Principe ready to give it all he's got at Pre Classic

Rhode Island HS'er hoping to become 10th U.S. prep under 4 minutes

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

High schooler David Principe Jr. has competed in his fair share of big races – and a few of those have included rubbing shoulders with professional athletes. However, this weekend the La Salle Academy RI senior has a primetime spot on one of the biggest stages in track and field. 

Principe arrived Thursday in Eugene, Ore. and will race at the Prefontaine Classic in the men's International Mile on Saturday at Hayward Field.

“For me, going to those meets in indoor was something I kind of thought that was as big a stage as I would see,” Principe said. “In the few days leading up to it (Pre Classic) and even being here (Eugene) for a few hours, you realize this is a whole other level. For me, it's extremely humbling to be at the same building as these people, never mind be racing them. I'm really hoping I can go out there and really try and compete with the field I'm in and do the best I can.”

After a long indoor season that was highlighted by a 4 minute, 0.97 second mile in the New Balance Games elite men's mile field in January, and an 8:47.40 2-mile at New Balance Nationals Indoor in March, Principe has taken a more cautious approach to the outdoor season. 

“I felt like in indoor my best workouts were races, so outdoor track this year we tried to hold back on the number of races I've been in and really just focus on training,” Principe said. “Mentally, I'm feeling a whole lot fresher and physically feeling like I'm exactly where I was in indoor, if not in better shape.”

Principle will be in a diverse and talented field Saturday. He'll lineup against Olympians Andrew Wheating and Lopez Lomong of the United States, as well as Henrik Ingebrigtsen of Norway. 

The Stanford-bound distance runner won't be the youngest, as Norway's Jakob Ingebrigsten, who is 16, is out to become the youngest sub-four miler in history.  

Principe said the experience of running against professionals in the New Balance Games and Millrose Games has prepared him for how to approach this high-caliber environment. 

“I think this Saturday I really just want to find a good balance,” he said. “I know there's some guys in the field that have some unbelievable talent and are probably going to be up a little too far. I want to stay in the right ballpark, but at same time really compete with the people I should be competing with.”

Principe, who has put down an 8:16.60 3,000-meter time this spring, has a good opportunity Saturday to become the 10th U.S. prep to go under four minutes. Cooper Teare of St. Joseph Notre Dame CA and Sam Worley of Canyon TX have also been within a second of joining the exclusive club.  

“I think there's definitely a time in mind,” Principe said. “I really want to go out there and race as hard as I can. I think if I kind of stay in touch the first lap or two, and then really just kind of grind out that third and fourth lap and just compete and leave everything out there (I can do it). It's just a matter of being tough and doing it.”

Principe has been to Hayward Field before. Last summer, he raced the other top runners in the Class of 2017 at the Nike Elite Camp mile at the Olympic Trials. Principe was sixth in that race in 4:07.66.