Rum Gun wrote:
Qweru wrote:
I don’t get why they keep throwing high schoolers in the Bowerman mile.
Other than Alan Webb (2001), Drew Hunter (2016), and now Jakob Ingebrigtsen (2018), have there ever been any other high schoolers in the Bowerman mile, or the elite Prefontaine Classic mile prior to its naming after Bill Bowerman?
I'm only talking about the Bowerman Mile - the elite mile race. I haven't looked up the non-elite milers (not always called the International Mile) to see how often high schoolers were in this particular second-tier (and still power-packed with talent) race. There were D.J. Principe and Jakob Ingebrigtsen last year.
Webb was entered for a reason in 2001 - to chase a legendary runner's record. He produced in grand fashion, and it was a highlight of the meet. So that explains his entry.
Hunter in 2016 was entered because of the hope, hyped not by him but by Nike?, that he might have a shot at Alan Webb's high school mile record. Also, Webb was coached his freshman year by Hunter's parents, so that added to the "feel good" aspect of this hyped entry. And the kid had already chosen Oregon for his school (negated when he turned pro later that summer), so there was a strong Eugene angle for including him in the Bowerman Mile. (Remember that although he finished last, he was running with Lyme Disease, soon to be detected and treated.)
Jakob Ingebrigtsen, in this year's Bowerman, is not an unreasonable entry, given his potential for lowering his best mile time, but currently his best is only 3:56.29, and his 2018 1500 win against some big names at Payton Jordan was just a tad slower than than. So maybe he really deserves to be bumped down to the International Mile, based on comparative best mile times; I haven't studied his competition to see.
With time to kill on a slow day in a slow office, and for the fun in studying the names and times, I compiled a list of all the elite mile results (not the second, lesser-talented mile race) at the Prefontaine Classic, going back to 2001, when Webb broke Jim Ryun's high school record:
2001:
Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 3:49.92
Kevin Sullivan Canada 3:51.82
Bernard Lagat Kenya 3:53.14
Adil Kaouch Morocco 3:53.40
Alan Webb USA 3:53.43
Hudson de Souza Brazil 3:54.39
Graham Hood Canada 3:54.62
Bryan Berryhill USA 3:55.01
Youssef Baba Morocco 3:55.10
Raymond Yator Kenya 3:55.12
Martin Keino Kenya 3:56.87
Daniel Zegeye Ethiopia 3:57.92
Ibrahim Aden Somalia 4:01.27
Mike Miller USA DNF
Sean Gross USA DNF
Jason Pyrah USA DNF
2002:
Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 3:50.89
William Chirchir Kenya 3:51.03
Bernard Lagat Kenya 3:52.63
Seneca Lassiter USA 3:55.30
Ibrahim Aden USA 3:55.53
Benjamin Kipkurui Kenya 3:55.64
Bryan Berryhill USA 3:56.30
David Krummenacker USA 3:56.45
Adam Goucher USA 3:56.76
Matt Lane USA 3:57.57
Leonard Mucheru Kenya 3:57.90
Jason Lunn USA 4:00.69
Michael Stember USA 4:00.98
Mike Miller USA 4:01.38
David Kiptoo Kenya DNF
David Lelei Kenya DNF
2003:
Bernard Lagat Kenya 3:50.21
Kevin Sullivan Canada 3:53.34
Alex Kipchirchir Kenya 3:53.73
David Lelei Kenya 3:54.26
Hudson de Souza Brazil 3:54.39
Jason Lunn USA 3:54.43
Laban Rotich Kenya 3:55.93
Yousef Abdi Australia 3:56.23
Noah Ngeny Kenya 3:58.79
Alan Webb USA 3:58.84
Ibrahim Aden USA 3:59.49
Mark Fountain Australia 3:59.64
Michael Stember USA 4:00.71
Steve Magness USA 4:01.02
Mike McGrath USA 4:10.66
Seneca Lassiter USA DNF
Graham Hood Canada DNF
Simon Kimata Kenya DNF
David KiptooKenyaDNF
2004:
Alan Webb USA 3:50.85
Nick Willis New Zealand 3:53.51
Elkanah Angwenyi Kenya 3:54.52
Kevin Sullivan Canada 3:58.35
Paul McMullen USA 3:58.60
Julius Achon USA 3:58.66
Steve Slattery USA 3:59.78
Aaron Lanzel USA 3:59.88
Jonathan Riley USA 4:00.55
Ray Hughes USA 4:00.87
Nick Symmonds USA 4:09.83
Joel Atwater USA 4:13.72
Laban Rotich Kenya DNF
Simon Kimata Kenya DNF
Mike Miller USA DNF
2005:
Alex Kipchirchir Kenya 3:50.91
Rachid Ramzi Bahrain 3:51.33
Bernard Lagat USA 3:51.53
Elkanah Angwenyi Kenya 3:53.05
Rob Myers USA 3:54.87
Kevin Sullivan Canada 3:56.41
Charlie Gruber USA 3:56.92
Scott McGowan USA 3:57.21
Adam Goucher USA 3:57.23
Paul Korir Kenya 3:59.86
Bernard Kitpum Kenya 4:00.34
Tom Brooks USA 4:00.55
Mike McGrath USA 4:01.37
James Thie Great Britain 4:03.50
Laban Rotich Kenya DNF
Simon Kimata Kenya DNF
2006:
Bernard Lagat USA 3:51.53
Alex Kipchirchir Kenya 3:51.71
Rashid Ramzi Bahrain 3:52.39
Daniel K. Komen Kenya 3:52.84
Elkanah Angwenyi Kenya 3:53.95
Chris Lukezic USA 3:54.46
Cornelius Chirchir Kenya 3:56.36
Mo Farah Great Britain 3:58.36
Jon Rankin USA 3:58.76
Rob Myers USA 4:00.36
Alan Webb USA 4:00.87
Ming Gu China 4:03.2113
Jason Lunn USA 4:03.47
Geoffrey Rono Kenya DNF
Justus Koech Kenya DNF
2007:
Daniel K. Komen Kenya 3:48.28
Bernard Lagat USA 3:50.56
Alex Kipchirchir Kenya 3:52.10
Shadrack Korir Kenya 3:52.78
Kevin Sullivan Canada 3:56.21
Eliud Kipchoge Kenya 3:57.19
Rob Myers USA 3:58.01
Nicholas Kemboi Kenya 3:58.12
Said Ahmed USA 3:58.46
Ryan McKenzie Canada 4:00.07
Ross Krempley USA DNF
Geoffrey Rono Kenya DNF
2008:
Shedrack Korir Kenya 3:50.49
Nick Willis New Zealand 3:50.66
Daniel K. Komen Kenya 3:50.95
Belal Mansour Bahrain 3:53.12
Lopez Lomong USA 3:53.97
Jon Rankin USA 3:54.68
Alan Webb USA 3:55.47
Alex Kipchirchir Kenya 3:57.43
Will Leer USA 3:58.16
Kevin Elliott USA DNF
Jackson Kivuna Kenya DNF
2009:
Asbel Kiprop Kenya 3:48.50
Haron Keitany Kenya 3:48.78
Nate Brannen Canada 3:52.63
Belal Mansoor Bahrain 3:53.05
Nicholas Kemboi Kenya 3:53.43
Lopez Lomong USA 3:53.47
Evan Jager USA 3:54.35
Shedrack Korir Kenya 3:54.77
Henock Legesse Ethiopia 3:54.81
Alan Webb USA 3:55.99
Peter van der Westhuisen South Africa 3:56.26
Will Leer USA 3:56.63
Leonel Manzano USA 3:58.68
Josephat Kithii Kenya 4:01.09
Moise Joseph Haiti DNF
Jackson Kivuna Kenya DNF
2010:
Asbel Kiprop KEN 3:49.75
Amine Laalou MAR 3:50.22
Mekonnen Gebremedhin ETH 3:50.68
Daniel Komen KEN 3:50.70
Andrew Wheating USA 3:51.74
Nicholas Kiptanui Kemboi KEN 3:52.84
Lopez Lomong USA 3:53.18
Mohamed Moustaoui MAR 3:53.70
Bernard Lagat USA 3:54.36
Haron Keitany KEN 3:57.07
Leonel Manzano USA 4:06.51
Gideon Gathimba KEN DNF
Yusuf Saad Kamel BRN DNF
Lachlan Renshaw AUS DNF
2011:
Keitany, Haron KEN 3:49.09
Kiplagat, Silas KEN 3:49.39
Kiprop, Asbel KEN 3:49.55
Gebremedhin, Mekonnen ETH 3:49.70
Ndiku, Caleb Mwangangi KEN 3:49.77
Komen, Daniel Kipchirchir KEN 3:50.29
Alamirew, Yenew ETH 3:50.43
Moustaoui, Mohamed MAR 3:50.67
Brown, Russell USA 3:51.45
Willis, Nicholas NZL 3:51.95
Gathimba, Gideon KEN 3:53.76
Lomong, Lopez USA 3:53.85
Wieczorek, Mark USA DNF
Kithii, Josphat Mitunga KEN DNF
2012:
Asbel KIPROP KEN 3:49.40
Mekonnen GEBREMEDHIN ETH 3:50.17
Ayanleh SOULEIMAN DJI 3:50.21
Bethwell BIRGEN KEN 3:50.43
Caleb Mwangangi NDIKU KEN 3:50.79
Collins CHEBOI KEN 3:51.44
Nick WILLIS NZL 3:51.77
Abdelaati IGUIDER MAR 3:51.78
David TORRENCE USA 3:52.01
Amine LAALOU MAR 3:52.12
Daniel Kipchirchir KOMEN KEN 3:53.04
Leonel MANZANO USA 3:53.07
Silas KIPLAGAT KEN 3:53.73
Bernard LAGAT USA :54.28
Lopez LOMONG USA 3:55.14
Andrew WHEATING USA 3:56.77
Andrew Kiptoo ROTICH KEN DNF
Elijah KIPCHIRCHIR KEN DNF
Haron KEITANY KEN DNF
2013:
Silas KIPLAGAT KEN 3:49.48
Asbel KIPROP KEN 3:49.53
Aman WOTE ETH 3:49.88
Ayanleh SOULEIMAN DJI 3:50.40
Bethwell BIRGEN KEN 3:50.42
Caleb Mwangangi NDIKU KEN 3:50.46
Nixon Kiplimo CHEPSEBA KEN 3:51.37
Collins CHEBOI KEN 3:51.44
Lopez LOMONG USA 3:51.45
Matthew CENTROWITZ USA 3:51.79
Taoufik MAKHLOUFI ALG 3:52.94
Mekonnen GEBREMEDHIN ETH 3:54.04
Dawit WOLDE ETH 3:54.51
Abdelaati IGUIDER MAR 3:55.93
Ryan GREGSON AUS 3:57.08
Leonel MANZANO USA 4:00.04
Andrew Kiptoo ROTICH KEN DNF
James Kiplagat MAGUT KEN DNF
2014:
Ayanleh SOULEIMAN DJI 92 3:47.32
Silas KIPLAGAT KEN 89 3:47.88
Aman WOTE ETH 84 3:48.60
Abdelaati IGUIDER MAR 87 3:49.09
James Kiplagat MAGUT KEN 90 3:49.43
Collins CHEBOI KEN 87 3:49.56
Asbel KIPROP KEN 89 3:50.26
Matthew CENTROWITZ USA 89 3:50.53
Johan CRONJE RSA 82 3:50.70
Bethwell BIRGEN KEN 88 3:51.12
Taoufik MAKHLOUFI ALG 88 3:52.16
Mekonnen GEBREMEDHIN ETH 88 3:53.22
Henrik INGEBRIGTSEN NOR 91 3:53.62
Will LEER USA 85 3:56.72
Andrew Kiptoo ROTICH KEN 87 DNF
Hillary Kipkorir MAIYO KEN 93 DNF
2015:
Ayanleh SOULEIMAN DJI 3:51.10
Matthew CENTROWITZ USA 3:51.20
Asbel KIPROP KEN 3:51.25
Silas KIPLAGAT KEN 3:51.92
James Kiplagat MAGUT KEN 3:52.33
Ronald KWEMOI KEN 3:52.57
Collins CHEBOI KEN 3:52.63
Johan CRONJE RSA 3:53.02
Abdelaati IGUIDER MAR 3:53.21
Henrik INGEBRIGTSEN NOR 3:53.43
Leonel MANZANO USA 3:53.55
Vincent KIBET KEN 3:55.65
Aman WOTE ETH 3:57.34
Hillary Kipkorir MAIYO KEN DNF
Andrew Kiptoo ROTICH KEN DNF
2016:
KIPROP, Asbel Kenya 3:51.54
IGUIDER, Abdelaati Morocco 3:51.96
MANANGOI, Elijah Motonei Kenya 3:52.39
KIBET, Vincent Kenya 3:52.71
MAKHLOUFI, Taoufik Algeria 3:52.95
WOTE, Aman Ethiopia 3:53.23
BLANKENSHIP, Ben United State 3:53.83
JAGER, Evan United State 3:54.21
KIPLAGAT, Silas Kenya 3:56.60
MAGUT, James Kiplagat Kenya 3:56.89
HOLUSA, Jakub Czech Republ 3:58.34
HUNTER, Andrew United State 3:58.86
KIVUVU, Jackson Kenya DNF
ROTICH, Andrew Kiptoo Kenya DNF
2017:
Ronald KWEMOI KEN 3:49.04
Elijah Motonei MANANGOI KEN 3:49.08
Timothy CHERUYIOT KEN 3:49.64
Vincent KIBET KEN 3:51.17
Clayton MURPHY USA 3:51.99
Abdelaati IGUIDER MAR 3:52.77
Ben BLANKENSHIP USA 3:53.04
Filip INGEBRIGTSEN NOR 3:53.23
Bethwell BIRGEN KEN 3:53.50
Charlie GRICE GBR 3:53.62
Ryan GREGSON AUS 3:56.90
Silas KIPLAGAT KEN 3:57.59
Asbel KIPROP KEN 3:58.24
Andrew ROTICH KEN DNF
Elijah KIPCHIRCHIR KEN DNF
Ayanleh SOULEIMAN DJI DNF
You missed that in 2003, Steve Magness and Mike McGrath were put in the Bowerman mile as high schoolers. You might notice from your list that they finished second to last and last, respectively. After that, I think they understandably backed off with the high schoolers for a while, until they decided to take a chance on Hunter. Well, look how that turned out. The fields have gotten better over the years, and this is no longer a race that a 3:55ish type guy can compete in. There’s no reason to expect that Jakob won’t be near the back.