Griffith, Hillhouse go 1-2, sub-4 in High School-only Mile race
Engelhardt repeats as Mile champion at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor
By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
PHILADELPHIA – For every opportunity that Drew Griffith has taken complete advantage of during his senior year at Butler Area High, including a Foot Locker cross country national title, a win at the HOKA Festival of Miles and the second fastest 2 Mile performance in U.S. prep history to secure victory at the Brooks PR Invitational, the Pennsylvania star is also a remarkably selfless competitor as well.
Having already eclipsed the coveted sub-4 minute Mile on May 30 in St. Louis, Griffith still wanted to elevate the entire field Saturday night, June 15, in the championship boys race at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, looking to help other athletes in their quest to achieve sub-4 performances.
Zach Hillhouse of Pleasant Grove High in Utah, a Brigham Young signee, benefited significantly from Griffith’s ambitious pace and even passed the Notre Dame commit momentarily with less than 150 meters remaining.
But Griffith responded in impressive fashion, feeding off the energy of the crowd at Franklin Field to produce a well-timed surge to prevail in 3 minutes, 59 seconds, a meet record and #3 all-time high school-only race.
Hillhouse became the 23rd athlete in U.S. prep history to deliver a sub-4 effort, clocking 3:59.62 to place second, and for the first time, two HSers went sub-4 in a HS-only same race.
Marcus Reilly of Northbridge High in Massachusetts took third in 4:01.16, a state record, with nine competitors running sub-4:05 overall.
Griffith ran 3:57.72 to triumph at the HOKA Festival of Miles, and in Philly, became the 5th American high school competitor all-time to run 3:59 or faster on multiple occasions.
Sadie Engelhardt from Ventura High in California extended her streak to four consecutive New Balance Mile titles, repeating as outdoor champion in 4:37.04, also a meet record, to go along with back-to-back indoors crowns.
Engelhardt, the national high school outdoor Mile record holder, remained patient competing against Allie Zealand of Pacers Homeschool in Virginia – who boasts the fastest outdoor 2 Mile effort in U.S. prep history – before making a significant move with 175 meters remaining to pull away for the victory with a 61 point last lap.
Zealand ran 4:39.16, Rachel Forsyth of Purple Track Club and Ann Arbor Pioneer High elevated to #3 in Michigan prep history at 4:40.68 to take third, Bethany Michalak from Air Academy in Colorado was fourth in 4:43.02 and Nicki Southerland of Delta High in Indiana placed fifth in 4:44.38, as 23 female athletes ran sub-4:50 and 78 overall eclipsed the 5-minute mark.
CREDIT: John Nepolitan
