Drew Hunter ran 3:58.25 in the Mile to break the National High School Record in the Mile at the Armory Track Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 6. The senior from Loudon Valley High School in Va. is the second prep to break four minutes for the indoor mile; 15 years ago, fellow Virginian Alan Webb set the prior record at 3:59.86. Read a transcription of the post-race interview below, or scroll all the way to the bottom to watch the video of the press room interview. Read the race recap here.
Was sub-four ever in doubt for you?
I felt terrible out there. Honestly the whole race, I was like, I'm gonna hang on as long as possible. I didn't know what I was at at 1200. I figured I was at three flat and I was like, 'alright, I have to go.'
I wanted to run that second-to-last 200 really hard because I was like, that's gonna make or break the race. Last week in the 3000, that was my slowest 200 and so I knew I can't fall asleep on that one.
I tried to go around one guy and that gave me momentum and that carried me through to the last lap and then it was so loud the last lap, it just gave me adrenaline.
It's really cool and special to me because Alan's someone I've looked up to ever since I began running... it's not like the legends you hear about from a long time ago, it's someone I actually know and have a connection with.
It's also a Virginia state record.
Yeah.
Are you surprised by the past two weekends?
No. I mean, I'm in the best shape of my life. I always knew I'm someone who needs races to run fast. Coming into this year, I told my parents I want to find races where I'm going to lose and be dragged to fast times. I don't want to go out there and run 60s by myself. It's not something that is easy and the competitive nature of myself, I get more out of myself running with people or chasing people.
It looked like in the second-to-last lap, there was a jolt of energy that went through your body. Your form stood up a little bit more, what happenened there?
I just always seem to have a finishing kick and finish strong. I knew that coming into the last lap, the goal is always to have something left.
How fast can you go?
I don't know. This is just the beginning and I have to continue to progress from here; I guess we'll have to see.
What's your schedule from here on?
Millrose in two weeks. Not the Wanamaker, they have two heats this year. So I'll probably be in the second heat; I'll go for 3:57, 3:56.
Any nerves out there today?
I've never been someone to let pressure get to me, but this was the most hyped up a meet's ever been for me before. I didn't take it as pressure, I thought, 'if I run well, I'm gonna do it,' so I just put myself in position and that's all you can ask for. If I blow up in the last lap, there's nothing I can really do.
What was the problem with your shoelaces before the race?
I tied them and they became a little loose and I had double knot in the middle of the other knot... I couldn't figure out what to do, so my mom -- who has nails -- came over and helped get it out. I was like, 'oh, of course, right before we go out there, I can't even put my shoe on.' That didn't matter though, I guess.
How do u celebrate something like this?
It's just the beginning so just go back, relax, maybe have ice cream or something and go back to work.
You've been a little sick the past two weeks, right?
Yeah, I was debating not even running. Two days ago, I was feeling terrible. I haven't been sleeping because I've been coughing. Last night, I honestly got two hours of sleep and was staring at the ceiling and it was miserable. I woke up and just didn't feel good but I never wanna drop out of a race, I've never dropped out of a race. If I ran 4:20 today, I was gonna finish so I put myself in the race. Once I got going, even though it hurts, I'm such a competitive person... I'm just gonna finish.
Did feeling sick and tired lower the pressure for you a little bit?
For myself, not really, because I put high expectations [on myself]. I didn't really put any less pressure, I just wanted to run the race.
What was the last day of school like for you? Did everyone in your class know you were taking on [sub-four] this weekend?
A lot of my close friends in the school and teachers and faculty knew I was running a big race. That's the cool thing about a mile; they knew running under four minutes is a big deal.
Recap: Drew Hunter 3:58.25, Breaks Alan Webb's National High School Mile Record!
