Former Lee's Summit North standout Jacob Boone, this past weekend attained what many hold to be the Holy Grail in distance running, a sub-four minute mile.
Jacob, now a Sophomore at the University of Oklahoma broke the four minute barrier with a 3:59.07 run this past weekend at the University of Notre Dame, Meyo Invitational. The run also gives him an automatic berth at the NCAA Indoor National meet in March. His race puts him in very good company, becoming only the 7th Missourian and the first OU athlete to break the sub four minute barrier for the full mile.
The race was a huge PR for Jacob and progressed just as he and Oklahoma head coach, Martin Smith invisioned it would.
"Coach Smith and I talked the night before about the importance of being patient and not making the same mistake of going out to fast, like I did at the Razorback invitational. I stayed off the leaders about a second/second and a half and started moving foward as the gaps appeared, starting my kick with around 150 meters to go. I wish now I would have started a little earlier, around 200/250. Other than that, I am very happy with the race."
The Notre Dame track is a 1/5 mile track and Jacobs lap times were :48, 1:39, 2:24, 3:11 and 3:59.07, with approximate 400 meter splits of :59, :61, :60, :59.
Jacob will next be in action this coming weekend at the Tyson Invitational. Tentative plans are for him to run the 800 and possibly the 800 leg of the DMR depending on how stacked the field is.
Pictures used with permission from the University of Oklahoma