Ohioans Shine Bright At Brooks PR Invitational With Three Wins

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

RENTON, Wash. -- Washington, meet Ohio. From start to finish Friday afternoon at Renton Memorial Stadium, the Brooks PR Invitational was a dazzling and record-breaking display of track performances highlighted by some of Ohio's best prep athletes. 

Nathan Mountain of St. Xavier OH, started off with an all-out effort to win the boys 2-mile event in a US#2 time of 8:42.39, breaking Drew Hunter's meet record of 8:42.51 set in 2015.

“That’s crazy (of beating Hunter’s record), that’s someone I've looked up to all my high school (career),” Mountain said. 

WEBCAST REPLAY | RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Mountain's time was also an all-time Ohio best, breaking Alan Scharsu's legendary record from 1978. Coming into the meet, Mountain personal-best in the 3,200 of 8:52.15. 

“It means the world,” Mountain said of winning and collecting a personal-best time. “I would have never expected this.”

Parker Wolfe of Cherry Creek CO jumped out to a big lead to start the race, but Mountain and a few others were able to slowly close the gap with less than two laps remaining. Mountain sat on Wolfe until about 200-meters to go and then turned on the jets to pass him.

“Well, the game plan was just to stick in the back of the pack and if I see a gap forms, get there, (and) be in touch, so when the final lap comes, I can take it,” Mountain said. 

Wolfe, who has been battling bronchitis for the past few weeks, entered the event less than a week after the Colorado state meet where he won the 3,200 (9:07.87). He finished in second place in 8:43.91, US#3. The top five went under 8:50. 

“ I just tried to hang on for as long as I could,” Wolfe said. “That last 150-200 meters … I just couldn’t hang on, but I'm still pretty happy with how I finished.”

Junior standout sprinter Justin Braun of Thomas Worthington OH, who won the 100, 200 and 400 at the Ohio meet, flexed his muscles in the 400, taking the title in 46.56. While he has goals of sub-46, he was still proud of his effort.

“Its been a really long season … but im here, I’m still winning and im happy. It was just a fun meet,” he said.

For the first time since 2015, the Brooks PR Invitational finally saw a sub-1:50 800-meter effort. Coming off a strong Ohio state meet, Nick Plant of Canfield High ran a PR of 1:49.39, good for US#3. Joshua English of Conroe The Woodlands TX placed second (1:49.52) and Nick  Medeiros of Old Bridge NJ placed third (1:49.75).  

“I was feeling really good, I was well prepared,” Plant said. 

“I’m just proud we all come from the same place,” Plant added of the showing Ohio had out in Washington. 

Coming into the event, University of Washington signee and recent Borah ID graduate Nathan Green wasn't shy about his goal to break four minutes in the mile. With a recent effort of 4:00.97, and a talented field assembled, Green made a valid attempt at the historic feat, but came up just short, clocking 4:01.76.

“I mean I definitely feel like we were on for what we wanted, it was just a second, two seconds too slow,” Green said. “But how can I be mad at  4:01?”

Green's time was a meet record, breaking the 2017 time of 4:03.04 by Sam Worley of New Braunfels Canyon TX. 

“That’s pretty cool,” Green said of the meet record. “This makes it a whole lot nicer.” 

Junior Gary Martin of Archbishop Wood Catholic PA took the lead and led for a majority of the race but the time wasn’t quite on track for a sub four attempt. Green used a strong final lap to take the lead and make a final effort at history, but came up just short. Lucas Guerra of Highland IN was second (4:04.74), while Martin finished third in 4:04.93. 

“It didn't end up being the day, but it was a great race,” Martin said. 

Green will look to go sub-four Saturday at The Outdoor Nationals presented by Nike in Eugene on Saturday, but said it will depend how he feels if another big attempt is in the cards.

“Man, we’re going to see what happens,” Green said. “Twenty-six hours isn’t long to come back.”

In the 110 hurdles, Jerry Philippe of Dillard FL ran to a meet-record 13.45, US#2. He broke the record of 13.52 from 2014 by Isaiah Moore of Hugh Cummings NC.

“I came here to compete,” Philippe said. “My plan was to get out strong and finish the race.”

In the 100-meter dash  Onwuzurike Udodi of Brother Rice MI also broke a record in the process of winning the title, clocking 10.23. He broke the record of 10:30 from 2019 by Langston Jackson of Henry Clay KY.

In the men’s professional 800 race, Brooks Beast Brannon Kidder, fresh off a fifth place finish in the men’s 800 at the U.S. Trials, won in 1:45.43.