Although the 2024 Colorado state track and field meet wrapped up over three weeks ago, several athletes from Colorado have continued their outdoor track seasons by traveling to national-level meets in hopes of gaining post-season success.

Summit High School rising senior Josh Shriver was one of those many athletes that have remained dedicated to their training regime while others take a break and begin building towards the upcoming fall cross-country season.

After a couple weeks of uninterrupted training in Summit County, Shriver finally got his chance to return to the track, traveling to Portland, Oregon, in order to compete at Portland Track Festival on Sunday, June 9. 

Fresh off setting two school-record marks earlier this spring and securing a fifth-place finish in the Class 4A state 1600-meter run, Shriver took to the Lincoln High School track located in downtown Portland ready to surprise some people with his fitness. 

“This year has been all about making a name for myself and working toward proving to myself and others that I am capable of competing and excelling when it really matters,” Shriver said. “… Becoming more consistent has become a goal of mine. With (this meet), it was just another opportunity to show that I can show up when it matters. Making huge breakthroughs like I did this year, especially in the 1600, really gave me the confidence that the sky was the limit.”

With the sun still shining bright over the track in the early-evening hours, Shriver took his spot on the outside edge of the starting line for the high school elite men’s 1500-meter run. 

Facing 14 other athletes from across the U.S., Shriver shot out from the start line and tried to not be tripped up early as the field jostled over the first 100 meters of the race. Will Yearian of Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington, soon took command of the race, slowing down the pace and making the race tactical instead of a fast, barn burner. 

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Sitting midway through the pack, Shriver split 48.94 seconds through the 300-meter mark and remained patient as the field bumped into one another as the pace continued to slow.

Sitting against the rail on the inside edge of the track, Shriver continued to remain patient as Cole Fiegener of Corvallis High School in Oregon led the field through the 700-meter mark. After splitting a 1:07 second lap in seventh place, Shriver popped out from where he was sitting and ran in lane two in order to avoid the elbows and knees flying around him.

In sixth with a lap to go, Shriver lengthened his stride and began showing off his leg speed as the field drastically ratcheted down the pace. Shriver kicked past one runner while on the backstretch before pulling even with Sacramento Country Day School’s Andrew Burr in the final 100-meters of the race.

Pushing hard all the way through the finish line, Shriver closed the final lap in 58.86 seconds in order to cross the finish line in 4:00.36 for fifth place overall. 

“An opening 2:13 800 split is very slow for that field and was not at all what I expected to go out in,” Shriver said. “With it being that slow, I wish I had found the inside rail more during the race. … I think I did a better job than I usually do staying patient and biding my kick, but I was too patient. I kicked hard and closed well. … It was just too little too late. I was only really able to keep pace with the leaders at the end and never reeled them back in.”

Fiegener won the race in 3:58.07 with Burr narrowly finishing in front of Shriver in 4:00.11. 

Although the 1500-meter run is rarely contested in Colorado, Shriver set a new Summit school record in the event. Shriver handily beat 2014 Summit graduate Liam Meirow’s record of 4:04.36, which he set as a rising senior in June 2013 at the USA Track and Field Youth Outdoor and Field Championships.

“Another school record is cool to see,” Shriver said. “I didn’t think I’d be in the territory I’m in as a junior. I remember as a freshman when one of my older teammates told me he was going for the school record in the 1600, which was 4:15, and I remember thinking that was nuts. Barely two years later and I don’t think that mark is nearly as formidable.”

Overall the Portland Track Festival race gave Shriver some motivation as he gears up for two races at Nike Outdoor Nationals from Wednesday, June 12, through Saturday, June 15, in Eugene, Oregon. 

“Going into Nike I’m definitely going to still have the bittersweet aftertaste of PTF,” Shriver said. “I had fun and raced hard at PTF, but feel like I came up short of what I am capable of. Nike is my last chance as a junior to go after my goals. … With it being a month after the in-state season ends, many people hang it up. I’m confident that I can have a pair of good races and regardless, if I compete my hardest, I’m not sure how I will fail.”

Shriver will race in section 1 of the boys championship 2-mile run on Friday, June 14, and section 2 of the boys championship 1-mile run on Saturday, June 15. 

The entirety of the meet will be live streamed on Runnerspace.com. To view a full schedule, visit NikeOutdoorNationals.runnerspace.com.