Ethan Edgeworth (13) ran the fastest 3,200m on Alabama soil by an Alabama runner at last year's RunningLane Track Championships; this year he will attempt to replicate that feat in the mile

We have never had a sub 4:00 mile run at the RunningLane Track Championships.

There have been many runners who have had the ambition to do so and over the past four years, this has become the common drive to many boys heading down to Huntsville, Alabama "PR Ville". The 800m and 3,200m have generated the time desires by some boys, but it just hasn't happened in the mile.

The boys who have attempted to eclipse the four-minute included several guys with the talent level and previous runs that were in range where you just knew it was going to happen. Except all of the attempts have come oh so close, and ending up just a little short.

This year should be the year we get some boys or atleast one who gets it done. 

The field is by no means better than the previous RunningLane fields, but it just feels different for some reason and it feels like the time is right.

If Mother Nature cooperates, be on the look-out Saturday night for reports of the next sub four-minute miler.

Check out the list below. We have mocked our order of finishers despite the winning time. 

Edgeworth is Alabama's best distance runner, but don't just think local when it comes to him. This guy is a national level stud and we have him mocked to win this race for several reasons.

The first reason is because he has one of the fastest non converted 1,600m race this season. There are a lot of boys who live or train at elevation and there are some boys who have better lifetime PBs, but Edgeworth is a the real deal. 

The second reason to believe he will do very well this weekend is because he is undefeated in the 1,600m as well as unbeaten on Alabama soil this track season.

The final reason to believe in Edgeworth's abilities is because of what he has already exhibited. He appears to just have  what it takes in terms of both speed and endurance. With 1:53 low speed, a 4:09 indoor mile performance and a blazing fast 8:38 3,200m, he will be tough to beat.

3. Corbin Coombs 

School - Organ Mountain HS, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Grade - Junior

Personal Bests - 1:54.13, 4:05.43, 9:01.95

Just last year, Coombs ran a 4:19 mile at the 2023 RunningLane Track Championships for his best time over 1,600m for the full mile.

This season, Coombs is legit and for a just cause, he is mocked with a possibility to win this race. His 4:00 seed time is a conversion from altitude as he has a 4:05.43 best over 1,600m and 4:07.15 in the mile from his 2024 Arcadia Invitational win.

Coombs has the outstanding mix of endurance and ability to run fast over the longer distance as his 9:01.95 at elevation shows it. His stats of 52.80 and 1:54.13 shows his leg speed

While the conversions mock Coombs nearly at the top, it also doesn't assure he will win. He hasn't run very fast lately, but that could be him preparing for the national championship season. One thing is for sure, you always have to run fast whether it is at elevation or not to beat Coombs.

4. Adam Burlison 

School - Amarillo HS - Amarillo, Texas

Grade - Senior

College - Texas

Burlison is one of three Texas state champions on this list. He has competed in a lot of highly competitive meets in both high school and on the collegiate level this calendar year.

After another school transfer, the West Texas native continues his ability to run at a high level no matter where he is. The Texas signee enters as last year's RunningLane Track Championship runner-up and it's where he ran his 4:03.85 mile PB.

This year, Burlison has continued to ramp things up with his new 800m, and 3,200m PBs. Consider his new best runs over and under the mile along with his runner-up experience at this meet, look for a confident runner to press for the win this weekend.

5. Kaden Evans

School - American Fork HS - American Fork, Utah

Grade - Junior

Personal Bests - 1:55.29, 4:09.71, 8:46.10

Dawson Reeves

School  - Christ School HS - Arden, North Carolina

Grade - Senior

College - Duke

Personal Bests - 1:52.83, 4:06.90, 8:57.47

The North Carolina senior is about as fast as they come. He has several 1:52 runs in the 800m, as many sub 4:10s, and has run under the nine-minute barrier in the 3,200m.

As a smaller school, Reeves doesn't get the opportunity to race the most talented runners often. However, when he does run national level talent, he has proven to be able to hang. He has displayed the ability to be carried or carry a fast pace and he has executed strategy for national level wins. Reeves' 4:06 personal best came at the Carolina Distance Carnival.

The Duke commit is familiar with the track at Milton Frank stadium; its where he ran 4:08 at last year's RunningLane Track Championships for a seventh place finish.

Noah Strohman

School - Holliday HS - Holliday, Texas

Grade - Sophomore

Personal Bests - 1:53.54, 4:06.18, 9:02.54

Strohman is the second Texas 1,600m state champion on this list. He is also one of the field's fastest in terms of leg speed. He has a 52.09 on record over 400m and won a Texas UIL 3A state title at 800m in 1:53 earlier this month.

So far this year, the sophomore has only run as fast as he has needed to, but he does have a 4:06.18 win at the Texas Distance Festival elite 1,600m race.

At last years RunningLane Track Championships, he was runner-up in one of the races when he ran his 4:09.23 mile PB.

Caden Leonard

School - Carroll HS - Southlake, Texas

Grade - Sophomore

Personal Bests - 4:06.30, 8:51.57

The third Texas UIL 1,600m state champion comes from the best program in the state. Leonard won Texas' largest classification in the event and enters with a five 4:10 runs or better on the entire season.

In this race, we figure to get the best of Leonard we've seen at this distance; It's RunningLane, which means kids should be going for their best.  The intrigue of seeing the young Carroll star not have to be the pace leader and not have a tactical race is a gift we could be in for this weekend.

Liam Hanemann 

School - Marist HS - Atlanta, Georgia

Grade - Junior

Personal Bests - 1:54.26, 4:09.41, 9:21.03

Hanemann is the second Marist runner who is in our mock top-ten finishers for this year's RunningLane Track Championships. A top finish would be a world of difference from his 2023 run last season when he ran 4:26.06. 

Two weeks ago, Hanemann was able to run to runner-up finishes in the 800m (1:55.47) and the 1,600m (4:13.56) at the GHSA 6A State Championships.

Over his high school career, the junior has focused on the half-mile and the mile events during the track season. Along with the Arcadia 800m, this will be the biggest race in his career.

He will be coming down from elevation and that could see him flourish and leave Alabama with a new PR.