4. Drew Hunter becomes fastest-ever prep indoor distance runner
After both Grant Fisher and Matthew Maton broke four in 2015, many pundits picked Foot Locker champion Drew Hunter of Loudoun Valley, Va. to become the next sub-four minute high school miler. Not many expected him to do it indoors, but he did --in national record fashion-- twice!
Frst, he took down the national high school record in the 3K with a surprise 7:59.33 effort to place fourth in a field of professional and collegiate athletes at the Camel City Elite Invitational. The prior record was 8:05.46, set by Edward Cheserek in 2013.
Now the race for sub-four was on.
Before Hunter's historic season, the national indoor record was Alan Webb's 3:58.25 from 2001 -- 15 years prior!
At the Armory Track Invitational, Hunter clocked 3:58.25 to take seventh place in the professional section. Two weeks later at the Millrose Games, he lowered the record to 3:57.81 by placing fourth in the National Mile -- a professional section separate from the Wanamaker Mile.
The time stands as the fourth-fastest high school mile ever, inclusive of both indoor and outdoor performances. Hunter is the third-fastest performer in prep history behind only Alan Webb (3:53.43 PR) and Jim Ryun (3:55.3 PR).
The Oregon commit -- who would sign a professional contract with adidas during the Olympic Trials -- targeted the Prefontaine Classic in late May as the spot to chase a faster time. He would run 3:58.86 in Eugene, but later revealed he was suffering from Lyme disease and would end his season prematurely.