The Miles Lists: 3200 Meter Relay

Here are the 2007 and all-time Minnesota high school boys performance lists for the 3200 Meter Relay as compiled by St. John's coach Tim Miles and Wayzata coach Bill Miles.

See all the "Miles Lists" we've published so far HERE.

3200 METER RELAY

2007 BESTS
Willmar 7:42.24
(Yusuf, Awale, Adeys, Coquet)
Mounds View 7:45.95
(Evans, Bradley, Wrobel, Shelendich)
Lakeville South 7:53.79
Apple Valley 7:54.52
Eastview 7:54.71
Pine Island 7:56.21
Buffalo 7:56.50
Rosemount 7:57.55
Eden Prairie 7:59.60
Moorhead 8:00.20
(10)
Stillwater Area 8:00.42
Fairmont 8:00.70
Edina 8:01.00
North Branch 8:01.07
Hastings 8:01.53
Minnetonka 8:02.02
Hopkins 8:02.46
Zumbrota-Mazeppa 8:02.54
Brainerd 8:02.71
Osseo 8:03.28
(20)
Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 8:03.66
Woodbury 8:04.09
Concordia Academy 8:04.27
Redwood Valley 8:04.70
Roseville Area 8:05.77
Warroad 8:06.06
Grand Rapids 8:06.24
Duluth East 8:06.25
Foley 8:07.12
Wayzata 8:08.11
(30)
Minneapolis De La Salle 8:08.48
Robbinsdale Armstrong 8:08.50
Burnsville 8:08.58
Bemidji 8:08.99
Morris Area 8:09.09
Plainview-Elgin-Millville 8:11.87
Sauk Centre 8:12.84
Esko 8:13.44
Delano 8:14.15
Forest Lake 8:14.66
(40)
Park Center 8:15.01
Richfield 8:15.06
North St. Paul 8:14.9
Holy Family Catholic 8:15.64
Rochester Mayo 8:16.12
Minnehaha Academy 8:16.19
Fridley 8:18.19
Irondale 8:18.3
Maple Grove 8:18.93
White Bear Lake 8:19.08
(50)

ALL TIME BESTS
7:41.94 Stillwater Area 1998
7:42.24 Willmar 2007
7:45.95 Mounds View 2007
7:47.58 Lakeville North 2006
7:48.38 Stillwater Area 2004
7:49.14 Mankato West 2003
7:50.77 Buffalo 2006
7:50.94 Eden Prairie 2006
7:51.05 Stillwater Area 2003
7:51.22 Alexandria 2005
(10)
7:51.50 St. Paul Central 2001
7:51.47 Rosemount 2006
7:51.74 Eden Prairie 2005
7:51.88 Willmar 2006
7:52.18 Eden Prairie 2001
7:52.31 Eden Prairie 2000
7:52.56 Eden Prairie 2003
7:52.58 Mounds View 2003
7:52.65 Rosemount 2005
7:52.68 Stillwater Area 1997
(20)
7:52.5 St Louis Park 1965 (7:55.6y)
7:53.03 Bloom Jefferson 1997
7:53.79 Lakeville South 2007
7:54.05 Lakeville 2005
7:54.09 Wayzata 2001
7:54.13 Perham 2004
7:54.26 Eden Prairie 2004
7:54.37 Alexandria 1998
7:54.52 Apple Valley 2007
7:54.71 Eastview 2007
(30)
7:54.77 Stillwater Area 1999
7:54.7 Alex Ramsey 1968 (7:57.9y)
7:55.06 Eden Prairie 1999
7:55.34 Alexandria 1997
7:55.2 Stillwater Area 1996
7:55.7 Minnetonka 1983
7:55.99 Tartan 2005
7:56.18 Rochester Mayo 2003
7:56.21 Pine Island 2007
7:56.23 Winona 2001
(40)
7:56.47 Mounds View 1999
7:56.50 Buffalo 2007
7:56.51 Hopkins 2003
7:56.64 St Michael-Albertville 2000
7:56.88 Apple Valley 2000
7:56.91 Duluth East 2002
7:56.7 Irondale 1991
7:57.08 Faribault 2000
7:56.9 Osseo 1985
7:57.40 Apple Valley 1999
(50)
7:57.51 Stillwater Area 2005
7:57.55 Rosemount 2007
7:57.4 Robb Armstrong 1991
7:57.58 Burnsville 2003
7:57.66 Eden Prairie 2002
7:57.69 Mounds View 2000
7:57.70 Minnetonka 1997
7:57.6 St Paul Cretin 1976 (8:00.8y)
7:57.89 St. Paul Arlington 2003
7:57.7 Stillwater 1978 (8:00.9y)
(60)
7:57.8 Osseo 1991
7:58.05 Mankato West 2002
7:58.06 Staples-Motley 2000
7:58.08 St Cloud Apollo 2000
7:57.9 Blaine 1980
7:58.39 Eden Prairie 1997
7:58.44 Winona 1999
7:58.76 Wayzata 2004
7:58.87 Minnetonka 2003
7:58.7 Edina 2004
(70)
7:59.02 Hopkins 2006
7:59.15 Buffalo 2005
7:59.37 Wayzata 1994
7:59.54 Osseo 1997
7:59.56 Mounds View 2002
7:59.57 Mounds View 2006
7:59.60 Eden Prairie 2007
7:59.62 Pine Island 2005
7:59.68 Robbinsdale Armstrong 2006
7:59.5 Armstrong 1984
(80)
7:59.93 Perham 2005
7:59.97 Hopkins 2005
7:59.8 White Bear Lake 1975 (8:03.0y)
8:00.20 Moorhead 2007
8:00.42 Stillwater Area 2007
8:00.2 Benilde 1975 (8:03.4y)
8:00.2 St Louis Park 1976 (8:03.4y)
8:00.2 Alex Ramsey 1978 (8:03.4y)
8:00.45 Eden Prairie 1998
8:00.48 Sartell 2000
(90)
8:00.48 St Paul Central 2000
8:00.61 Stillwater Area 2000
8:00.63 Burnsville 2004
8:00.70 Fairmont 2007
8:00.79 Sartell 1999
8:00.82 Sartell 2003
8:00.7 White Bear Lake 1969 (8:03.9y)
8:00.7 Irondale 1992
8:00.96 White Bear Lake 2004
8:00.98 Buffalo 2004
(100)

Cheever Named Big Ten Athlete of the Week

Minnesota Golden Gopher junior Jamie Cheever was named the Big Ten Conference Track Athlete of the Week after breaking the 24-year old U of M record in the mile run last weekend at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational.

Cheever clocked a time of 4:39.54 to automatically qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Cheever, a Minneapolis native and graduate of Southwest High School, also anchored the Gophers’ distance medley relay which posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 11:09.35, the second-fastest mark in school history.

Cheever broke the school record of 4:41.12 held by Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame member Jodi Eder.

The award is Cheever’s first Big Ten weekly honor of her collegiate track career. Teammate Alicia Rue earned two Big Ten weekly awards earlier this season.

The Gopher women, who will host the Big Ten Indoor Championships on March 1-2, are currently ranked #8 in the nation in NCAA Division I.

Paske to Read from Breaking Stride Saturday

Stephen Paske, whom faithful DtB readers will remember as the author of the two-part article about Minnesota's high school distance running renaissance -- found HERE and HERE -- will read from his 2006 novel Breaking Stride at the Maple Grove Library at 1:30 p.m. this Saturday.

Breaking Stride is a short, dramatic tale about high school distance running set in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities. The story follows two runners: Rod Dillery, who gave up a state title when he stopped late in the race to aid a fallen competitor, and Jeremy Sylas, who will learn his coach's secret if he wins state.

True to the book's breathless style, Paske's narrator depicts a summer night, training run encounter between two rivals with the following:

"Their eyes dueled. Searing with hatred, their retinas boiled from the whites. Obsessed with victory, each combatant sized up his opponent, supremely confident in his own superiority. Both runners accelerated recklessly. Neither was intimidated. I was the only one who was scared."

Paske, a former Osseo High School and Marquette University distance runner, currently resides in the Milwaukee area. More information on Breaking Stride and Paske's newest book, The Immortal, can be found HERE.

The Miles Lists: 1600 Meter Relay

Here are the 2007 and all-time Minnesota high school boys performance lists for the 1600 Meter Relay -- with Mounds Views' eye-popping 3:14.47 topping both the 2007 and all-time lists -- as compiled by St. John's coach Tim Miles and Wayzata coach Bill Miles.

See all the "Miles Lists" we've published so far HERE.

1600 METER RELAY

2007 BESTS
Mounds View 3:14.47
(Evans, Shelendich, Bradley, Balzer)
Hopkins 3:21.54
Tartan 3:21.84
Robbinsdale Cooper 3:23.13
Buffalo 3:23.32
Minnetonka 3:23.62
Rosemount 3:24.01
Elk River 3:24.32
Hastings 3:25.15
Eden Prairie 3:25.48
(10)
United South Central-AC 3:26.61
Shakopee 3:25.54
Eagan 3:25.72
Stillwater Area 3:25.96
Robbinsdale Armstrong 3:26.09
Fairmont 3:26.20
Concordia Academy 3:26.22
Andover 3:26.31
Osseo 3:26.56
Willmar 3:26.72
(20)
Lanesboro/Fillmore Central 3:26.80
Chaska 3:26.94
Farmington 3:27.06
Plainview-Elgin-Millville 3:27.41
Coon Rapids 3:27.42
Irondale 3:27.50
Eastview 3:27.60
Austin 3:27.62
Woodbury 3:27.68
Totino Grace 3:27.71
(30)
Burnsville 3:27.74
Prior Lake 3:28.04
Sartell-St. Stephen 3:28.06
Mankato West 3:28.10
Lakeville South 3:28.13
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 3:28.27
Sauk Centre 3:28.58
Chatfield 3:28.60
Pine Island 3:28.62
Yellow Medicine East 3:28.64
(40)
Moorhead 3:28.72
Zumbrota-Mazeppa 3:28.87
Minneapolis South 3:28.90
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 3:29.43
Foley 3:29.46
Minneapolis De La Salle 3:29.50
Rochester Mayo 3:29.61
Hutchinson 3:29.6
Duluth East 3:29.86
Apple Valley 3:29.93
(50)

ALL TIME BESTS
3:14.47 Mounds View 2007
3:16.89 Stillwater 1997
3:18.67 Woodbury 2004
3:18.5 Edina 1968 (3:19.8y)
3:18.81 Mounds View 2005
3:18.88 Hopkins 2001
3:18.9 Edina 1969 (3:20.2y)
3:19.44 Apple Valley 1999
3:19.45 Coon Rapids 2001
3:19.2 Moorhead 1971 (3:20.5y)
(10)
3:19.4 Alex. Ramsey 1968 (3:20.7y)
3:19.5 Bloom Kennedy 1971 (3:20.8y)
3:19.79 Mounds View 1999
3:19.84 Apple Valley 2001
3:20.08 Fairmont 1984
3:19.9 White Bear Lake 1971 (3:21.2y)
3:20.19 Stillwater Area 1998
3:20.00 Buffalo 2006
3:20.24 Apple Valley 1992
3:20.49 Stillwater Area 2000
(20)
3:20.60 Wayzata 2002
3:20.62 Robbinsdale Armstrong 2002
3:20.4 Armstrong 1978 (3:21.7y)
3:20.64 St Michael-Albertville 1999
3:20.67 Robbinsdale Cooper 2006
3:20.71 Moorhead 1993
3:20.77 Minnetonka 1996
3:20.6 Rochester JM 1974 (3:21.9y)
3:20.6 Wayzata 1978 (3:21.9y)
3:20.6 Wayzata 1981
(30)
3:20.87 Park 1985
3:20.96 Mounds View 2000
3:21.01 Stillwater Area 1999
3:20.8 Edina 1966 (3:22.1y)
3:20.8 Moorhead 1973 (3:22.1y)
3:20.9 White Bear Lake 1970 (3:22.2y)
3:20.9 Albert Lea 1976 (3:22.2y)
3:21.1 Edina 1965 (3:22.4y)
3:21.38 Bloom Jefferson 1999
3:21.40 Mounds View 2001
(40)
3:21.2 White Bear Lake 1966 (3:22.5y)
3:21.2 Rochester JM 1969 (3:22.5y)
3:21.2 Owatonna 1974 (3:22.5y)
3:21.2 Mounds View 1987
3:21.3 White Bear Mariner 1974 (3:22.6y)
3:21.54 Hopkins 2007
3:21.55 Apple Valley 1989
3:21.65 Stillwater 1996
3:21.5 Mounds View 1977 (3:22.8y)
3:21.76 Minnetonka 1985
(50)
3:21.82 Owatonna 1981
3:21.6 Armstrong 1979 (3:22.9y)
3:21.84 Tartan 2007
3:21.88 Eagan 2006
3:21.91 Irondale 1992
3:21.93 Burnsville 2000
3:21.7 White Bear Lake 1967 (3:23.0y)
3:21.7 Mankato 1968 (3:23.0y)
3:21.7 Edina East 1974 (3:23.0y)
3:21.97 Minnetonka 1989
(60)
3:21.97 Alexandria 2005
3:21.8 St Louis Park 1971 (3:23.1y)
3:21.8 Moorhead 1972 (3:23.1y)
3:22.08 Albert Lea 1988
3:22.20 White Bear Lake 1985
3:22.20 Rochester Mayo 2002
3:22.0 Moorhead 1980
3:22.0 Red Wing 1976 (3:23.3y)
3:22.0 Eden Prairie 1978 (3:23.3y)
3:22.0 Wayzata 1979 (3:23.3y)
(70)
3:22.27 Irondale 1989
3:22.29 Eastview 2005
3:22.31 Burnsville 2001
3:22.33 Mounds View 2006
3:22.1 Rochester JM 1971 (3:23.4y)
3:22.2 Stillwater 1977 (3:23.5y)
3:22.2 Albert Lea 1977 (3:23.5y)
3:22.2 Wayzata 1980
3:22.50 St Francis 1989
3:22.3 White Bear Mariner 1975 (3:23.6y)
(80)
3:22.54 Woodbury 2006
3:22.55 Minnetonka 1988
3:22.55 Anoka 2006
3:22.59 Edina 1999
3:22.62 LeCenter/Cleveland 1997
3:22.4 St Louis Park 1967 (3:23.7y)
3:22.4 Mankato 1968 (3:23.7y)
3:22.4 Edina 1971 (3:23.7y)
3:22.4 White Bear Lake 1978 (3:23.7y)
3:22.4 Blaine 1984
(90)
3:22.5 St Paul Central 1989
3:22.5 Mounds View 1973 (3:23.8y)
3:22.75 Robbinsdale Armstrong 2006
3:22.77 SP Highland Park 1988
3:22.81 Brainerd 2000
3:22.6 St Paul Central 1979 (3:23.9y)
3:22.6 Apple Valley 1988
3:22.84 White Bear Lake 1999
3:22.85 Mankato West 2004
3:22.86 Tartan 2006
(100)

Send The Right Message

By Jim Ferstle

In the Fall of 1988 Dr. Helen Kelly, a Twin Cities pediatrician received an office visit from a wrestler and his mother. This occurred shortly after Ben Johnson was busted at the Seoul Olympics, testing positive for anabolic steroids. The reason for they were there, the mother told Dr. Kelly, was to request that her son could get a prescription for the drugs Johnson used. It was a not so subtle reminder that in the world of drugs in sports the best intentions can often have unintended consequences.

Sports governing bodies, such as the IOC, were employing a "crime and punishment" model in an attempt to rid the Olympics of drugs. They thought they could scare athletes into not taking drugs by warning them of the alleged negative side effects of healthy individuals consuming substances prescribed for various illnesses. They thought they could scare athletes by claiming to be able to catch them if they cheated by using drugs. Thus when Johnson was caught in Seoul the message they thought they sent to Olympic athletes was: "Don't cheat because you'll get caught." Instead the message many athletes took away from the Seoul doping scandal was that anabolic steroids "worked" and where could they get some?

The same thing happened years later when major league home run king Mark McGwire was discovered to be using a steroid precursor, androsetenedione, during his march to the single season home run record. Once exposed, McGwire's use of the "nutritional supplement" sent sales of "andro" skyrocketing. The message, again, was that this stuff works, where can I get some?

Across the "pond" in the United Kingdom, a new doping drama is playing out. Sprinter Dwain Chambers, who was banned from the sport because he was caught taking the "designer steroid," THG, as part of the crackdown on the BALCO lab in northern California, is making a comeback. Banned for two years for his BALCO transgressions, Chambers tried to win a spot on an American football team, but failed. This winter he returned to his former sport, winning the 60 meter dash in the British trials meet for this year's IAAF World Indoor Championships in Spain last weekend. According to UK Athletics rules, the athlete who wins an event in the trials and has met the qualifying standards to compete at the World meet should be selected for the team.

For the last several weeks the British papers and electronic media have been filled with the extensive debate over whether or not Chambers should be allowed to represent his country at the World Championships. The British Olympic Association(BOA) has a rule that convicted doping offenders may not compete for Great Britain in the Olympics. Numerous high profile Brits have called for lifetime bans for any athlete having committed a serious doping offense. In the crosshairs of this debate is Chambers. The message the sports authorities want to send is that if you cheat and are caught you lose your privilege of being able to participate in sports. Those, such as Flora London Marathon race director, Dave Bedford, a former world recordholder in the 10K, believe that such draconian punishments are necessary to deter today's ethically challenged athletes from giving in to the temptation to use drugs.

As with the unanticipated fallout from the Seoul doping scandals, however, the message being sent to athletes in the Chambers affair is probably quite different. The underlying message that emerges from the debate regarding Chambers eligibility is the weakness of the testing system and of the crime and punishment model for combating doping. The unintended message being delivered is that the current testing system, with its gaping loopholes, is not robust enough to catch a convicted doping offender who is perceived to be able to return to the sport wiser about how to avoid testing positive again. Once a cheat always a cheat is the assumption. We were lucky to catch them the first time, so let's not take a chance that he will elude us again.

The drug testing system is supposed to act as a deterrent for athletes who are tempted to dope. Because it is a human system with limitations, strengths, and weaknesses, it cannot be a singular line of defense against doping. It's primary job is to enable clean athletes to protect their own reputation. Enable them to refute the oft repeated mantra of the doping proponents that "everyone is doing it(doping)." It is not some real world extension of the fictional forensic television programs where the good guys always win by using science to catch and punish the bad guys. There is no real world CSI sports doping.

In the US there has been a constant swinging of the pendulum between the rights of athletes and the laws governing the testing, prosecution, and punishment of athletes. The entertainment sports in the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. are often criticized as being too soft in their ability to test and the punishment offenders. The NCAA has a similar secretive, seemingly "cheater friendly" approach where athletes are deemed not to be at a very high risk of ever getting caught, and, if they do make a mistake, the punishments are not thought to be adequate to fit the crime. But merely upping the consequences of failing a doping test has not proved to be the "magic bullet" in the anti-doping arena. There is no convincing evidence that lifetime bans will significantly curb athlete drug use.

There is more evidence to support the notion that if you remove the incentive that athletes believe they have to cheat to win you will be doing more to solve the problem. If Chambers were, for example, able to return to the sport, be tested and monitored, and not only be clean, but be perceived to be clean, then you send a far stronger and effective message to every athlete. The message being that you can compete and win at the highest levels of the sport without having to resort to doping. The attention can be focused on the competition, on the athletes, not the gossip, rumor and innuendo of who is doing what or what drug do I need to take to rise to the top.

The athletes deserve a system that protects them from the finger pointing and suspension of belief that every time they dramatically improve it's due to some pharmaceutical assistance. We're all human. We succeed. We fail. Just because we gave in to temptation and broke the rules doesn't deserve the lifetime scarlet letter of disgrace or being branded a cheat. The system has to be strong enough to include rehabilitation, comeback stories not just from physical injuries, but from psychological breakdowns as well. The sad message that echoes from the Chambers affair is that many don't believe the current system allows for that sort of "feel good" story where a banned athlete repents and returns to glory without the use of drugs.

Unfortunately it is very human not to be able to forgive without the belief that the person you are forgiving is truly worthy of that gift. But until we get to that point the system will be unbalanced in favor of those who believe that the only way to get ahead is to bend, finesse, or break the rules. And if all our time is spent debating the complexities of trying to regulate human behavior through these rules, what gets lost is the activity we had hoped to enjoy, to celebrate. Athletics is an exercise in exploring our own and others' ability to perform. If all that gets lost in name calling and endless debate over rules, we've lost the essence of the sports we enjoy. It is just play after all, not an advanced course in public relations, pharmacology, or jurisprudence.

She's Back! Tollefson to Race Friday

The longest year in Carrie Tollefson's storied running career is just days from being over.

The 2004 Olympian who is the face of elite track and field in Minnesota, returns to competition Friday after nearly a year on the sidelines.

Tollefson, who finally found injury relief after undergoing surgery for what was termed "athletic pubalgia" in April, will race the mile in the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Tollefson will compete against a field that includes four-time NCAA champion Tiffany McWilliams, the 2006 USA Indoor runner-up, and former Team USA Minnesota teammate Jenelle Deatherage, the winner of the Reebok Boston Indoor Games mile last month.

The 13-time MSHSL champion in her prep days last competed as a member of the silver medal-winning USA squad at the Yokohama International Women's Ekiden on February 25, 2007.

Tollefson's long struggle with abdominal injury has been well chronicled HERE and HERE. You can gauge Tollefson current mood, HERE, via her recent New York Road Runners' journal posting.

Tollefson is scheduled to race at 9:25 p.m. on Friday. The Tyson Invitational will be broadcast on ESPN on Sunday, February 17. Check local listings.

Photo by Victor Sailer, courtesy of Team USA Minnesota.

The Miles Lists: 800 Meter Relay

Here are the 2007 and all-time Minnesota high school boys performance lists for the 800 Meter Relay as compiled by St. John's coach Tim Miles and Wayzata coach Bill Miles.

See all the "Miles Lists" we've published so far HERE.

800 METER RELAY

2007 BESTS
Mounds View 1:27.77
Hopkins 1:28.42
Irondale 1:28.94
Robbinsdale Armstrong 1:28.94
Osseo 1:29.24
Farmington 1:29.59
Mankato East 1:29.63
St. Paul Johnson 1:29.72
Tartan 1:29.80
Burnsville 1:29.95
(10)
Andover 1:30.04
St. Louis Park 1:30.51
Glencoe-Silver Lake 1:30.53
Anoka 1:30.57
Blaine 1:30.71
Chaska 1:30.83
Champlin Park 1:30.91
North St. Paul 1:30.97
Wayzata 1:31.07
Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 1:31.24
(20)
Robbinsdale Cooper 1:31.0
Forest Lake 1:31.40
Sartell-St. Stephen 1:31.41
Mankato West 1:31.50
White Bear Lake 1:31.53
Frazee 1:31.5
Faribault 1:31.75
Buffalo 1:31.80
Plainview-Elgin-Millville 1:31.89
Coon Rapids 1:31.91
(30)
Chatfield 1:32.04
Fridley 1:32.05
Concordia Academy 1:32.13
Providence Academy 1:32.18
Minnetonka 1:32.19
Moorhead 1:32.25
Woodbury 1:32.27
Duluth Central 1:32.38
Richfield 1:32.58
LeSueur-Henderson 1:32.58
(40)
Yellow Medicine East 1:32.58
Hastings 1:32.60
Rochester Century 1:32.4
Sibley East 1:32.66
Proctor 1:32.79
Caledonia/Spring Grove 1:32.84
Stewartville 1:32.95
Bloomington Kennedy 1:32.97
Rosemount 1:33.03
Stillwater Area 1:33.03
(50)

ALL TIME BESTS
1:27.73 Mankato East 2004
1:27.77 Mounds View 2007
1:27.86 Lakeville 2005
1:27.9 Moorhead 1972 (1:28.4y)
1:28.23 Hopkins 2001
1:28.0 St Louis Park 1970 (1:28.5y)
1:28.35 Eastview 2002
1:28.36 Robbinsdale Armstrong 2006
1:28.42 Hopkins 2007
1:28.3 Moorhead 1969 (1:28.8y)
(10)
1:28.3 Edina 1970 (1:28.8y)
1:28.62 Mounds View 2000
1:28.65 North St Paul 2000
1:28.66 Bloomington Jefferson 1999
1:28.70 North St. Paul 2005
1:28.73 Stillwater Area 2000
1:28.74 Park-Cottage Grove 2004
1:28.5 Mpls North 1965 (1:29.0y)
1:28.5 Moorhead 1968 (1:29.0y)
1:28.81 Roseville Area 2005
(20)
1:28.6 Mpls North 1966 (1:29.1y)
1:28.6 Moorhead 1967 (1:29.1y)
1:28.90 Robbinsdale Cooper 2006
1:28.93 Minnetonka 1977 (1:29.44y)
1:28.93 Hermantown 2004
1:28.7 Moorhead 1966 (1:29.2y)
1:28.7 Mpls Central 1968 (1:29.2y)
1:28.94 Irondale 2007
1:28.94 Robbinsdale Armstrong 2007
1:28.98 St. Louis Park 2002
(30)
1:28.8 Edina 1969 (1:29.3y)
1:28.8 Moorhead 1970 (1:29.3y)
1:29.12 Robbinsdale Armstrong 2001
1:28.9 Robb Armstrong 1977 (1:29.4y)
1:29.14 Brainerd 2000
1:29.18 Roseville Area 2002
1:29.0 Mpls Central 1972 (1:29.5y)
1:29.0 Moorhead 1973 (1:29.5y)
1:29.24 Osseo 2007
1:29.25 Rocori 2000
(40)
1:29.28 Woodbury 2004
1:29.1 Richfield 1971 (1:29.6y)
1:29.37 Park Center 2000
1:29.37 De La Salle 2004
1:29.39 St. Louis Park 2001
1:29.39 Minneapolis Washburn 2005
1:29.40 Anoka 2006
1:29.41 Mounds View 2001
1:29.2 Rochester Mayo 1969 (1:29.7y)
1:29.2 Mpls Washburn 1972 (1:29.7y)
(50)
1:29.2 Edina East 1974 (1:29.7y)
1:29.44 Woodbury 2005
1:29.50 Rocori 2001
1:29.54 Eagan 2000
1:29.58 Lakeville 2003
1:29.59 Farmington 2007
1:29.62 Annandale 2005
1:29.62 Eagan 2006
1:29.62 Mounds View 2006
1:29.63 Mankato East 2007
(60)
1:29.4 Mankato 1967 (1:29.9y)
1:29.4 Robbinsdale 1968 (1:29.9y)
1:29.4 Rochester Mayo 1969 (1:29.9y)
1:29.4 Mpls North 1974 (1:29.9y)
1:29.4 Mounds View 1975 (1:29.9y)
1:29.4 Hop Lindbergh 1977 (1:29.9y)
1:29.65 White Bear Lake 1998
1:29.65 Mounds View 1999
1:29.67 Wayzata 2002
1:29.72 St. Paul Johnson 2007
(70)
1:29.5 St Louis Park 1966 (1:30.0y)
1:29.5 White Bear Lake 1974 (1:30.0y)
1:29.5 Austin 1975 (1:30.0y)
1:29.5 Bloom Jefferson 1977 (1:30.0y)
1:29.5 Burnsville 1977 (1:30.0y)

Philip Dunn: Good News, Bad News at Trials

The good news for Carleton College alum Philip Dunn is that he's the 2008 Olympic Trials champion in the 50K walk, he's $14,000 richer for the effort, and he's got the inside track for a 50k spot on the U.S. Olympic Team for Beijing this summer.

The bad news is he still needs to notch an Olympic qualifying time of 4:07:00 or better to make his third Olympic Team, and that's no walk in the park.

Dunn (pictured) earned his Trials victory Saturday in sticky Miami, Florida when he surged away from eventual runner-up Matt Boyles over the final 12 kilometers of race. The race was contested in humid conditions in temperatures that rose to 80 degrees.

"The 50 km is always a challenging race. It's a brutal endurance contest," Dunn told USATF's Tom Surber. "I was in the thick of it the entire way and that's where I wanted to be. It went exactly how I envisioned it. In a 50K, the last half is when the race starts. I really made a move at 38K and that was the difference."

According to Dunn's comments in THIS Associated Press story, the 1999 Pan American Games bronze medalist achieved his main goal for the day.

"Before every race, you make a set of goals," Dunn is quoted as saying. "The main goal was to win for me, to come out on top. The secondary goal was to hit the time standard and seal the deal, make Beijing today."

Dunn plans to walk for the Olympic qualifying standard at IAAF World Race Walking Cup, May 10-11 in Cheboksary, Russia.

Dunn faced the same scenario after a third place finish at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Then, Dunn bettered the Olympic standard and punched his ticket for the Olympic Games in Athens with a 3:59:12 performance at a Tijuana, Mexico competition.

Dunn finished 35th in Athens and 28th at the Sydney Games.

Photo courtesy of USA Track & Field.

The Miles Lists: 400 Meter Relay

Below are the 2007 and all-time Minnesota high school boys performance lists for the 400 Meter Relay as compiled by St. John's coach Tim Miles and Wayzata coach Bill Miles. This week we'll complete our publication of the brothers' impressive statistical effort with the relays and with their "Retired and Non-Championship Events" lists.

See all the "Miles Lists" we've published so far HERE.

400 METER RELAY

2007 BESTS
Cretin-Derham Hall 42.80
Hopkins 42.84
Robbinsdale Armstrong 42.89
Mounds View 43.00
Fridley 43.06
Andover 43.07
Osseo 43.11
Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 43.21
Faribault 43.30
Wayzata 43.30
(10)
White Bear Lake 43.46
North St. Paul 43.47
Forest Lake 43.47
Anoka 43.55
Farmington 43.77
St. Croix Lutheran 43.78
Bloomington Jefferson 43.79
Hutchinson 43.83
Eden Prairie 43.83
Delano 43.84
(20)
Bloomington Kennedy 43.89
Burnsville 43.89
St. Cloud Apollo 43.89
Woodbury 44.04
Minneapolis Washburn 44.04
Irondale 44.14
Robbinsdale Cooper 44.20
Hawley/Ulen-Hitterdal 44.23
Eastview 44.28
Tartan 44.28
(30)
Alexandria 44.32
Mankato East 44.34
Blaine 44.34
Sauk Rapids-Rice 44.34
Rochester John Marshall 44.35
Roseville Area 44.35
Maple Grove 44.39
St. Peter 44.39
Buffalo 44.42
Moorhead 44.43
(40)
Trinity School at River Ridge 44.44
St. Louis Park 44.45
St. Paul Johnson 44.46
Foley 44.50
Rochester Century 44.51
Hastings 44.52
Glencoe-Silver Lake 44.52
Kenyon-Wanamingo 44.59
Stillwater Area 44.61
Brooklyn Center 44.4
(50)

ALL TIME BESTS
41.82 Eastview 2003
42.05 Champlin Park 2004
42.10 Roseville Area 1999
42.10 Eastview 2002
42.24 Tartan 2004
42.35 Mounds View 2000
42.36 Burnsville 2000
42.39 Eastview 2001
42.41 Minneapolis North 2005
42.42 Champlin Park 2000
(10)
42.44 Apple Valley 1991
42.45 St Paul Arlington 1998
42.45 Mankato East 2003
42.46 Park Center 2005
42.53 Tartan 2005
42.3 Mpls Central 1978 (42.5y)
42.57 Park Center 1991
42.59 Woodbury 1992
42.62 Apple Valley 1989
42.62 Alexandria 2001
(20)
42.4 St Paul Central 1978 (42.6y)
42.66 Mpls Washburn 1993
42.67 Roseville Area 2005
42.68 North St. Paul 2005
42.69 North St. Paul 2006
42.70 Armstrong 1985
42.72 Mounds View 1999
42.73 Bloom Kennedy 1981
42.73 St Paul Cental 1989
42.74 Robbinsdale Armstrong 2006
(30)
42.80 Anoka 2006
42.80 Cretin-Derham Hall 2007
42.81 Apple Valley 1993
42.82 Minnetonka 2003
42.83 Champlin Park 1998
42.6 Mpls Central 1980
42.6 Mpls Central 1982
42.84 Armstrong 1986
42.84 Hopkins 2007
42.85 Apple Valley 1992
(40)
42.85 Apple Valley 1998
42.87 Blaine 1992
42.87 Totino Grace 1994
42.87 North St Paul 2000
42.87 Park Center 2002
42.87 Hopkins 2006
42.89 Robbinsdale Armstrong 2007
42.90 Mpls Central 1981
42.90 Roseville 1988
42.91 Tartan 1996
(50)
42.7 Moorhead 1978 (42.9y)
42.7 Alexander Ramsey 1980
42.96 Woodbury 1993
42.97 Hopkins 1986
42.97 Eden Prairie 1998
42.97 Wayzata 1999
42.97 Detroit Lakes 2000
42.97 Eastview 2004
42.98 Minnetonka 1985
42.98 Hermantown 2004
(60)
42.98 Woodbury 2005
42.99 Austin Pacelli 1984
42.99 Mounds View 1987
42.99 SP Highland Park 1994
43.00 Wayzata 1995
43.00 Mounds View 2007
43.01 Bloom Kennedy 1980
43.01 Blaine 1989
43.03 Apple Valley 1996
43.03 Robbinsdale Cooper 1997
(70)
43.03 Eastview 2000
43.04 Mpls North 1980
42.8 Forest Lake 1983
43.04 Mpls Henry 1985
43.04 Roseville Area 2002
43.04 Irondale 2003
43.05 Park Center 1985
43.05 Rochester JM 1988
43.05 Eagan 1999
43.05 Mounds View 2001
(80)
43.06 Totino Grace 1993
43.06 Coon Rapids 1995
43.06 Fridley 2007
43.07 Andover 2007
43.09 Hopkins 1984
43.10 Irondale 2006
43.11 Armstrong 1987
43.11 Minneapolis De La Salle 2005
43.11 Osseo 2007
43.13 Champlin Park 1996
(90)
43.13 Brooklyn Center 1996
43.13 Champlin Park 1999
43.14 Austin Pacelli 1983
42.9 Redwood Falls 1985
43.14 Mpls Roosevelt 1986
43.14 SP Highland Park 1991
43.14 Glencoe 1992
43.14 Lakeville 1996
43.14 Champlin Park 1994
43.14 Mpls North 1998
(100)
43.14 Park Center 1998

The Short-Cut: Results Links for February 8-10

Along with Philip Dunn's bid to make a third Olympic team, the contest of the weekend is Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational, where the defending Big Ten Indoor champion Gopher women's team will face its strongest competition of the season so far.

Four-time all-American Heather Dorniden will compete at her specialty, the 800 meters, Jamie Cheever, the new school record-holder at 3000m, will race the mile, mutli-event star Liz Roehrig will compete in three events, and the Gopher vault crew, led by Alicia Rue, will take on the field.

Friday:
Meyo Invitational: Gopher Women's Preview * FloTrack Coverage * Results
Update: Swenson wins 1000m; Michigan beats Gopher DMR

Saturday:
USA 50K Olympic Racewalk Trials: Preview * Results
Update: Dunn wins, but still needs Olympic qualifying mark.

Meyo Invitational: FloTrack Coverage * Results
Update: Cheever runs 4:39.54 to break Eder's U of M mile mark; Dorniden beats Gall; Watson runs 4:00.59

Meet of the Hearts (Carleton): Men * Women
Ted Nelson Classic (MSU-Mankato): Results
Update: Rains wins pole vault with 13-6 1/4

St. John's Triangular: Results
UW-Stout Border Battle: Results
Climb for a Cure: Results

Dunn to Walk for 3rd Straight Olympic Team; Casper 9th in Empire State Building Climb

It's Carleton College day on DtB ...

Carleton alum Philip Dunn will compete for a spot on his third Olympic team tomorrow at the USA Olympic 50K Walk Trails in Miami.

Dunn made the USA 50K squad for the 2000 and 2004 Games; he finished 28th at the Sydney Games and 35th in Athens. He was the bronze medalist in the 1999 Pan American Games.

Dunn is listed among a group of favorites for a spot according to the team in THIS USA Track and Field media release. A prize purse of $55,000 is at stake in the event, with the winner taking home a $15,000 check.

Down the Backstretch interviewed Dunn ahead of the Pan American Games last year, HERE, where he ultimately finished 8th.

Also ... Keeping our focus on Carleton College alums, we saw that Dan Casper, a 9-time track and field all-American at the school and an NCAA Indoor Champion at 1500 meters, finished 9th at the Empire State Building Run-Up.

His wife Linda Sone finished 16th in the women's competition.

The Northfield News ran THIS feature on the couple Wednesday. The Star-Tribune ran THIS story on the duo yesterday.

Not ones to rest on their stair-climbing laurels, the Northfield couple, who both work as firefighters in Minneapolis, will compete Saturday in the Climb for a Cure in Minneapolis, a race up the stairs of the IDS tower.

Our thighs are aching just thinking about it!

Short Race, Easy Win, Long Battle for Earnings

Kelly Faris made finishing as the top female at the Team Ortho Monster Dash 5K look pretty easy last October. The former University of St. Thomas all-American ran nineteen minutes flat around the Lake Harriet course to better her nearest female competitor by more than 30 seconds.

Getting paid the prize money she earned from the race, however, took Faris quite a bit more effort.

After petitioning to get her name in its rightful place in the results after a race-day registration mix-up and after being told by race director John Larson in the days after the event that prize money would be awarded only to the fastest times from all three Monster Dash events taking place that weekend, the two-time MIAC cross country champ still found herself writing numerous e-mails to Larson asking for her money.

Only after her situation rose to the attention of a wider circle of Minnesota running community leaders in late January, three months after she crossed the Monster Dash finish line, was a check for $100 finally cut for Faris on February 1.

“Man what a fiasco,” Faris said to DtB about the situation. “The whole thing still seems a little shady to me, as in if I hadn't really pushed the issue, it would have never gone anywhere.”

Faris documented for DtB that between November 6 and December 19 five consecutive e-mails she sent to Larson went unanswered. Faris sent another three e-mails in January before finally seeing the matter resolved shortly after she told of Jack Moran of Raceberry Jam about it.

“I was glad she brought it up to us,” Team Ortho’s Larson explained to DtB when we reached him by phone. “I thanked her a lot for bringing it up and we sent [the check] out to her on Friday. I apologized for the delay and told her I appreciated her patience. We’re a very small foundation; we’re doing a lot of races, so the error was mine. I think I apologized twice in my e-mail to her.”

Team Ortho, the charitable organization behind the Monster Dash events, describes its mission being: “To improve and enhance the lives of orthopaedic patients through our commitment to supporting research, education, and advancements in orthopaedic technology; and to promote good muscular, skeletal, and joint health by encouraging an active lifestyle including training for and participating in amateur athletic events.”

The organization held Monster Dash events on the same October weekend in Wausau, Wisconsin and Eugene, Oregon as well as Minneapolis. Larson was not present at the Lake Harriet race, himself.

“It’s not that I care about getting the money,” Faris stressed, “it's the principle of it. If you're going to have a race that advertises prize money to the winners, and to force those people interested in winning the money to pay a higher entry fee, then you better have the prizes to back it up! Right?”

The Monster Dash, which has already decided not to award prize money in its 2008 events, appeared to be an odd duck as a prize-money event. Prize-money was paid only in the event’s “World Fastest Trick or Treater” division which charged a higher entry fee ($35/45 on race day) than the 5K Fun Run ($30/$40) and required racers to pick up a bag of “treats” during the race. The cash prizes to be awarded were not comprehensively advertised, although Larson confirmed that he had offered them verbally.

“We basically, after we announced it, talked about it early-on,” he said. “I couldn’t find in writing where we talked about the prize money. But I know that I had mentioned there would be cash awards to the top people in each of the divisions overall. We hadn’t put that in writing because we’re about making events that are approachable for everybody.”

“Kelly was the only person to approach me about the prize money,” he continued. “For most people, the prizes weren’t a big motivation; they wanted things like the bone – because there’s a cool bone that we give away -- and for the World’s Fastest Trick or Treater we did a bone-foot, and people seemed to like that a lot.”

The multiple venue nature of the competition for prize money was a novel aspect of the race that even Larson admits didn’t work well.

“It sounds like racing is pretty much a local attraction,” he said. “The reason we’re not doing it again is there seems to be very little interest in areas competing against other areas. I guess it’s because there are fundamentally different courses and people like to see their competition. To be honest, I thought it was an interesting idea, but people didn’t seem to care much.”

The unanswered e-mails aside, the Monster Dash's prize issues seem emblematic of a gulf that appears to be growing between events focused on the participatory aspects of road racing and those more focused on the events as competitive contests.

“Our races are very much about getting as many people involved as possible,” Larson stressed, “because we promote an active lifestyle. I personally don’t come from a competitive race background, so it’s good to be reminded about what all the different people in races look for.”

The 2008 Team Ortho Monster Dash is scheduled for October 25.

The Miles Lists: 300 Meter Hurdles

Here are the 2007 and all-time Minnesota high school boys performance lists for the 300 meters hurdles as compiled by St. John's coach Tim Miles and Wayzata coach Bill Miles.

We've now published all the regularly contested field event and individual running event lists. Look for the relays and the top performances in "Retired and Non-Championship Events" in the coming days.

See all the "Miles Lists" we've published so far HERE.

300 METER HURDLES

2007 BESTS
Matt Griswold 12 Totino Grace 38.25
Nicholas Dalske 11 Coon Rapids 38.33
Mosic Greenprice 12 Buffalo 38.36
Sean Duling 12 Mounds View 38.71
Drew Daggett 12 Frazee 38.87
Blake Wageman 12 Austin 38.99
Matthew Weeks 11 Moorhead 39.05
Matt Reeve 12 Fairmont 39.17
John Knebel 12 Pillager 39.23
Mark Stockhowe 12 Burnsville 39.62
(10)
Mike Rausch 12 White Bear Lake 39.67
Jeremy Davis 12 Champlin Park 39.69
Patrick Keyes 12 Blaine 39.80
Laquane Robinson 10 Brooklyn Center 39.85
Dan Fragodt 12 Benson/K-M-S 39.86
Nick Spaeth 11 Montevideo 39.91
Paul Mallory 11 Fairmont 39.92
Adam Rondeau 12 Eastview 39.94
Josh Zitzmann 10 Farmington 39.97
Andrew Lundberg 12 Owatonna 40.07
(20)
Kalo Washington 10 Robbinsdale Cooper 40.11
Mike Schmitz 12 Stewartville 40.12
John Bye 10 Moorhead 40.14
Alex Bell 12 Rosemount 40.29
Greg Kufahl 10 Hopkins 40.30
Herbert Perkins 11 Shakopee 40.31
Don Schaefer 12 Minnetonka 40.32
Ben Uphoff 12 Luverne 40.40
Jason Mooty 11 Eden Prairie 40.41
John Blackshear 11 Minneapolis Southwest 40.42
(30)
Kyle Tjepkes 12 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 40.45
Brady Roden 11 Foley 40.47
Max Hendricks 12 Mankato East 40.48
Lucas Torres 12 Blue Earth Area 40.3
Snonsie Boyd-Weah 10 Park Center 40.56
Marvin Matthews 11 Roseville Area 40.61
Dan Homstad 12 Duluth East 40.61
Drew Dietrich 12 Andover 40.66
Josiah Powell 12 St. Cloud Cathedral 40.70
Kevin Wolf 12 Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 40.5
(40)
Peter McKeown 11 Hill-Murray 40.76
Steve Groskreutz 11 Faribault 40.81
Josh Lee 12 Rochester Century 40.81
Caleb Giesen 11 LeSueur-Henderson 40.83
Carter Hanlon 12 Duluth East 40.91
Robert Gunderson 11 Eden Prairie 40.95
Evan James 12 Woodbury 41.00
Dustin Meyer 12 Sibley East 41.02
Cody Schlecht 12 Canby/Minneota 41.13
Justin Hunt 12 Bemidji 41.18
(50)

ALL TIME BESTS
36.97 Dan Bannister, Mpls North 1987
37.39 Mitch Potter, St Michael-Albertville 1999
37.65 Soliman Sayedi, Burnsville 2001
37.78 Peter Stuart, Blaine 2001
37.85 Nick Lagos, White Bear Lake 2001
37.90 Mike Hoven, Bemidji 1982
37.93 Jim Luff, Chisago Lakes 1983
38.01 Mike Siskin, Wayzata 1978
38.01 Brent Langford, Fairmont 1984
37.8 Bob Sobieck, Alexander Ramsey 1981
(10)
38.10 Kevin Constable, Hopkins 1983
38.12 Kirk Johnson, Mpls Central 1982
38.13 Jared Lazer, Sauk Rapids-Rice 2002
38.14 Lawrence Lipsey, Bloomington Kennedy 2004
38.22 Adam Kress, Roseville 1996
38.0 Randy Christopherson, Marshall 1978
38.25 Matt Griswold, Totino Grace 2007
38.29 Craig Fredrickson, Detroit Lakes 1996
38.30 P.J. Nelson, Grand Rapids 2003
38.32 Tim Meyer, Moorhead 1987
(20)
38.33 Nicholas Dalske, Coon Rapids 2007
38.36 Mosic Greenprice, Buffalo 2007
38.38 Havis Wade, St. Paul Harding 1989
38.39 Roberto Tapiz, Monticello 1999
38.41 Tom Peterson, Jefferson, 1978
38.42 Niles Deneen, St P Como Park 1994
38.43 Tim Warner, Owatonna 1981
38.2 Terry Babler, Borup 1979
38.2 Rick Steblay, Elk River 1979
38.2 Tim Boeck, Westbrook 1982
(30)
38.44 Steve Grove, Northfield 1996
38.44 Riza Mahmoud, Champlin Park 2001
38.2 Eric Asfeld, Wadena-Deer Creek 2006
38.45 Scott Ferguson, Alexandria 2000
38.46 James Kent, Apple Valley 1997
38.48 P.J. Theisen, New Prague 2003
38.50 Dave Rarick, Rocori 1981
38.50 Fran Swenson, Armstrong 1987
38.52 Andy O’Donnell, Rosemount 2006
38.3 Bill Tolbert, Moorhead 1978
(40)
38.55 Ryan Parsons, Blaine 2004
38.56 Erik Rosenkranz, Anoka 1990
38.57 Darrin Babcock, Rocori 1988
38.58 Paul Eischen, Hastings 1987
38.58 Chris Mattke, Elgin-Millville 2000
38.59 Rupert Bannerman-Thompson, Roseville Area 2005
38.60 Sean Lumpkin, Benilde-St Marg 1988
38.63 Tom Ellingworth, Redwood Valley 2003
38.4 Rick Ratte, Stillwater 1978
38.4 Ryan Melena, Mounds View 1999
(50)
38.64 B.J. Hermerding, Buffalo 2001
38.66 Matt Meyer, Richfield 1989
38.68 David Mayhew, Holy Angels 1997
38.69 Adam Leibman, Minnetonka 1997
38.70 Matt Swenson, Bemidji 1988
38.71 Chris Cox, Rochester Mayo 1993
38.71 Donovan Duncan, North St. Paul 2006
38.71 Sean Duling, Mounds View 2007
38.72 Pete Garber, Mahtomedi 1984
38.5 Randy Schulz, Mankato East 1978
(60)
38.75 Eric Rajala, Coon Rapids 1988
38.77 Jon Lenz, Coon Rapids 2006
38.81 Jamie Kunstleben, Holdingford 1996
38.6 Larry Leerssen, Coon Rapids 1975
38.6 Tony Spandl, Staples 1979
38.84 Tony Paul, Marshall Co. South 1993
38.84 Adam Lilla, Winona Cotter 1998
38.84 Craig Dahl, Mankato East 2003
38.85 David Booker, Mpls North 1988
38.85 Steve Hentges, Irondale 1992
(70)
38.86 Mike Williams, St. Cloud Tech 2002
38.87 Mike Leither, St. Cloud Cathedral 2004
38.87 Drew Daggett, Frazee 2007
38.88 Steve Mathre, Northfield 1985
38.91 Peder Naatz, Wheaton 1986
38.92 Jay Adams, Edina 1983
38.7 Steve Pullens, Blake 1978
38.7 Pete Birkeland, White Bear Lake 1979
38.7 Pete Keely, Apple Valley 1983
38.94 Russ Mark, Alexander Ramsey 1986
(80)
38.98 Dale Flankey, Cloquet 1987
38.98 Tom Phillips, Albert Lea 1984
38.99 Aaron Wheatcraft, Apple Valley 1992
38.99 Dedric Payne, SP Highland Park 1997
38.99 Maceo Wright, Burnsville 1999
38.99 Blake Wageman, Austin 2007
39.00 Mike Mueller, Mpls Southwest 1981
39.00 Tim Hatten, Hastings 1990
39.00 Kris Scherer, Babbitt-Embarass 1999
39.01 Mickey Moore, De La Salle 1987
(90)
39.04 Jay Constable, Hopk Lindbergh 1980
39.05 Brett Reinertson, Chaska 1991
39.05 Matthew Weeks, Moorhead 2007
39.06 Mike Linnemann, Melrose 2004
39.06 James Strand, Brainerd 2006
39.07 Kevin Johnson, Eden Prairie 1985
39.07 Forrest Randall, Lakeville 2005
39.08 John Tetrault, Apple Valley 1987
39.08 Nathan Scmidt, Redwood Valley 2000
39.09 Mark Jacobson, Park Rapids 1996
(100)
39.09 Tom Vierkant, Detroit Lakes 2001
39.09 Josh Tulien, Mounds View 2003
39.09 Mike Kasten, Plainview 2003
39.10 Hube Visse, Mound-Westonka 1982

JUNIOR BESTS
37.85 Nick Lagos, White Bear Lake 2001
38.33 Nicholas Dalske, Coon Rapids 2007
38.43 Mitchell Potter, St Michael-Albertville 1998
38.56 Niles Deneen, SP Como Park 1993
38.58 Chris Mattke, Elgin-Millville 2000
38.67 Dan Banister, Mpls North 1986
38.69 Bob Sobieck, Alexander Ramsey 1980
38.70 Riza Mahmoud, Champlin Park 2000
38.72 Pete Garber, Mahtomedi 1984
38.75 Craig Fredrickson, Detroit Lakes 1995

SOPHOMORE BESTS
38.89 Roberto Tapiz, Monticello 1997
39.04 Mitchell Potter, St Michael-Albertville 1997
38.9 Paul Eischen, Hastings 1985
39.22 Rupert Bannerman-Thompson, Roseville Area 2003
39.27 Nick Lagos, White Bear Lake 2000
39.34 Lawrence Lipsey, Bloomington Kennedy 2002
39.71 Fran Swenson, Armstrong 1985
39.5 Chris York, Austin 1985
39.77 Chris Ashby, Luverne 2006
39.79 Jared Lazer, Sauk Rapids-Rice 2000

FRESHMAN BESTS
39.6 Jim Grebin, Austin Pacelli 1981
40.62 Scott Ferguson, Alexandria 1997
40.63 Chris Ashby, Luverne 2005
40.88 Chris Mattke, Elgin-Millville 1998
40.92 Lawrence Lipsey, Bloomington Kennedy 2001
41.07 Jordan Bremer, Apple Valley 1998
41.17 Soliman Sayedi, Burnsville 1998
41.18 Troy Wyatt, Byron 1991
41.26 Blake Wagermann, Austin 2004
41.31 John Bye, Moorhead 2006

Graham Hoping for World Cross Reunion

Stillwater High School graduate Sean Graham was pleased with the opening race of his indoor season last Friday. The 3rd place finisher in the 3000 meters at last year's USA Indoor Championship finished a close second to Oregon Track Club teammate Bolota Asmerom in 13:46.70 in Seattle.

"The pace felt controlled and it turned out well," Graham (pictured) told DtB, "13:46 in flats indoors in the first week of February is a good starting point."

Graham's "starting point," at least as far as indoor track goes, is also his finale. Although the William and Mary alum has always gravitated to indoor racing in the winter, this year his focus is on cross country. Graham hopes to make the USA squad for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland and reunite with high school coach Scott Christensen who will coach the USA senior men's team.

"Once I heard that Scott was selected to be the mens' coach for the US World Cross Country team, I had to forgo indoor and take a shot at cross," Graham explained. "The opportunity to be coached by Scott again, this time at the highest level, is something I couldn't pass up."

Graham thinks the training he's doing now under OTC mentor Frank Gagliano will put him in good stead for overland racing at the USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego on February 16.

"With such a large emphasis on strength thus far, this change is working well for training too," he said. "Although 12k isn't exactly my ideal distance, I truly think I have a good shot at making the team."

Graham didn't come by his current fitness without some trials and tribulations, however.

"Unfortunately I did quite a number on my Achilles last spring and summer and have had a bit of a time figuring out how to take care of it and train with what has been determined to be "chronic tendonitis," Graham said. "But through a bit of trial and error, a lot of time in the pool, and a lot of babying of the Achilles we have come to a general solution of how to take care of it to the point where it doesn't inhibit training."

"Because of this I got a bit of a late start on my feet this fall but did have a decent base of cardiovascular training in the pool," he continued. "Things have been coming a long quite well over the last 2-3 months though and I'm starting to feel like I’m getting towards the shape I need to be in. I have been able to put a lot of miles in (both weekly totals and more consistent weeks at higher totals) than ever before and am really looking to get this season started.

Graham is one of four Minnesota-bred athletes training with the OTC in Eugene, Oregon, the site of this summer's Olympic Track and Field Trials. Also outposted there are St. Paul Academy and Summit School grad Cack Ferrell, who won the 3000m race in Seattle, Minnetonka High School alum Will Leer, who recently cracked the 4:00 standard in the mile, and former Gopher Adam Steele, a quartermiler-turned-800 meter runner.

Graham admits the Olympic year has sneaked up on him a bit, despite residing in "Tracktown, USA."

"I remember very specifically thinking after the 2004 Trials, "Wow, four years is a long time to continue training, I'm not sure if I can make it that long," he admitted, "and now all of a sudden it is 5 months away. Very exciting times."

"But, like I said earlier, preparations and training are going very well. I think that I am a lot stronger now and will be even more than ever come this spring. And like everyone else that has made the Trials, I'm going to be running like hell to get a spot on that team this summer."

Photo by Sean Hartnett.

The Miles Lists: 110 Meter Hurdles

Below are the 2007 and all-time Minnesota high school boys performances lists for the 110 meters hurdles as compiled by St. John's coach Tim Miles and Wayzata coach Bill Miles.

See all the "Miles Lists" we've published so far HERE.

110 METER HURDLES

2007 BESTS
Sean Duling 12 Mounds View 14.43
Kevin Wolf 12 Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 14.48
Dan Fragodt 12 Benson/K-M-S 14.64
Matt Reeve 12 Fairmont 14.65
Nick Spaeth 11 Montevideo 14.66
Matthew Weeks 11 Moorhead 14.75
Kedrick White 12 Roseville Area 14.81
Austin Delaney 11 St. Louis Park 14.81
Alex Bell 12 Rosemount 14.85
Mark Stockhowe 12 Burnsville 14.86
(10)
Drew Daggett 12 Frazee 14.89
Paul Mallory 11 Fairmont 14.7
Terrell Woitas 11 Mankato East 14.96
Jeremy Davis 12 Champlin Park 15.00
Robert Gunderson 11 Eden Prairie 15.03
Blake Wageman 12 Austin 15.05
Patrick Keyes 12 Blaine 15.06
Matt Griswold 12 Totino Grace 15.06
Paul Daniely 11 Moorhead 15.09
Zach Flies 11 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 15.11
(20)
Laquane Robinson 10 Brooklyn Center 15.11
Drew Feuk 11 New Prague 15.12
Andrew Lundberg 12 Owatonna 15.18
Kyle Tjepkes 12 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 15.18
Ben Rosenstein 12 Burnsville 15.20
John Bye 10 Moorhead 15.22
Mike Schmitz 12 Stewartville 15.22
Jacob Murphy 12 Irondale 15.28
Kyle Moore 12 Cretin-Derham Hall 15.30
Mike Rausch 12 White Bear Lake 15.30
(30)
Tyson McArthur 12 Mahnomen/Waubun 15.30
Curt Lederle 11 Edina 15.1
Kevin Hayes 10 Buffalo 15.36
Josh Underwood 12 Shakopee 15.36
Max Hendricks 12 Mankato East 15.39
Peter McKeown 11 Hill-Murray 15.41
Mosic Greenprice 12 Buffalo 15.42
Zach Claflin 12 Two Harbors 15.42
Jon Knight 11 Proctor 15.43
Sam Samounetry 10 Hopkins 15.44
(40)
Luke Buchholz 12 Ottertail Central 15.45
Eric Spengler 11 St. Croix Lutheran 15.49
Zach Boettcher 12 St. Cloud Cathedral 15.49
Preston Schlegel 12 Hopkins 15.50
Zac Nielsen 12 Zimmerman 15.51
Snonsie Boyd-Weah 10 Park Center 15.54
James Froehle 12 Robbinsdale Armstrong 15.54
John Knebel 12 Pillager 15.3
Mike Bredeson 11 Litchfield 15.56
Justin Hunt 12 Bemidji 15.59
(50)

ALL TIME BESTS
13.85 Rick Schroeder, Owatonna 1981
13.7 David Knutson, Fergus Falls 1975
14.02 Nick Lagos, White Bear Lake 2002
14.03 John Briese, Park-Cottage Gr 1985
14.06 Niles Deneen, SP Como Park 1994
14.12 Mike Hoven, Bemidji 1982
14.15 Riza Mahmoud, Champlin Park 2001
14.15 Rupert Bannerman-Thompson, Roseville Area 2005
14.17 Bob Sobieck, Alexander Ramsey 1981
14.0 Dave Gaither, Wayzata 1975
(10)
14.0 Mike Siskin, Wayzata 1977
14.0 Dave DeSutter, Aitkin 1984
14.33 Mitch Potter, St Michael-Albertville 1999
14.1 Glen Snesrud, Bloomington Lincoln 1968
14.1 Tom Johanson, St. Louis Park 1968
14.1 Dean Gellinea, Two Harbors 1969
14.1 Mike Frericks, Silver Bay 1977
14.1 Luke Pfeifer, Frazee-Vergas 1996
14.34 Lawrence Lipsey, Bloomington Kennedy 2004
14.35 Peter Najarian, Mpls Central 1981
(20)
14.37 Dan Bannister, Mpls North 1987
14.39 Jayme Pantekoek, Mankato West 1998
14.40 Peter Stuart, Blaine 2001
14.41 Eric Crabtree, New Ulm 1991
14.43 Sean Duling, Mounds View 2007
14.2 Bill McNee, Alexander Ramsey 1963
14.2 Ralph Wirtz, Coon Rapids 1967
14.2 Jed Larson, Buffalo 1967
14.2 Scott Sharpe, Richfield 1968
14.2 Jim Henry, SC Cathedral 1969
(30)
14.2 Larry Leerson, Coon Rapids 1975
14.2 George Csathy, Robbinsdale 1977
14.2 Tony Spandl, Staples 1979
14.2 Bill Sack, Waseca 1979
14.2 Scott Dillon, Anoka 1984
14.2 Chris Rogan, White Bear Lake 1994
14.44 Tony Asay, Hutchinson 1995
14.2 Craig Fredrickson, Detroit Lakes 1996
14.45 Antonio Smith, De La Salle 1988
14.45 Matt Steele, Eden Prairie 1996
(40)
14.45 Rob Hurst, Grand Rapids 1998
14.46 Tim Meyer, Moorhead 1987
14.46 Donovan Duncan, North St. Paul 2006
14.48 Kevin Wolf, Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 2007
14.50 Peder Naatz, Wheaton 1986
14.52 Fran Swenson, Robb Armstrong 1987
14.52 Greg Stumbo, Moorhead 1990
14.3 Byron Gigler, Moorhead 1961
14.3 Dave Carlson, St Louis Park 1971
14.3 Mike Jauss, Montevideo 1972
(50)
14.3 Stuart Fox, Trimont 1975
14.3 Jon Charlson, Frank Kellogg 1977
14.3 Mike Weiring, Tyler 1979
14.3 Al Clark, Bloom Kennedy 1980
14.3 Curt Brekke, Brooklyn Center 1981
14.3 Kevin Constable, Hopkins 1982
14.3 Harvey Wenderski, Rocori 1984
14.54 Jim Lanigan, Coon Rapids 1990
14.3 Erik Rosenkranz, Anoka 1991
14.3 Steve Hentges, Irondale 1992
(60)
14.3 Brad Piermantier, Park 1996
14.3 Erik Thompson, Buffalo 2003
14.55 Craig Graffunder, Fridley 1981
14.55 Parc Williams, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 1993
14.55 David Mayhew, Holy Angels 1997
14.56 Dave Rarick, Rocori 1981
14.57 Tom Johnson, Monticello 1986
14.57 Rick Rose, Eden Prairie 1996
14.57 Chris Fream, Mounds View 2001
14.58 Tom Krieger, Austin 1979
(70)
14.58 Jared Lazer, Sauk Rapids-Rice 2002
14.59 Kirk Johnson, Mpls Central 1982
14.59 Joe Kaczor, Grand Rapids 1995
14.59 Scott Ferguson, Alexandria 2000
14.60 Matt Swenson, Bemidji 1988
14.60 Charlie Lehman, United South Central 1998
14.60 Joe Schneider, Detroit Lakes 2000
14.62 Dan Saufferer, Lincoln 1978
14.62 Aaron Larson, SP Como Park 1985
14.63 Paul Burmeister, Rochester Mayo 1982
(80)
14.63 R.J. McGinnis, Burnsville 2005
14.4 Dave Odegard, Mpls Washburn 1957
14.4 John Stanley, North St Paul 1961
14.4 Al Montgomery, SP Washinton 1966
14.4 Bob Campbell, Mankato 1966
14.4 Dan Carpenter, Mpls Roosevelt 1969
14.4 Bill Hunkins, St. Louis Park 1969
14.4 Joe McPherson, Richfield 1969
14.4 Andy Urech, Irondale 1970
14.4 Jerry Johnson, Moorhead 1971
(90)
14.4 Greg Schmidt, Alexander Ramsey 1972
14.4 Jeff Hawkins, Elk River 1973
14.4 Larry Raddatz, South St Paul 1973
14.4 John Goedeke, Frank B Kellogg 1976
14.4 Kary Bowser, Mpls Roosevelt 1977
14.4 Todd Elmquist, North St Paul 1977
14.4 Eric Erwin, Elgin-Millville 1977
14.4 Jon Kozlowski, Pipestone 1979
14.4 Rick Steblay, Elk River 1979
14.4 Craig Krupke, Elk River 1984
(100)
14.4 Erik Johnson, Minnehaha Academy 1985
14.4 Dan Feely, Stillwater 1986
14.4 Jim Fuqua, Mounds View 1987
14.64 Matt Arbeiter, Shakopee 1989
14.4 Scott Gilbert, St Louis Park 1999
14.4 Jaronne Williamson, Park Center 2000
14.4 Kent Anderson, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 2002
14.4 Craig Dahl, Mankato East 2003
14.4 Eric Asfeld, Wadena-Deer Creek 2006
14.64 Dan Fragodt, Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunborg 2007
(110)

JUNIOR BESTS
14.14 Niles Deneen, SP Como Park 1993
14.0 Mike Siskin, Wayzata 1977
14.37 Nick Lagos, White Bear Lake 2001
14.41 Eric Crabtree, New Ulm 1991
14.43 Lawrence Lipsey, Bloomington Kennedy 2003
14.45 Matt Steele, Eden Prairie 1996
14.47 Bob Sobieck, Alexander Ramsey 1980
14.54 Jim Lanigan, Coon Rapids 1990
14.55 Parc Williams, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 1993
14.60 Joe Schneider, Detroit Lakes 2000


SOPHOMORE BESTS
14.63 Riza Mahmoud, Champlin Park 1999
14.63 Lawrence Lipsey, Bloomington Kennedy 2002
14.73 Joey Hiben, Waconia 2003
14.5 Bob Sobieck, Alexander Ramsey 1979
14.78 Matt Swenson, Bemidji 1986
14.6 Tom Johnson, Monticello 1984
14.84 Jermaine Brumfield, Burnsville 1992
14.89 Matt Steele, Eden Prairie 1995
14.91 Zach Anspach, Montevideo 2002
14.7 Scott Dillon, Anoka 1983
14.7 Chris Rogan, White Bear Lake 1992
14.7 Parc Williams, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 1992

FRESHMAN BESTS
15.20 Tony Davalle, Rochester Mayo 2003
15.22 John Carlson, Hopkins 2001
15.25 Mike Kasten, Plainview 2001
15.28 Jon Munson, Park Center 1988
15.32 Lawrence Lipsey, Bloomington Kennedy 2001
15.38 Jon Giles, Montevideo-Maynard 1989
15.44 Nikia Porter, Hopkins 1991
15.3 Josh Bavlnka, Rochester Mayo 1997
15.3 Nick Alexander, St. Thomas Academy 2000
15.56 Derek Sykes, North Branch 1996

Round-Up: TCM, Ngetich, Award Winners

As the indoor season has heated up, we've noticed that the DtB news desk has some older items piling up. In an effort to catch up a bit, here are some various and sundry news bites we didn't want readers to miss ...

TCM News ... Twin Cities Marathon is keeping itself in the news in various ways. The Running USA Youth Committee and YouthRunner.com just announced that TCM's Medtronic TC Kids Marathon was named a finalist for the organization's Youth Program of the Year Award. The Medtronic TC Kids Marathon is a community-wide effort to inspire healthy lifestyles among children in grades K-6. Details on the program are available HERE.

Additionally, TCM announced that it distributed nearly $155,000 in charitable contributions in 2007. The organization also recently promoted Brain Mastel to Race Director.

Wesly Ngetich ... The Duluth News-Tribune recently picked up a story from the East African Standard which included additional information on the two-time Grandma's Marathon champion's death. Ngetich was apparently attempting to mediate a peace between rival communities when he was shot and killed by an arrow.

As violence continues in Kenya, St. Paul-based running journalist Jim Ferstle told DtB that his contacts in Kenya suggest the Kenya Red Cross Society is a good route to get aid to people in need in the country, for those so inclined.

Award Winners ... On a happier note, we wanted to make sure we noted some recent award-winning Minnesota athletes. Jordan Carlson of Rosemount High School and Laura Hughes of Mankato West were named the Minnesota Gatorade Cross Country Players of the Year. Carlson was the MSHSL boys' Class AA runner-up in 2007; Hughes was the girls' Class AA champion.

Minnesota native Scott Jurek was named Ultrarunner magazine's Runner of the Year for 2007. Jurek, a seven-time winner of the Western States 100, won the magazine's award for the fourth time in five years. His 2007 wins at the Hardrock 100 Mile and Spartathlon 246K were ranked as the #1 and #2 Performances of the Year for 2007 by Ultrarunner.

The Miles Lists: Discus Throw

Wrapping up the regularly contested field events, here are the 2007 and all-time Minnesota high school boys performances lists for the discus throw as compiled by St. John's coach Tim Miles and Wayzata coach Bill Miles.

See all the "Miles Lists" we've published so far HERE.

DISCUS

2007 BESTS
Mike Shaver 12 Owatonna 183-1
Matt Schwartz 12 Forest Lake 175-11
Andy Norman 12 Winona 174-9
Justin Brown 12 Rushford-Peterson/Houston 173-10
Micah Hegerle 11 Kasson-Mantorville 173-8
Jake Brinkman 12 Mayer Lutheran 172-3
Sean Matti 12 Roseville Area 170-1
Casey Dehn 10 Owatonna 169-7
Trey Davis 12 Farmington 168-9
Mike Gorski 12 Eden Prairie 165-11
(10)
Tyler Kleinhuizen 12 Forest Lake 165-2
Brian Leonhardt 11 Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 164-11
Pat Sveum 12 Rochester Century 163-1
Joe Plante 11 MACCRAY 162-4
Jesse Courrier 12 United South Central-AC 162-0
Patrick Schwartz 12 Park 160-0
Tyler Velzke 12 Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 160-0
Kyle Gilbert 12 Robbinsdale Armstrong 159-10
Tony Sigrist 11 Byron 158-4
Aaron Thauwald 11 Kingsland 157-8
(20)
Randy Erickson 12 Hutchinson 157-7
Jared Lachner 11 Andover 157-0
Ryan Ackman 10 Litchfield 157-0
Dan Weihrauch 12 Sartell-St. Stephen 156-10
Jared Christensen 11 GFW/McLeod West 156-7
Wade Powers 11 New London-Spicer 156-0
Elijah Buecksler 11 Rosemount 155-8
Eric Zingleman 12 Andover 155-6
Andrew Northenscold 12 Mankato West 155-1
Bryce Koke 12 Bloomington Jefferson 154-0
(30)
Nick Miller 12 Bloomington Kennedy 153-8
Tom Compton 12 Rosemount 153-6
Chris Heil 12 Blaine 153-6
Dan Loughran 12 Holy Family Catholic 153-0
Jordan Waiwaiole 11 Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 152-10
Justin Peterson 12 Mayer Lutheran 152-1
Todd DeJong 12 Hopkins 151-0
Eric Solo 11 International Falls 150-6
Andy Kovalik 12 Eagan 150-3
Sam Maresh 11 Champlin Park 150-0
(40)
Ross Hillukka 12 Buffalo 149-7
Casey Orgon 11 Bemidji 149-7
Marc Jennings 12 Mankato West 148-10
Jeff Stocker 12 Mankato Loyola 148-10
Michael Spampinato 10 Eveleth-Gilbert 148-10
Jose Alba 11 Staples-Motley 148-6
Joey Hanson 11 East Grand Forks 148-6
Micah Steward 12 Minneapolis Washburn 148-5
Corey Tutewahl 12 Farmington 148-2
Brennan McKeag 11 Apple Valley 147-4
(50)

ALL TIME BESTS
201-7 Karl Erickson, Rochester Century 2001
195-6 Mike Yonkey, Wells-Easton 1987
194-4 Nate Englin, Mounds View 2003
191-9 David Thompson, Mpls Central 1981
191-8 John Zollinger, F.B. Kellogg 1985
188-6 Pat Bailey, Mpls Southwest 1974
188-1 Joel Staats, Winona 1988
184-6 Peter Svien, Lewiston-Alt 1987
184-1 Brad Hanson, Edina West 1977
184-0 Ben Nyquist, Dassel-Cokato 1998
(10)
183-11 Chris Waltman, Elgin-Millville 1980
183-11 Mike Edmundson, Park 1989
183-1 Mike Shaver, Owatonna 2007
183-0 Jon Jellum, Lakeville 1993
181-10 Dan Seebart, White Bear Lake 1964
181-9 Ron Backes, Rocori 1981
181-7 Paul Kendrick, Forest Lake 1979
181-7 Mark Fahey, Forest Lake 1996
181-2 Adam Schnaible, Burnsville 2002
180-11 Fred Espe, White Bear Lake 1979
(20)
180-11 Chris Brinkworth, Bloom Kennedy 1990
180-10 Dan White, Westbrook-S-J 1990
180-7 Jason Cook, Spring Lake Park/SA 2000
180-0 Mike Turgeon, Perham 1999
179-10 Jeff Deaton, St Cloud Apollo 1980
179-8 Mark Mendel, Wayzata 1984
179-2 Jerry Netland, Bagley-Fosston 2004
178-1 Matt Nyquist, Dassel-Cokato 1990
178-0 T.J. Johnson, Detroit Lakes 1999
177-11 Pat Ahern, Henry Sibley 1989
(30)
177-11 Ben Sobieski, Mahtomedi 1997
177-10 Joe Toth, Forest Lake 1990
177-7 Aaron Banks, Marshall 1992
177-6 Greg Kostuch, White Bear Mariner 1979
177-6 Kevin Henderson, Winona 1980
177-4 Mark Severson, North St Paul 1970
177-2 Duane Goldammer, North St Paul 1983
177-1 Lynden Reder, Luverne 1999
177-0 Phil Verchota, Duluth East 1975
176-11 Peter Kelzenberg, Watertown-Mayer 1986
(40)
176-11 Dan March, Stillwater 1993
176-10 Paul Okerstrom, Mounds View 1970
176-7 Rick Ailts, Jackson 1973
176-6 Eric Snyder, Austin 1988
176-6 Justin Asher, Wayzata 1996
176-5 Todd Spratte, Rochester JM 1979
176-4 Bryl Thompson, Mpls Southwest 1945
176-1 Randy Seykora, Owatonna 1989
176-1 Dave Nordberg, Spring Lake Park 1982
176-0 Andy Stewart, Blaine 1999
(50)
175-11 Matt Schwartz, Forest Lake 2007
175-9 Tom Conboy, Rosemount 2002
175-0 Mike Berg, St Charles 1983
174-11 Londo Thompson, Burnsville 1997
174-9 Andy Norman, Winona 2007
174-6 Nate Hydukovich, Bemidji 1993
174-6 John Schlecht, White Bear Lake 1996
174-3 Rick Linderholm, Robbinsdale 1980
174-2 Simon Stewart, Carlton/Wrenshall 1998
173-10 Gregg Bartlett, Park Center 1979
(60)
173-10 Justin Brown, Rushford-Peterson/Houston 2007
173-9 Creighton Schroyer, Pipestone-Jasper 2006
173-8 Micah Hegerle, Kasson-Mantorville 2007
173-6 Aaron Zuk, Moose Lake/Willow River 2006
173-5 Tom Copa, Coon Rapids 1983
173-5 Ricky Smith, Stewartville 2002
173-2 Chris Redden, Armstrong 1988
173-2 Pat O'Brien, International Falls 1990
173-0 Joe Schuster, Faribault 1983
173-0 Charlie Kocinski, Intl Falls 1972
(70)
172-11 Jim Wieland, St Paul Cretin-DH 1993
172-9 Jason Thompson, Centennial 1997
172-9 Adam Brace, Grand Rapids 2003
172-7 Rick Ellinghuysen, Wabasha-Kellogg 1986
172-6 Phil Olson, Edina East 1975
172-4 Brian Nichols, North St Paul 1956
172-3 Bob Blakely, SP Central 1955
172-3 Dan Proeschel, Hayfield 1966
172-3 Jake Brinkman, Mayer Lutheran 2007
172-2 Lucas Scheel, Elk River 2004
(80)
172-1 Josh Preusse, Redwood Valley 1998
172-0 Jerry Brandt, Albert Lea 1973
172-0 Scott Ranke, Armstrong 1980
172-0 Dave McKeag, White Bear Lake 1982
171-11 Bob Stein, St Louis Park 1965
171-11 John Bruley, Forest Lake 1988
171-11 Dan Soldner, Rocori 1999
171-10 Dave Januschka, LeSeuer 1979
171-10 Luke Speltz, Winona Cotter 1999
171-10 Jarod Posthumus, Becker 2001
(90)
171-5 Layne Kelley, St Cloud Tech 1978
171-4 Rick Lager, St Peter 1976
171-3 Sandy Morrison, Blake 1970
171-2 Frank Howard, St Louis Park 1966
171-2 John Meade, Stillwater 1966
171-1 Scott Jilek, Shakopee 1999
171-0 Kevin Holubar, Duluth Central 2000
170-9 Kent Kitzmann, Rochester JM 1975
170-9 Dave Knezovich, Hibbing 1981
170-9 Trent Pfisthner, Cromwell 1990
(100)
170-9 Darin Reinsma, Slayton 1991

JUNIOR BESTS
194-4 Nate Englin, Mounds View 2003
185-6 Karl Erickson, Rochester Century 2000
184-1 Mike Yonkey, Wells-Easton 1986
180-10 Dan White, Westbrook-Storden-J 1990
178-1 Matt Nyquist, Dassel-Cokato 1990
176-11 Peter Kelzenberg, Watertown-Mayer 1986
176-11 Dan March, Stillwater 1993
176-7 Rick Ailts, Jackson 1973
175-9 Justin Asher, Wayzata 1995
175-9 Tom Conboy, Rosemount 2002

SOPHOMORE BESTS
174-4 Mike Yonkey, Wells-Easton 1985
170-1 Justin Asher, Wayzata 1994
169-9 Nate Englin, Mounds View 2002
169-7 Casey Dehn, Owatonna 2007
166-2 David Borowicz, Stephen 1990
163-11 Mark Fahey, Forest Lake 1994
163-3 Peter Kelzenberg, Lewiston-Altura 1985
163-0 John Zollinger, Frank B Kellogg 1983
161-11 Leroy Ask, Luverne 1992
161-11 Tom Conboy, Rosemount 2001

FRESHMAN BESTS
149-3 Ryan Ackman, Richfield 2006
147-6 Ricky Smith, Stewartville 2000
146-7 Wade Winter, Moorhead 1993
146-5 Sam Bredeson, Hopkins 2001
145-6 Ben Meyer, Pine Island 1993
145-5 Mark Fahey, Forest Lake 1993
144-6 Bob Welch, Wabasso-Sanborn 1993
141-3 Micah Hegerle, Kasson-Mantorville 2005

Goucher Wins Millrose Mile in 4:36.03

Kara Goucher won the women's mile at the 101st Millrose Games Friday night.

The Duluth native clocked 4:36.03 to edge Sara Hall, second in 4:36.11.

USATF described the race thusly: "The women's mile came down to a trophy dash between 2007 World Outdoor Championships 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher and two-time NCAA 5,000m runner-up Sara Hall.

Hall held a slight lead coming off the final turn before Goucher burst past her on the inside just in front of the finish line to win in 4 minutes 36.03 seconds. Hall was the runner-up in 4 minutes 3 seconds."

USATF also quotes Goucher and Hall after the event:

Kara Goucher: "Sara swung a little wide coming off the final turn and I was just able to sneak in to get past her. This is awesome. I haven't run on banked tracks since 1999. This was a lot of fun. I didn't know I could win here but I thought I could be competitive."

Sara Hall: "I gave my best and I'm happy with that. I'm going to do Indoor Nationals and hope to make the world championships team."

Also ... Runner's World has a great interview with Goucher and Hall HERE. Runner's World also interviewed Goucher HERE, just before the Millrose Games.

Photo by Victor Sailer http://www.photorun.net/.

The Short-Cut: Results Links for February 1-3

Here's the DtB-approved list of links to the important meet results for the weekend ...

Friday:
101st Millrose Games: Startlists/Results
Update: Kara Goucher wins mile.

UW Indoor Invitational (Washington): Heat Sheets Results
Update: 5000s ... Sean Graham second in 13:46; Alex Gits 3rd in 16:31

Husker Invitational (in Nebraska): Heat Sheets Results
Update: Rombough DNFs.

Carleton Triangular: Results

Saturday:
Husker Invitational (in Nebrfaska): Heat Sheets Results

UW Indoor Invitational (Washington): Heat Sheets Results
Update: Ferrell wins 3000 in 9:00.37

MSU - Mankato Open: Results

Bethel Invite: Results
Update: Gabrielson wins 3000m in 8:15.74

The Reasons Behind the Running Renaissance

Here is Part II of Steven Paske's examination of what's behind the recent resurgence in high school distance running -- both national-wide and in Minnesota. Yesterday, in Part I, Paske considered the impact of the Internet on training. Today, he looks at the effects of higher training mileage and the impact of immigrant runners on performances.

Paske is a former Osseo High School and Marquette University runner and author of a novel about cross country called "Breaking Stride." Paske's newest book, "The Immortal," was recently e-published by synergebooks.com. For more information about all of Paske's writing, see www.stephenpaske.com.

The Reasons Behind the Running Renaissance -- Part II
By Steven Paske

High Mileage:

Tim Miles has been the coach at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota since 1979. During that time 19 of his teams have qualified for the NCAA Championships and four of those teams finished in the top five. He’s not inclined to believe that the Internet is the primary reason for the sudden resurgence in high school distance running. Instead he has a body of evidence that espouses a different theory.

“In 1990 Track and Field News did a report on the diminishing performance of distance running in the country. It was terrible. There was lots of cross training and very little running. Runners read articles on doing things like going fishing instead of running,” he says. “If I can generalize, I think that high school coaches were proud of saying things like we’re saving our kids for college. God forbid you’d be a high mileage coach. My brother Bill remembers being a speaker at a clinic in the 90’s and being introduced as a high-mileage guy. At the same clinic in the 70’s he was introduced as a low-mileage guy. Between the clinics he never changed his coaching style.

Miles has been keeping track of the summer mileage totals of his incoming freshmen since he started coaching. He breaks the data down into the mileage of all incoming freshmen; freshmen who ran sub 10:10 for 3200 as preps, and those that eventually competed all four years of college. To him the reason for the sudden surge is quite clear. Kids are returning to high mileage.

“I remember saying in the 90’s that my freshmen were a year behind coming in from where they were when I started,” he says. “Now we’re bouncing back. My runners are showing up better prepared than they have in a long time."

This becomes readily apparent if you break down the numbers. From 1979-1985 his incoming freshmen that would compete four years averaged 433 miles the summer before college. From 1986-1992 this total plummeted to 277 and the 1993-1999 total of 289 wasn’t much better. Then things inexplicably changed. From 2000-2006 the numbers rocketed upwards to 380, directly coinciding with the running renaissance. The jump for sub 10:10 3200-meter runners was even higher.

Conversations with some of today’s top runners help affirm the theory. Mead, Heath, Finnerty, and King all peak as high as 70 miles per week or more in the summer. Lumbar will even throw in a 100 mile week once in a while. Uselding notes that it’s a lot more common to see runners doing 50 miles a week or more in the summer on their own than in the past. It’s not an iron-clad theory however.

Steve Leuer, Jeremy Polson, Nic Mattack and Eric Hartmark finished first through fourth at the Minnesota State Cross Country Meet in 1995. With the exception of the champion Leuer, who due to injury only ran 76 miles and would eventually go on to win the Footlocker Midwest Regional, the other three runners all had close to 1000-mile summers. Yet none of them came close to producing the scorching times now being routinely put out by runners.

Putting it Together:

Neither the Internet or high-mileage theory seems to exclusively explain why high school running is rapidly getting better. Other factors, such as an influx of Somali immigrants to several Minnesota towns have deepened the talent pool, and no doubt there are similar tales of the immigrated talent appearing nationally. The deeper the talent pool the more kids will run faster. Perhaps that one runner exceeding certain standards has an enormous impact. In interviewing runners and coaches, one common belief about why people are running faster recurred more than any other.

“My feeling is people make other people faster,” says Heath. “After my brother (Stanford’s Garrett Heath) ran 9:06 his senior year, I think that people in the State saw that, and it lowered their mental standard. You see somebody run fast and you think I can run that too."

“People are influenced by what they see other people doing,” says Finnerty. “If somebody sees somebody run 8:55 then it looks like it’s possible for them to do that too. With the Internet it’s easy to see what other people are doing if you want."

“There’s a lot of kids who come here from other countries and running is something they’re good at,” says Mead, who arrived from Somalia himself in 2000. “It becomes more competitive because the kids here want to beat those kids, so they train harder than they otherwise would have."

“With the way communication is it’s easier to keep up with the Jones’ in today’s atmosphere,” says Uselding. “You can see what the guy across town is doing and ask yourself what you are going to have to do to combat that."

Perhaps there’s no single answer to explain exactly why high-school distance running in American has rebounded. The proliferation of the Internet has dramatically increased the availability of sound training advice. The mileage totals of high school runners seem to have trended upwards. Foreign immigrants have added to the talent pool and forced home-grown Americans to work harder to compete at a high level.

It seems that a unique combination of better training methods, more dedicated athletes and an influx of outside talent have meshed together to create this new golden age of high school running. Now that we have a pretty good idea about some of the reasons behind the running renaissance, it’s up to the current and future athletes to make sure that it continues.

The Miles Lists: 3200 Meters

Here are the 2007 and all-time Minnesota high school boys performances lists for 3200 meters as compiled by St. John's coach Tim Miles and Wayzata coach Bill Miles.

See all the "Miles Lists" we've published so far HERE.

3200 METERS

2007 BESTS
Elliott Heath 12 Winona (8:46.12 2M) 8:42.81
Hassan Mead 12 Minneapolis South (8:51.23) 8:47.89
Rob Finnerty 11 Burnsville (8:59.15 2M) 8:55.76
T.C. Lumbar 12 Edina 9:06.69
Ryan Little 12 Eden Prairie 9:11.19
Tom Burke 12 Edina 9:11.36
Jackson Wiley 12 Eden Prairie 9:13.00
Ben Blankenship 12 Stillwater Area 9:15.46
Kaafi Adeys 12 Willmar 9:16.92
Matt Yak 12 Northfield 9:18.90
(10)
Michael Hutton 11 Apple Valley 9:22.05
Jonathan Stublaski 12 Henry Sibley 9:23.71
Donny Wasinger 11 Winona Cotter 9:24.88
Andrew Quinn 12 Benilde-St. Margaret 9:26.79
Kevin Lachowitzer 11 Perham 9:29.08
Dustin Franta 12 La Crescent 9:29.29
Mahad Hassan 10 Willmar 9:29.96
Pieter Gagnon 11 Minneapolis Washburn 9:30.10
Travis Burkstrand 11 Eastview 9:32.53
Dan Docherty 11 Cretin-Derham Hall 9:32.83
(20)
Travis Beniak 11 Zumbrota-Mazeppa 9:34.39
Mohamed Bedel 12 Willmar 9:35.21
Joe Wells 11 Minneapolis Southwest 9:37.18
Tom Pesch 11 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 9:37.49
Jon Lambert 12 Wayzata 9:39.26
Zach McGill 12 Hopkins 9:39.47
Mike Howard 12 North St. Paul 9:40.91
Wade Hassel 12 Mounds View 9:41.10
Tyler King 11 Lakeville North 9:41.39
Drew Paradis 10 Alexandria 9:42.58
(30)
Andy Richardson 11 Irondale 9:42.7
Kyle Buck 12 Kenyon-Wanamingo 9:43.45
Kyle Neumann 12 Andover 9:43.53
Anthony Bongaard 12 Redwood Valley 9:43.90
John Davis 12 Eden Prairie 9:45.12
Jacob Henderson 12 Yellow Medicine East 9:45.68
Josh Letofsky 12 Osseo 9:45.94
Marcus Piepho 12 Mankato Loyola 9:45.99
Tyler Rose 11 Brainerd 9:46.62
Eric Thies 12 Sibley East 9:46.64
(40)
Kyle Schmidt 11 Hutchinson 9:46.78
Jeff Lee 12 Stillwater Area 9:47.04
Josh Kaul 11 Stillwater Area 9:47.34
Ryan Evans 10 Centennial 9:47.59
Mike Callan 11 Park 9:48.09
Ellis Richardson 11 Roseville Area 9:48.25
Chris Massey 10 Rosemount 9:48.44
Nick Nygaard 11 St. Michael-Albertville 9:48.74
Danny Ducharme 10 Wayzata 9:49.04
Richie Mark 12 Red Wing 9:49.10
(50)

ALL TIME BESTS
8:42.81 Elliott Heath, Winona 2007 (8:46.12y)
8:47.46 Mike Torchia, Rochester Lourdes 2006 (8:50.80y)
8:47.89 Hassan Mead, Minneapolis South 2007 (8:51.23y)
8:53.03 Nick Schneider, Benilde-St Margaret 2000 (8:56.40y)
8:55.76 Rob Finnerty, Burnsville 2007 (8:59.15y)
8:59.3 Dennis Fee, White Bear Lake 1972 (9:02.7y)
9:01.19 Jay Schoenfelder, Duluth East 1995
9:01.9 Jeff Taylor, Mounds View 1985 (9:05.3y)
9:04.40 Donovan Bergstrom, Elgin-Millville 1988 (9:07.85y)
9:04.6 John Keohen, Montgomery 1979 (9:08.0y)
(10)
9:05.3 Lindsay Brown, Stillwater 1978 (9:08.7y)
9:06.10 Garrett Heath, Winona 2004
9:06.3 Dave O'Brien, Burnsville 1977 (9:09.7y)
9:06.69 T.C. Lumbar, Edina 2007
9:06.6 Mike Bollman, St Paul Harding 1974 (9:10.0y)
9:07.85 Mike Krisch, Hopkins 2005
9:08.16 Justin Grunewald, Brainerd 2004
9:08.35 Ben Blankenship, Stillwater Area 2006
9:08.6 Pat Sullivan, St Thomas Academy 1977 (9:12.0y)
9:08.6 Dave Morrison, Lakeville 1979 (9:12.0y)
(20)
9:08.89 Luke Watson, Stillwater Area 1998
9:08.9 Mike Vought, Hastings 1974 (9:12.3y)
9:09.6 Don Hurley, SP Cretin 1978 (9:13.0y)
9:10.12 Jake Watson, Stillwater 2004
9:11.19 Ryan Little, Eden Prairie 2007
9:11.0 John Idstrom, Owatonna 1978 (9:14.4y)
9:11.36 Tom Burke, Edina 2007
9:11.48 Brent Loberg, Duluth Denfeld 1998
9:11.81 Sean Graham, Stillwater Area 1998
9:12.5 Randy Hoyles, Ogilvie 1979 (9:16.0y)
(30)
9:13.00 Jackson Wiley, Eden Prairie 2007
9:13.30 Brian Kraft, Bemidji 1981
9:13.4 Lloyd Ness, Rochester JM 1977 (9:16.9y)
9:13.7 Rick Brandl, Worthington 1977 (9:17.2y)
9:13.8 Mark Nenow, Anoka 1976 (9:17.3y)
9:14.30 John Wodny, Cloquet 1985
9:14.4 Dan Lyndgaard, New Richland 1972 (9:17.9y)
9:14.78 Tim Branigan, Roseville Area 2006
9:15.0 Bob Wagner, St. Louis Park 1965 (9:18.5y)
9:15.30 Mark McMonigal, Rosemount 1981
(40)
9:15.38 Pete Zambrano, Hibbing 1989
9:15.3 Mike Mountain, SP Highland Pk 1973 (9:18.8y)
9:15.3 Tim O'Donnell, Simley 1976 (9:18.8y)
9:15.54 David Michael, Robbinsdale 1979
9:15.4 Steve Lumbar, Bemidji 1984 (9:18.9y)
9:15.5 Pete Wehrwein, Edina West 1975 (9:19.0y)
9:15.6 Dale Kramer, Glenwood 1974 (9:19.1y)
9:15.7 John Bielinski, Mpls Roosevelt 1984 (9:19.2y)
9:16.22 Craig Greenslit, Hastings 1988
9:16.1 Tom Fagrelius, Mpls Southwest 1975 (9:19.6y)
(50)
9:16.1 Jason Griak, St Louis Pk 1979 (9:19.6y)
9:16.2 Lloyd Stephenson, St. Louis Park 1972 (9:19.7y)
9:16.58 Josh DoBell, Mankato East 2000
9:16.59 Steve Kempainen, Hopk Eisenhower 1982
9:16.4 Jeff Vrudny, Lakeville 1982
9:16.66 Jeremy Polson, Duluth Denfeld 1996
9:16.92 Kaafi Adeys, Willmar 2007
9:16.7 Gene Daly, St Cloud Tech 1967 (9:20.2y)
9:16.7 John Gathje, Rochester Lourdes 1981 (9:20.2y)
9:16.95 Bob Kempainen, Hopkins 1984
(60)
9:16.96 Ben Husaby, Eden Prairie 1984
9:16.8 Dan Schoepke, Burnsville 1979 (9:20.3y)
9:17.0 Chris Hall, Albert Lea 1983
9:17.1 Joe Sokolowski, Grace 1976 (9:20.6y)
9:17.39 Josh Brang, Winona 1995
9:17.45 Forrest Tahdooahnippah, Mpls. Southwest 2003
9:17.5 Tim Connelly, Burnsville 1979 (9:21.0y)
9:17.76 Steve Leuer, Osseo 1996
9:17.78 Frank Bielinski, Mpls Roosevelt 1982
9:17.88 Mark Lingle, Park Rapids 1984
(70)
9:17.7 Al Tappe, New Richland 1972
9:17.7 Todd Moxley, Waseca 1981
9:18.03 Scott Utne, Mounds View 1998
9:17.8 Terry Everson, Apple Valley 1982
9:18.05 Jay Wallace, Burnsville 1982
9:18.18 Ted Gustafson, Owatonna 2000
9:18.55 Peter Keenan, Fridley 2000
9:18.4 Tom Pearson, Mpls Southwest 1972 (9:21.9y)
9:18.5 Blaise Schweitzer, SP Cretin 1982
9:18.5 Mark Buzby, Edina 1972 (9:21.8y)
(80)
9:18.90 Chris Thompson, Faribault 1989
9:18.90 Matt Yak, Northfield 2007
9:18.97 Nic Matack, Duluth East 1995
9:19.01 Jeff Vogt, Mpls Roosevelt 1988
9:19.12 Chris Harder, Austin 1986
9:19.17 Jared Pittman, Northfield 1994
9:19.0 Joe Nicklay, Woodbury 1979 (9:22.5y)
9:19.24 Todd Landgraff, Mankato West 1995
9:19.3 Dave Peterson, Winthrop 1977 (9:22.8y)
9:19.57 Kyle Eckhoff, Willmar 2005
(90)
9:19.5 Peter Bahe, St Cl Apollo 1974 (9:23.0y)
9:19.76 Roba Bati, Mpls Southwest 1994
9:19.6 Andy Cowgill, St Paul Acad/SS 1993
9:19.97 Todd Moxley, Waseca 1982
9:20.1 Gordy Benfield, Hastings 1971 (9:23.6y)
9:20.1 Roger Schwegel, St Cl Apollo 1971 (9:23.6y)
9:20.1 Dave Tappe, New Richland 1975 (9:23.6y)
9:20.1 Rob Carney, Burnsville 1978 (9:23.6y)
9:20.3 Gary Johnson, Edina-East 1973 (9:23.8y)
9:20.3 Dave Brown, SP Central 1979 (9:23.8y)
(100)

JUNIOR BESTS
8:53.03 Nick Schneider, Benilde-St Marg 2000 (8:56.40y)
8:55.76 Rob Finnerty, Burnsville 2007 (8:59.15y)
9:05.92 Elliott Heath, Winona 2006
9:06.3 Dave O'Brien, Burnsville 1977 (9:09.7y)
9:08.35 Ben Blankenship, Stillwater Area 2006
9:08.6 Dave Morrison, Lakeville 1979 (9:12.0y)
9:09.4 Lindsay Brown, Stillwater 1977 (9:12.8y)
9:11.48 Brent Loberg, Duluth Denfeld 1998
9:12.80 T.C. Lumbar, Edina 2006
9:12.9 Don Hurley, St Paul Cretin 1977 (9:16.4y)

SOPHOMORE BESTS
9:04.54 Rob Finnerty, Burnsville 2006
9:15.6 Dave Morrison, Lakeville 1978 (9:19.1y)
9:17.47 Nick Schneider, Benilde-St Margaret 1999
9:18.97 Nic Matack, Duluth East 1995
9:19.14 T.C. Lumbar, Edina 2005
9:19.9 Elliott Heath, Winona 2005
9:21.9 John Gathje, Rochester Lourdes 1979 (9:25.4y)
9:22.97 Garrett Heath, Winona 2002
9:24.64 Tim Brannigan, Roseville Area 2004
9:25.4 Jeff Taylor, Mounds View 1983

FRESHMAN BESTS
9:06.80 Rob Finnerty, Burnsville 2005
9:23.75 Nick Schneider, Benilde-St Margaret 1998
9:31.25 Garrett Heath, Winona 2001
9:33.75 Andy Tate, Morris Area 1993
9:35.08 Donovan Bergstrom, Elgin-Millville 1985
9:35.1 John Gathje, Rochester Lourdes 1978
9:37.96 Jeff Brever, Staples-Motley 1998
9:38.37 Elliot Heath, Winona 2004
9:40.3 Joe Tupy, Tartan 1994
9:44.25 Joel Reasoner, Cambridge-Isanti 1997