Top 5 Moments At USATF Junior Nationals, Day 1

4. Drew Hunter Makes All-American Oregon Frosh Blake Haney Work For It

It was a photo finish in Heat 1 of the Junior Men's 1500m between Blake Haney, Drew Hunter and Patrick Perrier.

It was a photo finish in Heat 1 of the Junior Men's 1500m between Blake Haney, Drew Hunter and Patrick Perrier.

Heat 1 pitted Andrew Hunter of Loudon Valley, Va. against Blake Haney, who recently placed third in the NCAA Championship 1500m as a freshman for Oregon. Luckily, the top four finishers in each heat (2 heats total) would advance to the final, as well as the next four fastest based on time.

Todd Mickey of Texas Tech was the early leader, clocking 63 seconds for the opening quarter. Patrick Perrier of Stanford, Haney and Hunter all made up the lead pack as they split 2:08 through 800m.

On the bell lap, Perrier and Haney pulled away to make it a two-man race - but Hunter was not quite done yet. The junior, who handed sub-four minute miler Grant Fisher his first prep defeat in two years last weekend at the Brooks PR Invitational, kicked it into cruise control and pulled even with the two older runners on the home straight.

The three finished in nearly a dead heat, with Haney edging for the win in 3:52.65.

Place Name Affiliation Time 300m 700m 1100m 1500m
1 Blake Haney Oregon 3:52.65 Q 48.10 [48.10] 1:52.69 [1:04.60] 2:57.52 [1:04.83] 3:52.65 [55.13]
2 Andrew Hunter Unattached 3:53.29 Q 48.29 [48.29] 1:52.94 [1:04.65] 2:57.74 [1:04.80] 3:53.29 [55.55]
3 Patrick Perrier Stanford 3:53.40 Q 47.90 [47.90] 1:52.49 [1:04.60] 2:57.45 [1:04.97] 3:53.40 [55.95]
4 Dan Curts Iowa St. 3:55.07 Q 48.36 [48.36] 1:52.97 [1:04.61] 2:57.61 [1:04.65] 3:55.07 [57.46]
5 Todd Mickey Texas Tech 3:58.11 47.48 [47.48] 1:52.31 [1:04.83] 2:57.68 [1:05.38] 3:58.11 [1:00.44]
6 John Dove Manhattan 4:02.09 48.56 [48.56] 1:53.20 [1:04.65] 2:58.71 [1:05.51] 4:02.09 [1:03.38]
7 James Belfatto American 4:05.20 48.74 [48.74] 1:53.41 [1:04.67] 2:58.33 [1:04.93] 4:05.20 [1:06.88]
DNS Steven Fahy Stanford -
DNS Charlie Theiss 2nd Wind TC -


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4. Drew Hunter Makes All-American Oregon Frosh Blake Haney Work For It
3. Michigan Prep Wins 1500m Prelim - But Not The One You Think
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1.
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Top 5: USATF Jr. Nationals, Day 1