Senior Junior Lopez continues to set new records on the track, breaking both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter records within two weeks of each other. Lopez broke the 1,600-meter record with a time of 4:16.99 at the Distance Night at Palatine meet at Palatine High School on April 25, and broke the 3,200-meter record with a time of 9:24.26 at the John Davis Titan Invitational on May 8, Lopez said. 

This is Lopez’s second time breaking the 1,600-meter record, as he broke it for the first time at the Illinois Indoor Championships with a time of 4:20.47 in March. Lopez not only broke the 1,600-meter record for the second time at the Distance Night at Palatine, but he did it after running in a race just the day before, which is unusual and difficult for runners, Lopez said. This was the only practice for the State Finals, as it is the only other time athletes run in back-to-back races, Nick Morley, Boys’ Cross Country Head Coach and Boys’ Distance Track Coach, said. 

“Running consecutive days is something that Lopez does not have any experience with,” Morley said. “To go out and not only run a faster time on Saturday, but run a faster time that is also a record-breaking time, was amazing to see.” 

Lopez then went on to break the 3,200-meter record, beating the previous record set by junior Frankie Hackl by 2.54 seconds, Lopez said. Lopez was hoping he would be able to break the record, as this was the last time he would have the opportunity to run the 3,200-meter race.

“During the race I was thinking ‘Oh my God, everything hurts really bad, but just keep going and don’t let it stop you, because this is the only opportunity you’re gonna get to finally break the record,’” Lopez said. “The fact that this is my last year racing in high school, and these are the last races I am gonna have, motivates me to just keep going strong as the season ends.”