The stakes just keep getting raised.
On Sunday in the professional men's C 800 meter section at the Music City Track Carnival in Nashville, Tennessee, recent Woodstock (GA) High School graduate Will Sumner became the second boy under 1:47 all-time and the third-best athlete in prep history, winning the heat in 1:46:53.
The race saw Sumner draw out the field in 51.55 seconds -- which led the field -- before he came back in 54.98 seconds to win.
His performance was tied for sixth-fastest on the day across all sections.
Sumner has now broken 1:50 a total of three times this season for 800m -- in every race he's competed in -- but importantly, his performance on Sunday was over two seconds faster than his best of 1:48.94, which he achieved in March.
It was also just two hundredths of a second shy of Cade Flatt's No. 2 all-time effort of 1:46.51, which he achieved on May 20 at the Trials of Miles: Tracknight NYC meet.
Sumner is one of nine boys under 1:50 this year in the 800m. He finished his high school regular season with a state title in the 400m at the GHSA Class 7A Championships in 45.78 seconds, which was a state record. He earned indoor national records in the 500m and 600m.
Sumner will fly to Seattle next week to compete in the 400m at Brooks PR, and then he will follow with performances at Nike Outdoor Nationals and the USA U20 Championships.
Related Links:
Music City Track Carnival meet page
High School interviews from MCTC
