Hunter's pursuit of sub-four begins Feb. 6 in NYC

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Drew Hunter’s 2016 mission, among other things, is to go sub-four in the mile.

And the talented senior from Loudoun Valley VA will get his first crack at it on Feb. 6 at the Armory Track Invitational, where he will run unattached in a fast pro field that includes former Columbia star Liam Boylan-Pett and Wisconsin’s Austin Mudd.

The target for Hunter would to dip under the four-minute barrier and join Alan Webb in an exclusive club of two. Webb ran 3:59.86 at The Armory 15 years ago this week at the New Balance Games, also at The Armory in New York.

Hunter’s association with Webb is deeply personal.

As Webb was starting out and discovering his talent early in his years at South Lakes High School in Virginia, Hunter’s parents were his first coaches. Later, the Hunters moved and Scott Raczko became Webb’s coach.

But the cherished family memories of Marc and Joan Hunter coaching a young Webb while Drew, just a toddler, played in the sand of the long jump pit, are important.

“Alan is the first guy I looked up to as a runner,” Hunter said. “To know he was the first one to break four (indoors) and I hope to do it this year is special.”

Since his dominant win at Foot Locker last month, Hunter has re-engaged his training as he plots out the final months of his high school career. Next fall he will be at the University of Oregon.

“I’m just getting back into the basic stuff,” he said. “I’m feeling pretty good now but I was a little bit sick a few days ago. I’m getting in some volume.”

On Jan. 30, Hunter is entered in the 3,000 meters at the Camel City Invitational at Winston-Salem NC’s JDL Fast Track. He will see a big step up in competition and be on the same track as Bernard Lagat and recent Great Edinburgh XC winner Garrett Heath.

That race will not only test Hunter’s fitness but give him a taste of what it’s like in a pro race. It’s valuable experience that could help him prepare for Feb. 6.

“It’s going to be different, for sure,” Hunter said of the mile. “I’m going to be out the back and clicking splits and trying to hang on. There will be a pacer. I just want to be as smooth as possible for six or seven laps and then kick it in.”

Hunter has experience at The Armory to call upon, too.

Last year at New Balance Nationals Indoor, Hunter prevailed in a fantastic 2-mile that saw him dig deep and run 8:48.22 as he beat Levi Thomet (8:48.32) and Alex Ostberg (8:48.88). Those performances ranked Nos. 6, 7 and 8 of all-time.

“That was the deepest I have ever had to dig down to win a race,” Hunter said. “I wasn’t in top shape or sharp at all. I had a sore calf and had taken a couple days off the week before. I was not really expecting much and sort of ran with a chip on my shoulder.”

Hunter said his plan was to run the first mile in 4:25 and then see what he could do in the second half.

“Working hard the last 600 is what made it that special,” he said. “It was the first time I had to push to the limit and got something more out of it than just a win. I learned that I can dig deep.”

The other thing that Hunter learned that day was that best laid plans don’t always work out. He saw Grant Fisher gamely pushing himself to a sub-four mile in a high school-only race, doing all the work, and coming oh-so close. Fisher charged into the final turn with 150 to go and lost control, stepped on the inside rail, and saw his sub-four opportunity go up in smoke.

Hunter said he spent about 30 minutes with Fisher later that day.

“Watching Grant’s race, it was magical,” Hunter said. “Watching him click off the splits and then when he clipped that rail, it was rough. Grant’s a competitor and was on a mission that time. It’s something you couldn’t control, because he was running so fast that last 150. But he stuck with it and broke four outdoors.”

Hunter’s hometown of Purcellville, Va. was bracing for up to 30 inches of snow in this weekend’s blizzard and he said his training would adjust to accommodate it.

“I’m going to try to get on an indoor track (Saturday),” Hunter said. “If it doesn’t work, then I’ll go treadmill. It’ supposed to be two easy days so hopefully on Sunday I’ll find a place to run (outside).”