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The last few years have seen American high schoolers, including New Englanders, chase the four minute mile. None have succeeded. But, what happened to them when they moved to the next level? And, while we're at it, how about the other recent stars?The answers came at the Stanford Invitational. Gabe Jennings (Stanford) 96 HS grad ran a 1:48.40 800 meters to place fourth behind Anders Christiansen of William & Mary. Michael Stember (Stanford, 97 HS grad) rolled in seventh in 1:49.1. Martin Keino, son of Olympic champ Kip Keino, New Jerseyan and UCLA grad, finished 20th in 1:51.3. Trailing behind were "older" milers Jason Pyrah and Dan Held. It appears that the milers were getting in a little speed work before the chamionship season begins.
Jonathan Riley (Stanford, Massachusetts' Brookline HS 97) screamed through the 5000 meters in 13:36.69 for second place. Bernard Lagat of Washington State nipped Riley by 0.7 seconds.
Finishing just behind Riley was Matt Downin (of New Hampshire HS's Mortimer and Downin duo). Wisconsin's Downin ran 13:40.3.
Sharif Karie (Arkansas), another 97 High School grad who led Riley and Jennings in their 4:00 chase, placed eleventh in the 5K in 13:50.07.
Sharif finished just behind Massachusetts' Matt Lane (now at William & Mary).
Jason Vanderhoof, who followed Mortimer & Downin in New Hampshire (at Timberlane HS, now at Wisconsin) placed 22nd in the 5K in 14:17.
However, Bob Kennedy, the absolute best American distance runner in recent years, showed them all how to do it by running two sub-14:00 5Ks, back to back, in winning the 10,000 in 27:38.3.
On the women's side, Mary Cobb, of Western Massachusetts and Stanford, placed seventh in the 5K with 16:11.2. Mary finished just in front of recent New England High School grad Tara Chaplin (Arizona) who finished 8th in 16:18.8.
Melissa Feinstein (Stanford), another recent Massachusetts high school grad, placed second in the pole vault with a leap of 12' 6" .
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 05:20 PM