FLAGSTAFF — When Flagstaff runner Yohanes van Meerten crossed the finish line at the 19th annual Desert Twilight Festival in September, nobody was aware how fast his 14:25.70 time in the 5,000-meter Sweepstakes event really was.

Well, it nearly set the all-time Arizona state record for a 5K race, falling just short of former Highland standout Leo Daschbach’s record of 14:23.90.

And if Coronado (Colorado) standout Oliver Horton was an Arizonan, he would have tied the record that late September evening, as he finished first overall just ahead of van Meerten with a 14:23.90 time.

“I did not realize initially how fast the time actually was. I was just so excited to watch him have such a great competition and having to make moves and cover surges was awesome,” Flagstaff coach Trina Painter said. “He craves situations like that where he is pushed and challenged. So, to see him battle to the bitter end was great.”

Van Meerten, a junior, has only been running cross-country competitively for two years, meaning he’s got a whole lot of room to grow.

“He is relatively young in the sport of distance running, but he is so fast that people often think he also has a lot of experience,” Painter said, adding that he “glides and makes fast paces look relatively easy.”

“He seems to have unlimited energy combined with his natural talent,” Painter said. “I am having to adjust some of the workouts to ensure they are enough to challenge him.”

Born in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, van Meerten said it felt “amazing” to do that well at the Desert Twilight Festival.

“I was blessed to be able to do that and [potentially] getting the fastest 5K in Arizona history,” van Meerten said.

The junior Eagle certainly flies like one on the course, but loves other sports as well.

“I love to play basketball, that is what I probably like the most,” van Meerten said, adding his biggest influence is Jesus Christ and that his goals are to “inspire others.”

“I want to try to go win a national event and show the glory of God through my running,” van Meerten said. “My biggest goal is for college to win a national championship with my team.”

And that goal is certainly attainable by the young Flagstaff prospect, who is already an “ambassador” for the sport of long-distance running.

“No matter where we go, he is always making friends and talking to people that he knows or just met,” Painter said. “He is such a positive and personable kid and he loves to encourage and support other runners. Some people see competition as the enemy, but he sees them as a friend and partner and tries to build relationships that help push each other to faster times.”

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.