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Three Preps To Compete In Miles at 2016 Prefontaine Classic - DyeStat

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DyeStat.com   May 23rd 2016, 2:08am
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Hunter, Slagowski, Tamagno running Pre miles

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

 

Prefontaine Classic meet director Tom Jordan has always had a soft spot for high school milers on the cusp of glory and eager to take on the the sport's ultimate test. 

 

Fifteen years ago, Alan Webb of South Lakes VA got a chance to run in the Bowerman Mile against the world's best and delivered one of the touchstone moments in the history of high school track and field -- and the Prefontaine Classic.

 

"That particular event is my favorite of every event I've seen in my 33 years as the meet director," Jordan said. 

 

In 2016, two high school boys have broken four minutes for the mile and a third -- Austin Tamagno -- is on the verge of becoming the 10th all-time. 

 

This weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, Andrew Hunter of Loudoun Valley VA is going to get the same opportunity that Webb had -- to run in the Bowerman mile against an Olympic final caliber field.

 

A couple of hours earlier, in a secondary mile called the National Mile, Michael Slagowski of Rocky Mountain ID and Austin Tamagno of Brea Olinda CA will get a chance to go against a high quality group of pros that includes some of the top milers in the country, including Olympians Leo Manzano and Andrew Wheating.  

 

"Weeks ago, Andrew set himself apart and earned entry into the Bowerman Mile," Jordan said. "The chance to race against Slagowski and Tamagno, we had offered him that option to run in the National mile. But he wanted to stay in the Bowerman."

 

Hunter, it is believed, is preparing to chase Webb's all-time high school record of 3:53.43. He has run sub-four twice indoors in New York City. 

 

Slagowski became the ninth prep to go sub-four at the Jesuit Twilight Relays in Portland on April 29, going 3:59.53. In the past two days, he led his team to the Idaho Class 5A title by sweeping the 800, the 1,600 and the 3,200 in addition to running a leg on his team's 4x400 relay.

 

"I'm really excited for that," Slagowski said of the Pre Classsic. "I really haven't run a race with a lot of competition this year, other than indoor. I'm really looking forward to going and racing pros."

 

"Obviously a PR would be nice, I know I'm in a little better shape than when I ran at Twilight Relays, so I think I should PR."

 

Tamagno opted out of the CIF section and state finals in order to race at the Prefontaine Classic. His mile best is 4:03.21 but he ran 3:44.14 last Friday at the HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic at Occidental College in California.

 

In 2015, Nike put on a high school boys and girls elite mile at Pre. Those races aren't happening this time, but three high school boys have the chance to do something special.

 

"Our rule of thumb is, we don't consider any prep who isn't capable of running four minutes," Jordan said. "With Drew it was a no-brainer. The guy is really talented. I don't know about 3:53, but he's certinly capable of running 3:55. My understanding is that he's going to the back of the pack and hug the rail and if he's that shrewd and that heady that gives him a chance to do something special."



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