Connor Burns ran a mile for the ages on Saturday at the Iowa State Classic.
The Southern Boone County (MO) High School junior ran the second-fastest high school junior class mile of all-time against a field of collegians, posting a finishing time of 4:02.96.
The mark slots just behind St. Benedict's Prep great Edward Cheserek, who ran 4:02.21 in 2012.
The performance, a new Missouri state record, sits at U.S. No. 3 on the season nationally and ranks at No. 11 all-time. This same weekend, Nease (FL) senior Rheinhardt Harrison ran 4:01.15 for the eighth-fastest mile of all-time.
In a lot of ways, what makes Burns' performance so special is how out-of-left-field it came.
While Burns ran 4:10.07 as a sophomore at the HOKA Festival of Miles, he finished second in the 1,600m at the MHSAA Class 3A state meet in 4:22.37 and struggled at the Outdoor Nationals in June, posting a time of 4:25.39.
Of course, Burns did come off a stellar cross country season, where he won his first Class 3 state title and won nine of 10 races across the 2021 campaign.
But two years ago, as a freshman, he ran 4:48.30.
Few expected Burns to clock one of the nation's top times, no less an effort under 4:05.
Of course, surprises are the mark of track and field, and on Saturday Burns officially made a huge statement.