Drew Hunter runs 7:59.33 for HSR at Camel City

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Drew Hunter became the fastest prep of all-time at 3,000 meters on Saturday at the Camel City Elite Races at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Hunter, the Foot Locker champion, hung on to the string of pros in front of him -- a field that included Garrett Heath and Lawi Lalang -- as long as he could and finished fifth in 7:59.33. Heath dashed away late to win in 7:48.

"It feels awesome," Hunter said. "I couldn't ask for anything more. I run best when I'm chasing people or it's a tight race."

Hunter's time smashed the indoor record of 8:05.46 by Edward Cheserek, timed en route of his high school record 2-mile at The Armory in 2013. Cheserek broke a 47-year-old Gerry Lindgren record when he went under 8:06.3.

In fact, most of the fastest 3K times on the all-time lists -- indoors and out  -- have been set en route of 3,200s or 2-miles. 

Hunter's time bests them all. The outdoor record was lowered to 7:59.83 by Californian German Fernandez en route of his 3,200 meters at the CIF state finals (8:34.40). Lukas Verzbicas ran 8:29.26 for two full miles in 2011 but an official time was not taken at 3,000 meters. 

Hunter is competing unattached this winter. Loudoun Valley High School is not part of the Virginia High School League's indoor track framework, although it has recently been added as a Tier 2 sport.  

Hunter's next race is in New York City, where he is entered in the Armory Track Invitational men's mile race. He will seek to become the second prep to dip under four minutes and join fellow Virginian Alan Webb.

In the girls race that preceded Hunter's, fellow Foot Locker champion Weini Kelati ran 9:19.99 for the fourth-fastest girls 3,000 meters indoors on a 200-meter track. Kelati ran near the leaders for half the race before fading a bit in the second half. Kerri Gallagher ran 8:56.53 for the victory at a JDL facility record.

Kate Murphy of Lake Braddock VA ran 4:43.87 in the mile for the second-fastest time of the 2015-16 indoor season. Nevada Mareno of Leesville Road NC ran 4:43.39 back on Nov. 21, also at JDL Fast Track.