HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Rocky Hansen of North Carolina missed a 4-minute mile by less than a second Saturday night in a scintilating finish to the boys RunningLane Track Championships at Milton Frank Stadium.
Hansen won the boys title in 4:00.76, setting records for the meet and Alabama mile with his effort. Lex Young of California was second in 4:01.52, and James Donahue of Massachusetts was third in 4:02.98. Fourteen runners competed in the final event of the meet. Hansen opened a gap in the final stretch but couldn’t clip the sub-4 time.
Only 14 high schoolers in history have run a sub-4 minute mile. The personal best times for Donahue (4:02), Young (4:03), Jackson Barna (4:06) and Bryce Reeburgh (4:06) had runners and spectators on their toes. But it was Hansen who came closest.
See all the boys 1-mile final results here.
Bethany Michalek of Colorado claimed the girls 1-mile crown in 4:44.46. Nikki Southerland of Indiana was second in 4:45.03, and Allie Zealand of Virginia was third in 4:45.17. Twelve girls competed in the final. Anastasia Gonzales of Texas led the first three laps of the championship but faded coming out of the second turn, as Michalek, Southerland and Zealand surged and battled to the line.
See all the girls 1-mile final results here.
The RunningLane Track Championships spanned two days, attracting top runners from across the country and Canada. For all the heats and finals in the 3200m, 800m and 1-mile events, see the results here from MileSplit.
About the RunningLane Track Championships
This was the second year for the RunningLane Track Championships.
Race director Will Rodgers with RunningLane said competitors from 28 states and Alberta, Canada registered.
States include Colorado, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Mexico, Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Oklahoma, West Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Arizona, California and Utah.
(All photos by Alan Clemons)
