Not the same. Edward Cheserek was a few weeks fitter and had perfect pacing. You could also argue BU is a fast track, and Ches had to lead the whole way in ABQ
NCAA Mile prelim results from last year:
1 Edward CHESEREK SR Oregon 3:59.30 Q 1 (1)
2 Matthew MATON SO Oregon 3:59.73 Q 1 (2)
3 ***Josh KERR FR New Mexico 3:59.90 Q 2 (1)
4 Joshua THOMPSON SR Oklahoma State 3:59.94 Q 1 (3)
5 Neil GOURLEY JR Virginia Tech 4:00.10 Q 1 (4)
6 ***Ben SAAREL SR Colorado 4:00.39 Q 2 (2)
7 Adam PALAMAR SR Syracuse 4:00.71 Q 2 (3)
8 Liam DEE SO Iona 4:00.72 Q 2 (4)
9 Sampson LAARI SR Mid. Tenn. State 4:00.73 q 2 (5)
10 Thomas JOYCE SR California 4:01.02 (4:01.012) q 1 (5)
11 ***Jonah KOECH SO UTEP 4:01.02 (4:01.019) 1 (6)
12 Tim GORMAN SR Oregon 4:01.19 1 (7)
13 ***Dillon MAGGARD JR Utah State 4:01.25 2 (6)
14 Matthew FAYERS JR Oklahoma State 4:01.62 2 (7)
15 ***Zach PERRIN JR Colorado 4:03.48 2 (8)
16 Ned WILLIG SR Michigan 4:05.48 1 (8)
Perrin was #4 overall seed with 3:56
Ben Saarel was #5 overall seed with 3:56
Koech was #7 overall seed with 3:57
Kerr was #9 overall seed with 3:58
Maggard was #13 overall seed with 3:58
Ben Saarel made the final but got 9th in the final
Josh Kerr is a stud