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Thode, Springer, McGregor, Atchoo Headline Gala Boy's Mile
Published by Jun 11th 2009, 1:44am
Lisle,
IL - The boy's mile has always been the final event of the evening at
the Midwest Distance Gala. Since year one, the goal is to provide one
of the most competitive, exciting competitions in the country. While
the Gala has seen its fair share of fast races, including Rob
Finnerty's 4:01.09 meet record from last year, this year's field is
simply outstanding, and the leaders are talking seriously about
breaking the historic four minute barrier. Leading the way is a trio of talented seniors. Jeff Thode (IL),
Patrick McGregor (AL) and Andrew Springer (RI) all have big race
experience, each have proven themselves across a variety of distances,
and each is talking about breaking the four minute mile. Thode is
currently ranked US#1 in both the 1,600m and 3,200m events, while
McGregor placed second earlier in the season at the Arcadia
Invitational. Meanwhile, Springer broke three state meet records last weekend at
the Rhode Island State T&F Championships, showing he's ready to do
something special. Regardless of what happens Saturday, all three
should be in contention with a lap to go. Michael Atchoo (MI) is another athlete to watch. The junior
standout won the Michigan State 1,600m run in meet record time,
breaking the mark set by Dathan Ritzenhein. Atchoo's mark currently
ranks him US#4 in the event. With six athletes in the field that have gone 4:10 or faster for
1,600m, Saturday evening at Benedictine should be quite the
experience. With cool weather, a large crowd cheering the athletes on,
and a rabbit setting the early pace, the boy's mile should close out
the Gala in grand fashion. How do you think it is going to play out?
Enter your predictions in our contest for a chance to win a $100 Nike
gift card and some Gala gear. http://bit.ly/galacontest Gala Boys Mile Field (Fastest Section)
Jeff Thode (Sr., Conant, IL) - Thode enters Saturday's mile race ranked US#1 in both the 1,600m
(4:05.17) and 3,200m (8:51.30). All season long Thode's focus has been
on breaking the four minute mile barrier, and on Saturday he'll have
that opportunity. The University of Iowa-bound senior also won the
state title in cross country last fall. Michael Atchoo (Jr., Troy, MI) - Ranked US#4 for 1,600m,
Atchoo's winning 4:07.71 performance at the Michigan State Meet, not
only gave the junior a new personal best, but also shattered the state
meet record, held by Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein. Atchoo placed second
in the NSIC mile during the indoor season. Patrick McGregor (Sr., Hoover, AL) - All year, McGregor has
tested himself against the country's best milers time and time again at
very prestigious meets. After a great indoor season, which saw him dip
under the 4:10 mile mark, McGregor competed at the Arcadia
Invitational, placing second overall in 4:09.13 for the mile. Andrew Springer (Sr., Westerly, RI) - Last weekend, at the
Rhode Island T&F Championships, Springer produced perhaps the most
thrilling performance the state has ever seen. Springer won the 800m,
1,500m and 3,000m races, while guiding his team to a 4x800m relay state
title, not to mention the fact that the 4x8 set a state record, and his
1,500m and 3,000m performances were state records as well. Springer's
goal Saturday to is to push the four minute mile mark. Drew Shields (Sr., Fishers, IN) - One of the most
experienced Gala veterans ever, Shields returns as the top Gala mile
finisher from 2008. Last spring, Shields ran one of the fastest times
in the country for a junior, placing third in the Gala with a 4:09.64
effort. The University of Wisconsin-bound senior has had a big senior
year thus far, but he's far from finished. Last weekend at the Indiana
State Meet, Shields won the 1,600m run in 4:11.36. Zach Dahleen (Sr., Sandburg, IL) - After running a solo 4:11
1,600m race a few weeks earlier, Dahleen seemed poised for a big
performance at the Illinois State Meet. The senior closed out his
regular season with a new PR of 4:10.25, placing second behind Thode. Andrew Nelson (Sr., Geneva, IL) - Few athletes surprised
more at the Gala in 2008 then Nelson. The Geneva H.S. senior placed
sixth overall in a big PR of 4:14.43. At the Illinois State T&F
Championships two weeks ago, Nelson helped his team's 4x800m relay
squad place second in 7:45.86, then came back later in the day to earn
all-state in the 1,600m run. Lukas Verzbicas (Fr., Lincoln-Way Central, IL) - The
national indoor 5,000m record holder, and NIN two mile champion, will
compete in the two mile and the fastest mile heat at the Gala on
Saturday. Sitting out most of the spring season, competing in
triathlons instead, Verzbicas is hoping to push the 4:10 barrier. Walter Schafer (Jr., Cherry Creek, CO) - Schafer's future
looks very, very bright. The junior placed second behind Foot Locker
all-American Evan Appel in the 3,200m and 1,600m events at the Colorado
State T&F Championships. Schafer is poised to push the 4:10
barrier Saturday. Chris Hayek (Sr., Prospect, IL) - After guiding his team to
a fourth place finish in the 4x800m relay at the Illinois State T&F
Championships, Hayek came back later in the day to place fourth in the
1,600m with a time of 4:13.57. Anthony Manfrin (So., Dundee-Crown, IL) - As a freshman,
Manfrin came to the Gala and placed second in the "B" heat of the mile,
running a great mark of 4:19.98. He then went on to win the Nike
Outdoor Nationals freshman mile. This season he's showed he's one of
the top milers in the Midwest. Peter Callahan (Sr., North Shore Country Day, IL) - Few
athletes have had a better state meet this season. Callahan's Illinois
State T&F Championships went quite well. First, Callahan helped
his North Shore Country Day teammates earn all-state in the 4x800m
relay. Then, Callahan broke the Class A state record in the 800m with
a 1:51.22 performance, while coming back shortly after to win the
1,600m race in 4:15.30. Moise Frisch (Sr., Whitmer, OH) - Focusing more on the 800m
this season, Frisch will be running his second mile race of the year.
The first time around, the Ohio senior won in 4:15, while also earning
a top mark in the 800m with a 1:51 performance. He placed fourth in a
highly competitive 800m race at the Ohio State T&F Championships. Official start lists can be found at http://bit.ly/galaentries
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