Already with three all-time state marks, St. Raphael Academy senior, Iowa State commit and 2,000-meter steeplechase national champion looks to challenge 2016 standard of 8:51.23 set by Bouthillette in elite 3,200 opportunity in California

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Devan Kipyego knows, in order to be the best, you have to compete against the best.

Even if that means traveling nearly 3,000 miles away from Rhode Island to be able to do so.

The senior from St. Raphael Academy will head to California, where he’ll toe the line Saturday night against some of the top prep distance runners in the country in the prestigious boys invitational 3,200-meter race at the 55th Arcadia Invitational.

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“When we’re at this high level, you want to get the best competition,” Kipyego said. “To compete we have to travel a lot, that’s just how it is. We have to go race against the best in the country and it is at Arcadia.”

Known for producing historically fast national performances and several state records, last year’s boys 3,200 at Arcadia High saw Newbury Park’s Colin Salhman shatter the meet all-time mark by clocking 8:34.99.

For context, five of the top 18 fastest 3,200 times in meet history were set in last season, as 23 athletes in the invitational section produced sub-9 performances, with another nine such efforts achieved in the seeded race.

This year’s invitational 3,200 field includes sub-4 milers Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens High in South Dakota and Connor Burns from Southern Boone County in Missouri.

Cross country All-Americans Danny Simmons of American Fork High, Tayson Echohawk of Orem High and Noah Jenkins of Herriman High, all from Utah, along with Rocky Hansen of Christ School in North Carolina, Noah Breker of Robbinsdale Armstrong in Minnesota, Matthew Donis of Palmdale High in California and Jimmy Wischusen of Union Catholic High in New Jersey are also entered.

Carter Spradling of Clovis East High in California, Patrick Koon from Leon High in Florida and Donis have run three of the four fastest 3,200 times in the country this season and are also expected to be part of the field.

“I know Simeon has a strong kick,” Kipyego said. “I think there’s a lot of competition and I think just using my versatility and speed will be key.”

Kipyego boasts perhaps the most unique prep resume in a field of more than 30 competitors.

The Iowa State commit has range extending from the 400 (51.57) to the cross country trails, where he earned All-America honors placing 15th overall at NXN (15:11.2).

In between those distances, he has Rhode Island’s No. 3 all-time 800 mark of 1:51.32, holds the state indoor 1,500 (3:44.17) and outdoor mile records (4:00.64) and his 8:20.51 3,000 performance ranks No. 2 in state history.

He’s also an excellent steeplechase competitor, an event none of his competitors can flex at the line.

The reigning New Balance Nationals 2,000 steeplechase champion (5:48.15), Kipyego said his unique persona as a runner is something he prides himself on as he looks to his future.

“It feels pretty good,” Kipyego said of having a deep set of skills and well-rounded abilities.

“I think with colleges and me trying to become a pro runner (one day), having this wide range, you don’t know what you can do as a pro, you don’t know what you are going to run in college, and you go and find out.”

Arcadia will be a good early indication of Kipyego’s range, as Rhode Island does not contest the 3,200 – with the state schedule including the 3,000 instead – and his focus was mainly on the mile indoors.

Kipyego will test the waters and see what his limits are in the distance, targeting the 2016 state record in the 3,200 of 8:51.23 held by Matthew Bouthillette of La Salle Academy, set at the Loucks Games in New York.

“Any state record is in the back of my mind,” Kipyego said. “Seeing how far I can compete in the 2-mile, seeing how far my range goes in the 2-mile and 3,200 (is a goal).”

Kipyego, who was injured at the beginning of the indoor season, relied mainly on his speed and pure grit this past winter.

He became the first male competitor in state history to win four individual titles at the meet, claiming the 600, 1,000, 1,500 and 3,000.

At the Last Chance Qualifier at Boston University in February, Kipyego ran an indoor mile of 4:01.04. He was runner-up in the mile at the New Balance Nationals Indoor in 4:02.30, as Jackson Heidesch of Dowling Catholic High in Iowa edged him at the line in 4:02.25.

“Coming back and going to nationals, I’m feeling confident,” he said. “Going into the season the goal has been focusing on strength.”

Arcadia is just the first stop of a national tour this spring for Kipyego. He’s expressed plans for competing in the New York Relays, Loucks Games, Festival of Miles in St. Louis and Brooks PR in Seattle.

For Kipyego, Arcadia represents another opportunity in his final high school track season to add to his resume as perhaps the most well-rounded distance athlete in Rhode Island history.

“I have some goals to get some more state records, the steeplechase national record, and try to get sub-four, which is a big goal,” he said.