Pretty sure there was not a rail on the track when you an 8:40.9 in high school, Craig. Perhaps you were not really the second fastest high schooler at the time, after Lindgren's 8:40.0.
Craig Virgin wrote:
In Toni Reavis's blog yesterday he pointed out that Christian Brothers H.S. in Lincroft, NJ ran 17:07.17 earlier this year. If that is truly the case then 2 teams have come within a second of that revered record set back in 1976 by South Eugene High. The late Billy McChesney, my friend and former Olympic Teammate in 1980, and his teammates breathed a sigh of relief yesterday, I'm sure. That just shows you how good they were back then. I also agree that the Brooks meet should have had their track facility up to snuff technically so that any records would be recognized if set. That was a disappointment but I'm not sure that South Eugene ran their race with a rail either. Over the course of 16 laps... I'm not sure it is that meaningful to the authenticity of the time, though. Kudos again to the boys from Northport H.S. Given the resurgence in H.S. middle/long distance running right now... I doubt if it will be 39 more years before we see 3 sub-9:00 2-milers on the same team again... but it is a remarkable feat nevertheless.... Question now is how many of them will go on to improve further in college.