Pro Men's Mile
When: 8:50 PM CTWho: Jordan McNamara, Reed Brown, Morgan McDonald, Abraham Kiplagat, Rorey Hunter, Abraham Kiplagat Cheplaiti, Will Crocker, Reid Buchanan, Isaac Updike, Olli Hoare, Patrick Perrier, Tripp Hurt
Why: The biggest storyline in the pro men's mile centers around Southlake Carroll High School senior Reed Brown, who is attempting to become the 10th high schooler to break the four-minute mile. Brown, a University of Oregon recruit, has run 4:02.49 for 1600m and 4:03.23 for the mile this year, the former coming en route to a runner-up finish behind Sam Worley at the Texas state meet. Brown's range may skew more toward the distance ends of things -- he's a two-time Texas state champion over 3200m with a PB of 8:50.43 and won the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championship in December -- but he's also renowned in prep circles for his kick. He's got as good a chance as any to break four here; the pacer is prescribed to take the field through 800m in 1:56 and many will be aiming for the U.S. outdoor nationals "A" standard of 3:56.5.
We talked to Reed Brown after his 4:03 mile PB at the Texas Relays:
The favorite for the title may also be Jordan McNamara, a four-time champion at the Festival of Miles and the meet record-holder per a blistering 3:54.27 in 2014. For the past two years, the St. Louis race has been McNamara's fastest mile of the entire year. The Portland native opened his 2017 at the beginning of this month, recording a 1500m/3K double over two days in 3:54.14 and 8:22.5, respectively.
Wisconsin star Morgan McDonald is also entered here after failing to make the NCAA DI West Prelims despite winning the 5K at the Big Ten Championships. He also swept the 3K and 5K at the Big Ten Indoor Championships but did not quite make the cut for NCAA Indoors. McDonald is the Wisconsin school record-holder in the mile at 3:57.83, and it will be interesting to see what the Australia native can do here.
Also keep an eye on Abraham Kiplagat of Kenya, a 31-year-old 800m specialist who ran 1:43.77 in 2010.
Wisconsin star Morgan McDonald is also entered here after failing to make the NCAA DI West Prelims despite winning the 5K at the Big Ten Championships. He also swept the 3K and 5K at the Big Ten Indoor Championships but did not quite make the cut for NCAA Indoors. McDonald is the Wisconsin school record-holder in the mile at 3:57.83, and it will be interesting to see what the Australia native can do here.
Also keep an eye on Abraham Kiplagat of Kenya, a 31-year-old 800m specialist who ran 1:43.77 in 2010.