On Saturday, December 9, 2023, Thomas Nelson Junior Riku Sugie will be running at the 2023 Foot Locker National Championships located at the famous Balboa Park in San Diego, California. This past weekend, Sugie finished 2nd at the Foot Locker South Regional earning his spot into the National Championship field. This is a Kentuckian's highest finish at the South Regional since Greenwood's Michael Eaton won it in 2005. It is also the third fastest time a Kentuckian has run on the course as Sugie ran an impressive 14:54. The top 10 times at the South Regional run by
Kentuckians is listed below:
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14:46.00 | 2006 | ||
| 2 | 14:49.85 | 2003 | ||
| 3 | 14:54.81 | 2025 | ||
| 4 | 14:55.00 | 2013 | ||
| 5 | 15:11.44 | 2024 | ||
| 6 | 15:12.30 | 1983 | ||
| 7 | 15:16.00 | 2016 | ||
| 7 | 15:16.00 | 2014 | ||
| 9 | 15:16.10 | 1995 | ||
| 10 | 15:18.00 | 2010 |
Sugie will be trying to do what only two Kentuckians in history have accomplished: Placing inside the Top 10 at the National Championships. The only two who have accomplished the feat are Jacob Thomson who finished 4th in 2012 and Bobby Curtis who finished 3rd in 2002. The fastest time a Kentucky Junior has run at Balboa Park is 15:41 by Bobby Curtis and the best place by a Junior is 19th by Jacob Thomson. Sugie will be looking to lower both of those in two weeks.