WHORTON PUTS AN EXCLAMATION POINT ON THE GREATEST YEAR IN LHS TRACK & FIELD HISTORY
Meet Information
New Balance Outdoor Nationals Day 4
June 21, 2026
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, PA
Photo cred (right): JOHN NAPOLITAN/RUNNERSPACE.COM
RESULTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - To say Nationals Weekend had already been a success for The Minutemen would be a gross understatement. Thursday, the girls 4xMile of Janie Conrad, Callie Glenn, Ella Tyson, and Amelia Whorton kicked things off by breaking a 17-year old state record, and earning All-American honors with their fourth place finish. Friday, Ainsley Cuthbertson placed sixth the hammer throw at the USATF U20 Championships in Eugene, then had enough in the tank to fly to Philly, and win the national title in the event on Saturday morning. There were a number of other highlights along the way, but the fact was there was still one more day of competition at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. And, for LHS, an opportunity to finish the greatest year of track & field in program history on a high note.
On a team that boasts three individual All-Americans - Cuthbertson, Aubrey Deardorf, and Simon Tandeih - who just graduated with the Class of 2026, perhaps it was fitting that the final epic performance of the 2025-2026 track & field year came from an underclassmen who will help to carry on the legacy that the seniors leave behind. After her run in the 4xMile on Thursday, and a 13th place finish in yesterday's mile, Amelia Whorton was back on the track for one last time on Sunday, as she competed in the 12th of 14 sections of the 800m.
When the gun fired, Whorton shot off the line, and the race was on. The leaders took the field through the opening 200m at a blistering pace. The LHS sophomore hung back in the pack early, and came through the 400m mark in 62.17 seconds. As she came around the turn, she found herself boxed in on the rail. However, as the race approached the backstretch, a hole opened up, and Whorton burst outside to make her intentions known. With a hard charge down lane three, Whorton got to the final turn in the lead. She came to the top of the final straight in that position, but had a pair of twins, Annie and Lane Isom (Hickory Corners, MI), driving hard on her outside. As they came to the line, Whorton was passed the Isom sisters, and appeared to have to settle for third in her heat. But, as all the great one does, Whorton fought all the way to the finish, and clipped Lane for second place in the race. With such a close race, everyone had to wait for the final times to come up. "2:07.79" flashed across the big screen, and sent Whorton, and the Lexington contingent into a frenzy, as she eclipsed her PR by nearly two seconds.
With such a fast time, the waiting game began as to where she would finish in the overall standings. The next heat produced only one time faster than Whorton's, which left her in the mix for a top-10 finish, as 11 girls toed the line in the seeded section. In that top race, Lake Zurich (IL) senior Polina Krupsky found herself in the lead early, and took the race through in a pedestrian 400-split of 64.78. That slow first lap, led just six athletes to better the LHS sophomore's time. And, with that Whorton earned a ninth place finish overall.
Other Highlights from the Meet
Sunday brought to a close what is unquestionably the finest season in school history for The Minutemen. It also was the official end of the high school careers for Ainsley Cuthbertson, Simon Tandeih, Aubrey Deardorf, Amari Mow, Cleavon Manor Jr, and Franz Schroeder. The impact these six student-athletes had on the LHS track & field program is impossible to quantify. The records and titles speak for themselves. But for those who lived them, the memories of what these people did while representing this team and this town will live forever. Ainsley going coast-to-coast to win a national title; Simon's ferocity in leading his team in its biggest moments; Aubrey's rise from a JV athlete to an All-American; Amari's bookend state titles; the Frog Man leaping his way into history; and Franz's epic performance in the discus to lift his team at Divisionals are just a few that come to mind. The season now flips to summer, and preparations are already underway for the 2026-2027 season, but for today, we can all take a moment to step back to enjoy one simple fact about this team. Through celebrating the highs, and persevering through the lows, these six, and so many other members of our track family have grown to become amazing young men and women ready to take on the world.
Up Next
After a summer away, The Minutemen will return to action this fall for the 2026 Cross Country season. The year will begin once again at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport for the Clipper Relays. Join us on Saturday, September 12th at 9:15am for what will undoubtedly be the beginning of another incredible year of Lexington Cross Country / Track & Field.
New Balance Outdoor Nationals Day 4
June 21, 2026
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, PA
Photo cred (right): JOHN NAPOLITAN/RUNNERSPACE.COM
RESULTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - To say Nationals Weekend had already been a success for The Minutemen would be a gross understatement. Thursday, the girls 4xMile of Janie Conrad, Callie Glenn, Ella Tyson, and Amelia Whorton kicked things off by breaking a 17-year old state record, and earning All-American honors with their fourth place finish. Friday, Ainsley Cuthbertson placed sixth the hammer throw at the USATF U20 Championships in Eugene, then had enough in the tank to fly to Philly, and win the national title in the event on Saturday morning. There were a number of other highlights along the way, but the fact was there was still one more day of competition at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. And, for LHS, an opportunity to finish the greatest year of track & field in program history on a high note.
On a team that boasts three individual All-Americans - Cuthbertson, Aubrey Deardorf, and Simon Tandeih - who just graduated with the Class of 2026, perhaps it was fitting that the final epic performance of the 2025-2026 track & field year came from an underclassmen who will help to carry on the legacy that the seniors leave behind. After her run in the 4xMile on Thursday, and a 13th place finish in yesterday's mile, Amelia Whorton was back on the track for one last time on Sunday, as she competed in the 12th of 14 sections of the 800m.
When the gun fired, Whorton shot off the line, and the race was on. The leaders took the field through the opening 200m at a blistering pace. The LHS sophomore hung back in the pack early, and came through the 400m mark in 62.17 seconds. As she came around the turn, she found herself boxed in on the rail. However, as the race approached the backstretch, a hole opened up, and Whorton burst outside to make her intentions known. With a hard charge down lane three, Whorton got to the final turn in the lead. She came to the top of the final straight in that position, but had a pair of twins, Annie and Lane Isom (Hickory Corners, MI), driving hard on her outside. As they came to the line, Whorton was passed the Isom sisters, and appeared to have to settle for third in her heat. But, as all the great one does, Whorton fought all the way to the finish, and clipped Lane for second place in the race. With such a close race, everyone had to wait for the final times to come up. "2:07.79" flashed across the big screen, and sent Whorton, and the Lexington contingent into a frenzy, as she eclipsed her PR by nearly two seconds.
With such a fast time, the waiting game began as to where she would finish in the overall standings. The next heat produced only one time faster than Whorton's, which left her in the mix for a top-10 finish, as 11 girls toed the line in the seeded section. In that top race, Lake Zurich (IL) senior Polina Krupsky found herself in the lead early, and took the race through in a pedestrian 400-split of 64.78. That slow first lap, led just six athletes to better the LHS sophomore's time. And, with that Whorton earned a ninth place finish overall.
Other Highlights from the Meet
- Senior captains Simon Tandeih (22'7.75") and Amari Mow (22'7.25") finished 36th and 38th respectively in the boys long jump.
- In the girls long jump, senior captain Aubrey Deardorf (18'4.25") landed in 37th place.
Sunday brought to a close what is unquestionably the finest season in school history for The Minutemen. It also was the official end of the high school careers for Ainsley Cuthbertson, Simon Tandeih, Aubrey Deardorf, Amari Mow, Cleavon Manor Jr, and Franz Schroeder. The impact these six student-athletes had on the LHS track & field program is impossible to quantify. The records and titles speak for themselves. But for those who lived them, the memories of what these people did while representing this team and this town will live forever. Ainsley going coast-to-coast to win a national title; Simon's ferocity in leading his team in its biggest moments; Aubrey's rise from a JV athlete to an All-American; Amari's bookend state titles; the Frog Man leaping his way into history; and Franz's epic performance in the discus to lift his team at Divisionals are just a few that come to mind. The season now flips to summer, and preparations are already underway for the 2026-2027 season, but for today, we can all take a moment to step back to enjoy one simple fact about this team. Through celebrating the highs, and persevering through the lows, these six, and so many other members of our track family have grown to become amazing young men and women ready to take on the world.
Up Next
After a summer away, The Minutemen will return to action this fall for the 2026 Cross Country season. The year will begin once again at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport for the Clipper Relays. Join us on Saturday, September 12th at 9:15am for what will undoubtedly be the beginning of another incredible year of Lexington Cross Country / Track & Field.