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DyeStat 2000 Outdoor
Donald Sage enters Prefontaine Classic
Picks up 4-minute mile chase
as Webb bows out for now
release from the Prefontaine Classic
WEBB OUT, SAGE IN THE PRE CLASSIC MILE
Eugene--Prep miler Alan Webb has withdrawn from the Bowerman Mile in the Prefontaine Classic, after a sub-par performance in the Virginia State HS Championships meet last weekend. Said his coach, Scott Raczko, "He has had a great year and we have decided that it is best that we end the year and focus on next year and his future career." Webb has the fastest time of the year by a prep in the mile, 4:03.33, run on May 20th.
Added to the field in his place is the high school athlete with the second-fastest mile of the year, Donald Sage of York HS in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Coached by the legendary Joe Newton, Sage ran 4:04.2 for the mile in the Golden West Invitational last weekend, winning the race unchallenged. Sage attempted to scare the 4-minute barrier in that race with the help of Eugene's Erik Heinonen, who paced some of the race. Sage came through the three-quarter mark in 3:00, but was unable to hold the tempo over the last lap, as he was far ahead of the rest of the field.
In the Bowerman Mile, there will certainly be runners to focus on, as the other 15 milers have all run times under 4-minutes, and several are in the 3:50 region, notably William Chirchir of Kenya, the world leader at 1500 meters (3:32.55, = 3:49.6 mile).
