The Brentwood Track Club (TN) High senior didn't try to break anyone into submission in the first mile.
In fact, Brodey Hasty, an Oregon signee who helped lead his squad to a national title in the DMR on Friday with a 4:09 anchor 1600m, only decided to make his move in the final 1K.
But that tactical display only made sure that the leaders in the fast heat of the boys 2-mile had to produce a drastic negative split -- Hasty himself went 4:23 in the final mile after a 4:37 opening -- and it gave Hasty a firm advantage as he cleaned off his second straight win at New Balance in a time of 9:00.38.
Ryan Oosting, the senior out of Arlington (MA) who held the US No. 1 time entering -- and will go down as the only athlete this indoor season to go under 9-minutes -- held on during Hasty's big kick, though could never answer enough in the final stretches to challenge.
Clayton Mendez, a senior from Whitney Young (IL) and a Stanford signee, actually won the slower heat but finished fourth overall in 9:06.11.
Hasty's outing at New Balance was a clear success, which had to be rewarding. The senior had tried to become the 11th overall athlete to break 4-minutes in the mile throughout the indoor season, though could never quite do it, managing a best of 4:00.05 nearly a month before nationals.
But the strategic change -- deciding on the 2-mile -- in event gave Hasty a different mindset heading into nationals and ultimately proved wise as he now prepares for the outdoor season.
Finals 1 Hasty, Brodey 18 Brentwood, TN 9:00.38 2 2 Oosting, Ryan 19 Arlington, MA 9:01.87 2 3 Fafard, Thomas 18 Repentigny, QC 9:04.41 2 4 Mendez, Clayton 18 Chicago, IL 9:06.11 1 5 Meinke, Matthew 19 Neenah, WI 9:06.37 1 6 Hart, Devin 19 Point Pleasant Boro 9:06.58 2 7 Maier, Alexander 19 Flower Mound, TX 9:07.10 1 8 Mugeche, Victor 18 Blue Springs, MO 9:08.03 1
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