouros in the state (4th), but has him ranked in the top 10 (US No.9) nationally in the event with his 4:12.28.

Sgouros (1275) keeps pace early in the race at TDF

And the record falls again! Emmanuel Sgouros lowers his 1600 meter school record to 4:12.28! #GoMavs pic.twitter.com/uwoSIcoH73
-- SJS Athletics (@stjohnsmavs) March 21, 2021

He ended his sophomore year with a 16:14 5K PR in cross country and then a 4:36.99 1,600m best. This cross country season, he dropped his first race on October 10th going 16:20.20 and then dropped every race (15:55,74, 15:44.00, and 15:21.69), the latter being at the RunningLane National Cross Country Championships for a PR against more national talent.

The St. John's distance star is continuing that type of progressive journey under coaches Kathy Halligan and Ritchie Mercado that is seeing him maintain that progress in the 1,600m. He has dropped 4:19.88, 4:15.76, and now 4:12.28 in that order.

It started off subtle, but its now an in your face progression and Sgouros is one of Texas' top distance runners.