the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ – Ridgewood High School senior Luke Pash has officially etched his name into New Jersey track and field history. NJ MileSplit has announced the winners of the third annual Ed Grant Award, honoring the state’s top male and female high school track and cross-country athletes, and Pash’s incredible 2024-2025 season made him an easy choice for the prestigious honor.
The award, named after legendary track journalist and historian Ed Grant, recognizes athletes who define excellence in all three seasons—cross country, indoor, and outdoor track. Pash didn’t just meet those standards—he shattered them.
🏆 A Season for the Record Books
Luke Pash delivered one of the greatest outdoor campaigns by a distance runner in New Jersey history. The University of North Carolina-bound standout became the only boy in the state to earn First-Team All-State honors in all three seasons this year.
His most jaw-dropping performance came on May 24, 2025, at the RunningLane Championships in Huntsville, Alabama. Facing a loaded field, Pash clocked a 4:03.02 mile, finishing third and nearly breaking the elusive 4-minute barrier.
That time vaulted him to No. 2 on New Jersey’s all-time mile list, trailing only Marty Liquori, who ran 3:59.8 back in 1967. Pash also shattered the Bergen County record of 4:05.69 set by Ben Malone in 2013.
⏱ Breaking Down the Historic Mile
At RunningLane, Pash showcased both strategy and grit:
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400m: 61.17
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800m: 2:01.82
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1200m: 3:03.40
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Final 400m: 59.62
That blazing sub-60 final lap propelled him from 11th to 3rd, placing him behind only TJ Hansen of Michigan (3:59.02) and Corbin Coombs of New Mexico (3:59.23).
With that performance, Pash surpassed NJ legends like Edward Cheserek (4:03.29) and Olympian Robby Andrews (4:03.49) on the all-time list.
🎙 Pash Reflects on His Place in History
“Having the 2nd fastest time in NJ history is so amazing, and I am super blessed to have my name up so high on that list,” said Pash. “It’s so cool for me to even be mentioned in the same category as Marty Liquori. He was an incredible runner, and to be right behind him is surreal.”
🥇 A Career of Championships
Pash didn’t stop at one big race. He capped his high school career with a 4:04.41 mile at the New Balance Nationals, finishing fourth and earning All-American honors.
In total, Pash collected four Meet of Champions titles during his career:
✅ Indoor 3200m champion (2024 & 2025)
✅ Outdoor 1600m champion (2024)
✅ Outdoor 3200m champion (2025)
He also posted personal bests of 1:51.50 in the 800m and 8:54.81 in the 3200m indoors, proving his dominance across multiple distances.
🏅 The Ed Grant Award Legacy
Named for Ed Grant, who dedicated decades to documenting and celebrating New Jersey track and field, the award honors athletes who embody the spirit of excellence, resilience, and history-making performances.
Pash joins an elite group of past winners and now moves on to the next chapter of his running career at the University of North Carolina, where he’s expected to make an immediate impact at the NCAA level.
With a 4:03 mile, county records smashed, and four state titles, Luke Pash has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest high school distance runners in New Jersey history. Now, all eyes turn to Chapel Hill, where his next chapter begins.
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