by Larry Eder
Drew Hunter running 3:58.25! photo by PhotoRun.net
On Saturday, February 6, 2016, at the NB Armory Track Center, Drew Hunter made history. A week after his 3000m high school record of 7:59.33, surpassing Galen Rupp and the iconic Gerry Lindgren, Drew Hunter took on another challenge.
Running with a field of fine milers, led by Chris O’Hare, the 2014 bronze medalist in both the indoor and outdoor European 1,500m champs, Drew took 1.6 seconds off the fifteen year old mark by Alan Webb, establishing a new high school indoor mile record and becoming only the second high schooler to break 4 minutes indoors!
Drew will be running at the Armory in the mile, once again, February 20, 2016, and this writer is hoping to be there.
Drew Hunter Breaks Alan Webb’s American
High School Mile Record with a 3:58.25
During Armory Track Invitational
Drew Hunter all smiles at The Armory on Saturday.
NEW YORK, February 6, 2016 –Drew Hunter, the 18-year-old high school senior running sensation from Loudoun Valley High School (Va.) broke Alan Webb’s 15-year-old high school indoor mile record with a blistering 3:58.25 time during Saturday’s Armory Track Invitational at The Armory.
Hunter, who is bound for the University of Oregon, competed in the men’s mile won by 2012 NCAA champion Chris O’Hare (3:54.59).
Both Webb and now Hunter claimed their prominent sub-4 feats at The Armory, recognized as the world’s fastest indoor track. It’s the home of the country’s only two sub-4 minute high school miles. In January of 2001, Webb became the first American high school student in indoor history to turn in a sub-4 minute mile with a 3:59.86 at the New Balance Games at The Armory.
Afterward, the former record holder had only kind things to say about the new high school indoor mile record holder from Purcellville, Virginia.
“It’s a testament to Drew’s maturity and the way he’s been brought up,” Webb said during a telephone interview. “In a family where the measure of you isn’t the results of what you run but it’s based on how you conduct yourself. I’m proud of him for doing it the right way. There’s a certain purity to running at the high school level. It sparks the imagination and makes you think what could be and what’s possible.
“This is the beginning of the story for Drew. We’re going to witness him develop into being one of the next big stars.”
Hunter crossed the finish line with his arms raised, but had to wait a few seconds before confirmation on the scoreboard. He went into a “record setting” lap, exchanging high-fives with fans, taking photos while Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” echoed throughout the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory.
“Being in such a historic building where everyone appreciates running,” Hunter said, “is amazing. If there is one place to break an indoor sub-4 it is here at The Armory knowing all the amazing races that have been run here.”
In two weeks both Hunter and O’Hare return to The Armory for the 109thNYRR Millrose Games where they’ll compete in the mile again.
To purchase tickets for the 109th NYRR Millrose Games please go tohttps://tickets.
About The Armory Foundation
The Armory is a New York City non-profit institution, with the mission of “Keeping Kids on Track.” Each season the Armory — the proud home of the NYRR Millrose Games — hosts more than 100 track & field meets and welcomes more than 125,000 athlete visits. Besides its many youth sports and educational programs, The Armory runs the Armory Track Invitational, EmblemHealth Hispanic Games, the New Balance Games, and the New Balance Nationals Indoors. The Armory is also the home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. For more: Please visit ArmoryTrack.com.
