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Reebok Boston Indoor Games

Reggie Lewis Center, Boston

Sat
urday, February 7, 2009

Boys Junior Mile profiles

By SteveU


Andrew Springer Westerly HS/Westerly RI senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  4:10.61yi (09), 3:55.05 1500, 4:12.94y, 9:14.96y

Key 2009 Indoor Meets:
1/17 – 1st Yale Inv mile 4:10.61
1/16 – 1st Yale Inv DMR (4:10.1 leg on 10:17.50)
1/10 – 1st Dartmouth Relays mile 4:16.73
1/3 – 1st Brown Invite 3000 8:27.21
12/28 – 1st Boston Challenge 2M 9:21.22

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
1st Rhode Is. State 2M 9:14.96
2nd Hartford Public mile 4:12.94
16th NON mile 4:17.02
19th NON 2M 9:21.13

The Skinny:  More than any other harrier who raced deep into December, Springer has leapt into indoor track with abandon and, as the decisive US#1 miler at 4:10.61, has to be considered the favorite.  While this will be the first truly national-level race in track where he’s been a contender, few (if any) others are ready to go under 4:10 at this point.  Having run a lot of indoor races, he declined a Millrose Invite to prep for this race.  Last fall was his first XC season.

Trevor Dunbar Kodiak HS/Kodiak AK senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  9:06.41, 4:15.78

Key 2009 Indoor Meets: None

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
2nd Golden West 3200 9:06.41
1st Alaska State 1600 4:15.78
2nd Alaska State 3200 9:13.28

The Skinny: Without a doubt, Dunbar’s invitation was based on his tremendous 2008 XC season, where he was unbeaten until Foot Locker (including a Mt. SAC win), then was 2nd at FL West and FL Finals.  He is unproven as a miler and has not raced since Foot Locker.  On the other hand, that now-famous 9:01 3200 on the track in the snow before FL West has to count for something, and Dunbar has indoor track experience with meets in Alaskan facilities.




Brett Johnson Ocean City HS/Ocean City NJ senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  4:16.01yi (09), 3:53.23 1500, 4:08.41y, 9:22.98

Key 2009 Indoor Meets:
1/30 – 2nd Millrose mile 4:19.61
1/10 – 2nd Hispanic Games mile 4:16.01

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
6th Nike Outdoor mile 4:11.22
1st USATF NJ Open mile 4:08.51
1st NJ MOC 1600 4:09.03
1st NJ Grp 3 800/1600 1:53.49/4:14.55

The Skinny: After his gutty limp to the line at FL Finals, it’s hard to imagine how Johnson was able to run by 4:16.01 by the Hispanic Games, and get 2nd at Millrose, but he did.  He certainly backed up his Millrose pre-selection.  The ankle is still bothering him, though.  Johnson’s creds from last spring stand out the most:  He’s the nation’s top returning outdoor miler with his 4:08.51 PR from a USATF meet.  If the ankle holds up, he has a good chance of challenging Springer.

Reed Connor The Woodlands HS/The Woodlands TX senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  9:08.16, 4:13.28

Key 2009 Indoor Meets: None

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
2nd State 5A 3200 9:15.43
3rd State 5A 1600 4:13.28
1st Region 2-5A 3200 9:08.16
2nd Region 2-5A 1600 4:14.98

The Skinny: Connor was on his way to having a good 2008 XC season as part of the group of talented top dogs in Texas until after his Nike South 3rd-place finish in October.  Then he decided he could ratchet it up another level – going from good to great – and proceeded to destroy every field of harriers he raced after that, all the way to the NXN title.  Like Dunbar, he also had an impressive 3200 time trial mixed in (8:54) and is not known as a miler.  But Texans have done well here the last two years and Connor will probably do pretty well, too.


Omar Abdi Charlestown HS/Charlestown MA senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  4:14.12i (09), 3:54.21 1500, 4:13.83y

Key 2009 Indoor Meets:
2/1 – 1st MSTCA Elite 1k 2:27.80
1/17 – 15th Yale Inv. Mile 4:28.18
1/10 – 2nd Dartmouth Relays mile 4:17.95
1/3 - 1st BU Mini Meet mile 4:14.12

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
1st Mass. All-State mile 4:13.83

The Skinny:  After Springer, Abdi has had the most active indoor season.  Among Northeastern runners, he would have to be kind of considered a glaring omission to the Millrose field, given that he’s the US#2, but his runner-up to Springer at Dartmouth wasn’t fast enough and he didn’t run other qualifying races.  But BIG is more of a home race for him anyway.  He definitely seems to have the talent and the fitness, especially after a 2:27.80 1k on Feb. 1, to contend for the win.


Jeremy Rae Lakeshore Catholic HS/Fort Erie, Ontario CA
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  1:52.92, 3:49.12

Key 2009 Indoor Meets: None

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
1st Canadian Youth 800 1:52.92
1st Canadian Youth 1500 3:57.31
1st York Twilight 1500 3:49.12

The Skinny:  Surprise – the guy who most US fans have never heard of could be the guy to win it all.  Rae, who is not yet 18, is coming off a super 2008 where he swept the Canadian youth championships (age 17 or under) in the 800/1500 with times of 1:52.92 and 3:57.31.  More imposing is the fact that he had another 1500 earlier in the summer that was clocked at 3:49.12.  He ranked #1 overall for the year in the 1500 and #2 for 800.  This appears to be his first meet of the year.




Mac Fleet University City HS/San Diego CA senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  1:50.40, 3:50.48 1500 (07), 4:08.09 (07)

Key 2009 Indoor Meets: None

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
1st Triton Inv 800 1:50.40
3rd CIF State 1600 4:13.33
11th Reebok BIG mile 4:28.19

The Skinny: Fleet displayed some of the country’s most outstanding middle distance talent when he ran 3:50.48/4:08.09 as a soph, but since has struggled to stay healthy and consistent.  He’ll obviously hope to redeem himself from last year’s last-place finish here, but like several other runners, he’s not an experienced indoor racer and it will be his first major race of the year.  He has the best 800 PR in the field and would probably be best served in a slower-paced race.
 


Patrick McGregor Hoover HS/Hoover AL senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  1:53.24, 3:52.41 1500, 4:10.73y

Key 2009 Indoor Meets: none

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
2nd NIN mile 4:16.79
2nd Arcadia mile 4:15.72
5th NON mile 4:10.73

The Skinny:  McGregor has also had his share of problems staying consistent for different reasons, but came up pretty big at both Nike national track meets last year, hitting PRs and placing high.  A 2nd at Arcadia was also a quality run.  Highlight of XC season was a strong 2nd at NXN Southeast to qualify to Portland as an individual.






Chris “CJ” Brown Carroll Senior HS/Southlake TX senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  4:14.00yi, 4:12.68 (07), 9:17.98

Key 2009 Indoor Meets: None

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
9th Reebok BIG mile 4:14.00
5th State 5A 1600 4:15.69
6th State 5A 3200 9:33.36
2nd Region 5A 3200 9:17.98

The Skinny:  After mild injuries hampered his early to mid-season efforts, Brown finally got back toward top form at the NXN South and Foot Locker South regional races.  He didn’t fare quite as well in the national meets, but he should still be set up well for a solid track season.  Like his then-teammate Colby Lowe, Brown ran well here last year considering his neophyte status as an indoor runner and that it was his first meet of the year.  



Zachary Ornelas Vista Ridge HS/Cedar Park TX senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  4:22.41yi (09), 5:54.58 2k St, 9:11.77yi, 4:17.70

Key 2009 Indoor Meets:
2nd Arkansas Inv mile 4:22.41
2nd Arkansas Inv 3000 8:48.81

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
1st NON 3k St 5:54.58
2nd NON 5000 14:56.42
2nd NSIC 5000 15:07.49
3rd NSIC 2M 9:11.77
2nd State 4A 3200 9:15.86

The Skinny:  Ornelas is definitely more a steeplechaser and long distance runner but still figures to be in the mix at this distance.  He has lots of big meet experience, including doubles at NSIC and NON last year, as well as making it to NXN Finals as an individual and placing 9th.  His future is in the steeplechase, where he won NON last spring.
 
Drew Butler The Woodlands HS/The Woodlands TX senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  1:52.67, 4:19.35

Key 2009 Indoor Meets: None

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
2nd State 5A 800 1:53.02
1st Region 2-5A 800 1:52.67

The Skinny: Butler’s credentials and notoriety are probably more modest than any other entrant, but don’t be surprised if he’s one of the biggest breakout performers in 2009.  Primarily an 800 runner in ‘08, he PR’d with 1:52.67 last spring before taking 2nd at TX 5A state at 1:53.02.  His PR for 1600, which he didn’t really train for, was 4:19.  This past fall, though, he stepped up his XC game considerably as part of The Woodlands’ powerhouse and when it came for the team’s annual 3200 track time trial, he dropped jaws with a 9:01.  Combined with his 800 chops, you think he’ll be a better miler this year?  How ready he’ll be on Feb. 7 is up in the air, but look for him to get way under 4:10 this spring.
 

Collin Jarvis Rancho Buena Vista HS/Vista CA senior
Track PRs (2008, unless indicated):  4:14.74

Key 2009 Indoor Meets: None

Key 2008 In/Out Meets:
7th CIF Prelims 1600 4:16.57
2nd SDS Finals 1600 4:14.74

The Skinny: Jarvis is one of a group of Californian milers in the 4:10-15 range returning this spring and looking for a breakout.  His best time came in a runner-up showing behind fellow BIG participant Mac Fleet in the San Diego section finals last spring, but he missed making the CIF State Finals from the previous day’s prelims.  In XC, his best race was probably his runner-up finish in the Stanford Invite.


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