Leo Daschbach Becomes 11th U.S. High School Boy Sub-4
Sub-57 final lap breaks sub-4 barrier: "I didn't realize I was going to run sub-4 until I literally leaned across the line and the clock still said 59."
By Jeffrey Parenti, MileSplit.com
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. -- Leo Daschbach accomplished what he didn't even think was possible.
Earlier this week, the Highland (AZ) High School senior and University of Washington recruit said during a pre-race interview of the Quarantine Clasico sub-4 Mile attempt race that he didn't believe anyone in the eight-person field would break 4 minutes if they weren't on pace through three laps.
But then it happened.
Daschbach was faced with the burden of running a sub-57 last lap to reach that apex moment.
And then something came over the Arizona teen on Saturday night at Oak Ridge High School during this impromptu race planned across just three weeks.
Daschbach was unstoppable over the final 250 meters, pouring it on late for a final kick that was absolutely breathtaking as he finished in a time of 3:59.54 to become the 11th athlete in U.S. high school history to break 4 minutes in the Mile and 6th since 2015.
Daschbach said he didn't realize how close he was to the goal "because I didn't hear the times too much," he said. "I didn't realize I was going to run sub-4 until I literally leaned across the line and the clock still said 59.
"I still can't believe it. That's amazing."
He clarified that he could see the clock but "it really didn't click until I literally ran across the line."
Daschbach is the first U.S. high school athlete to break 4 minutes in the Mile since 2017.
Cole Sprout, a senior at Valor Christian (CO) HS who is headed to Stanford, had a valiant kick late, too, hitting 59.47 seconds on his final 400 meters to finish second overall in 4:02.42.
Continue reading at, includes full race video: milesplit.com
U.S. High School sub-4 history HERE.
