No state meet? No problem.
Mounds View (MN) freshman Elliott McArthur teammated up with former teammate, Class of 2019's Lukas Hessini -- he runs for Purdue's student running club -- and The Blake School sophomore Shef West over the weekend for a fast 1,600m of his own.
A year ago, the talented freshman scored a PR of 4:22.40 for the distance, eventually qualifying for his first MSHSL State Class 2A final, where he finished 14th overall. That same year he also ran 9:35.34 for 3,200m. And ater, he raced Florida signee Joseph Fahnbulleh in a fun-600m duel, losing by a hair in 1:26.10.
And it was in that promise where McArthur, who was part of Mounds View's NXN qualifying team in 2020, vowed to improve despite adversity from the now-cancelled season.
So a year older -- and a year stronger -- McArthur continued his training cycle continued with an eye toward the state meet date on the calendar.
And it was Hessini who took some important duties at the front, leading McArthur through 400 meters in 65 and past the 800 meter mark in 2:12. He didn't let off in that crucial third-lap, either, taking the freshman through 1,200 in 3:16.
But the final 400 was where all the action happened.
Hessini started to drop McArthur in the following 200m, forming a five-meter gap. McArthur, however, didn't let him get away, closing in the remaining 200m with an impressive display of speed, meeting his former teammate at the line in a finishing time of 4:18.
That unofficial mark, when stacked up against the last decade's worth of 1,600m races by freshman, was impressive on its own, slotting in at No. 42 over that stretch (see below). In Minnesota, however, that mark would be fifth all-time for a freshman.
Results:
- Lukas Hessini, 4:18.84
- Elliott McArthur, 4:18.84
- Shef West, 4:35
- - -
1,600m National Rankings: 2010-2019
| rank | time | name | date | event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:09.38 | MN Stillwater High School | 2016 | Minnesota State Track and Field Meet 1st Jun 7, 2013 - Jun 8, 2013 |
| 2 | 4:09.43 | CA Brea Olinda High (SS) | 2016 | CIF State Track and Field Championships 3rd May 31, 2013 - Jun 1, 2013 |
| 3 | 4:10.50 | MI Rockford | 2018 | MHSAA State Championships LP-1 5th May 30, 2015 |
| 4 | 4:12.59 | FL Nease HS | 2022 | Mar 28, 2019 - Mar 30, 2019 |
| 5 | 4:13.58 | CA Stockdale High School (CS) | 2014 | CIF State Track and Field Championships 9th P Jun 3, 2011 - Jun 4, 2011 |
| 6 | 4:14.98 | NY Guilderland | 2019 | Sec. 2 Suburban Council Championship 1st May 17, 2016 - May 18, 2016 |
| 7 | 4:15.15 | WI Ashwaubenon | 2017 | WIAA Track & Field State Championships 7th Jun 6, 2014 - Jun 7, 2014 |
| 8 | 4:15.42 | WI Arrowhead | 2015 | WIAA Track & Field State Championships - Girls & Boys 7th Jun 1, 2012 |
| 9 | 4:15.61 | GA East Coweta | 2020 | GHSA State Championships (1A Private, 4A & 7A) 1st May 11, 2017 - May 13, 2017 |
| 10 | 4:16.48 | LA St. Paul's School | 2017 | LHSAA Class 3A-4A-5A State Outdoor Championships 2nd May 10, 2014 |
| 11 | 4:16.50 | TX Aledo | 2020 | North Texas 1600 2nd May 3, 2017 |
| 12 | 4:16.68 | NY Port Jefferson | 2015 | Section 11 State Qualifier 2nd Jun 1, 2012 - Jun 2, 2012 |
| 13 | 4:16.83 | CA Bellarmine College Prep (CC) | 2021 | CIF Central Coast Section Finals 4th May 25, 2018 |
| 14 | 4:16.88 | IL Lake Zurich High School | 2017 | 3A Palatine Sectional (Boys) 1st May 22, 2014 |
| 15 | 4:16.90 | CA Vacaville High School (SJ) | 2022 | CIF State Track and Field Championships 18th P May 24, 2019 - May 25, 2019 |
| 16 | 4:17.01 | CA Dana Hills High School (SS) | 2016 | Orange County Championships 11th Apr 20, 2013 |
| 17 | 4:17.12 | PA McDonogh School | 2018 | May 7, 2015 - May 10, 2015 |
| 18 | 4:17.14 | CA Cathedral Catholic (SD) | 2018 | CIF-San Diego Section Finals 3rd May 30, 2015 |
| 19 | 4:17.27 | MN Chaska High School | 2015 | May 24, 2012 |
| 20 | 4:17.29 | TX El Paso Hanks | 2020 | UIL Track and Field Championship 1st May 11, 2017 - May 13, 2017 |
| 21 | 4:17.53 | ID Borah High School | 2021 | May 3, 2018 |
| 22 | 4:17.57 | NJ Bridgewater-Raritan HS | 2022 | Skyland Conference Championships 3rd May 7, 2019 |
| 23 | 4:17.59 | FL Ocala Vanguard HS | 2018 | Brian Jaeger Elite Classic 1st Mar 14, 2015 |
| 24 | 4:17.61 | NY Collegiate School | 2015 | 45th Glenn D. Loucks Games 8th May 10, 2012 - May 12, 2012 |
| 25 | 4:17.65 | WA Camas High School | 2019 | May 19, 2016 - May 20, 2016 |
| 26 | 4:17.68 | IN Columbus North High School | 2022 | IHSAA Boys State Track & Field Meet 11th May 31, 2019 |
| 27 | 4:17.76 | CA San Clemente High (SS) | 2020 | CIF Southern Section Division 1 Prelims 7th P May 13, 2017 |
| 28 | 4:17.99 | CA Arcadia High School (SS) | 2016 | Mar 23, 2013 |
| 29 | 4:18.06 | TX Klein Oak | 2014 | The Woodlands Regional Qualifiers Meet 8th Apr 21, 2011 |
| 30 | 4:18.22 | OH Brunswick | 2017 | May 28, 2014 - May 30, 2014 |
| 31 | 4:18.39 | CA Redwood High School (NC) | 2019 | CIF North Coast Section Meet of Champions 5th May 27, 2016 - May 28, 2016 |
| 32 | 4:18.41 | WA Ingraham High School | 2015 | 2A, 3A, 4A Washington State Meet 7th May 25, 2012 - May 26, 2012 |
| 33 | 4:18.44 | IL York High School | 2018 | 47th Prospect Wanner Knight Invitational 7th May 1, 2015 |
| 34 | 4:18.47 | OH Lak. East | 2018 | Greater Miami Conference Championships 1st May 13, 2015 - May 15, 2015 |
| 35 | 4:18.67 | CA Loyola High School (SS) | 2020 | CIF Southern Section Division 1 Prelims 11th P May 13, 2017 |
| 36 | 4:18.72 | OH Uniont. Lake | 2021 | OHSAA Division 1 District - North Canton 1st May 16, 2018 - May 18, 2018 |
| 37 | 4:18.76 | AZ Deer Valley High School | 2021 | AIA Division 2 State Championships 4th May 2, 2018 - May 5, 2018 |
| 38 | 4:18.77 | FL Unattached FL | 2016 | Holy Trinity All-Star Showdown 1st May 11, 2013 |
| 39 | 4:18.78 | GA Northside Columbus | 2019 | Georgia Olympics 2nd May 12, 2016 - May 14, 2016 |
| 40 | 4:18.80 | CT Conard High | 2022 | May 4, 2019 |
| 41 | 4:18.85 | WA North Central High School | 2015 | May 10, 2012 |
| 42 | 4:19.06 | PA Downingtown West | 2018 | PIAA T&F State Championships 7th May 22, 2015 - May 23, 2015 |
| 43 | 4:19.07 | NJ West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS | 2020 | Annual Holmdel Twilight Series - Season Ender 1st May 31, 2017 |
| 44 | 4:19.16 | OH St. Ignatius | 2016 | OHSAA Regional Track and Field Championships - Amherst (2) 2nd May 29, 2013 - May 31, 2013 |
| 45 | 4:19.25 | VA Deep Run | 2015 | Central Region Outdoor T&F Championships 3rd May 23, 2012 - May 24, 2012 |
| 46 | 4:19.32 | CA Newbury Park High School (SS) | 2022 | CIF Southern Section Division 1 Prelims 7th P May 4, 2019 |
| 47 | 4:19.41 | IN Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran High School | 2018 | IHSAA Boys Regional 5 - Marion 5th May 28, 2015 |
| 48 | 4:19.44 | MI Traverse City Central | 2016 | MHSAA State Championships LP-1 7th Jun 1, 2013 |
| 49 | 4:19.60 | CA San Juan Hills (SS) | 2019 | Mar 31, 2016 |
| 50 | 4:19.64 | SC Philip Simmons | 2021 | May 11, 2018 - May 12, 2018 |
Minnesota All-Time Boys 1,600m Rankings
| rank | time | name | date | event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:09.38 | Stillwater High School | 2016 | Minnesota State Track and Field Meet 1st Jun 7, 2013 - Jun 8, 2013 |
| 2 | 4:15.40 | Minneapolis Edison High School | 2003 | Minnesota State Track and Field Meet 2nd Jun 9, 2000 - Jun 10, 2000 |
| 3 | 4:16.95 | Burnsville High School | 2008 | MSHSL State Track & Field Championships 1st Jun 10, 2005 - Jun 11, 2005 |
| 4 | 4:17.27 | Chaska High School | 2015 | May 24, 2012 |
| 5 | 4:17.49 | Irondale High School | 2004 | Minnesota State Track and Field Meet 3rd Jun 8, 2001 - Jun 9, 2001 |
| 6 | 4:20.18 | Marshall High School | 2007 | MSHSL State Track & Field Championships 5th Jun 11, 2004 - Jun 12, 2004 |
| 7 | 4:20.21 | Hopkins High School | 2004 | Minnesota State Track and Field Meet 6th Jun 8, 2001 - Jun 9, 2001 |
| 8 | 4:20.26 | Waseca High School | 2015 | Minnesota State Track and Field Meet 2nd Jun 8, 2012 - Jun 9, 2012 |
| 9 | 4:21.41 | Prior Lake High School | 2021 | MSHSL State Track and Field Championships 11th Jun 8, 2018 - Jun 9, 2018 |
| 10 | 4:23.15 | Warroad High School | 2009 | MSHSL State Track & Field Championships 3rd Jun 9, 2006 - Jun 10, 2006 |
| 11 | 4:23.27 | Lac qui Parle Valley High School | 2011 | MSHSL State Track & Field Championships 5th Jun 6, 2008 - Jun 7, 2008 |
| 12 | 4:23.55 | Kingsland High School | 2004 | Minnesota State Track and Field Meet 3rd Jun 8, 2001 - Jun 9, 2001 |
| 13 | 4:24.21 | Wayzata High School | 2015 | Section 7AAA True Team Meet 3rd May 9, 2012 |
| 14 | 4:24.37 | Pierz High School | 2006 | MSHSL State Track & Field Championships 6th Jun 6, 2003 - Jun 7, 2003 |
| 15 | 4:24.97 | Saint Paul Central High School | 2004 | Minnesota State Track and Field Meet 10th Jun 8, 2001 - Jun 9, 2001 |