The 2026 edition of the HOKA Festival of Miles may have been the best yet.
With two full races of fifteen boys seeded at 4:05 or better, two full races of fifteen girls seeded under 4:50, two 800 meter races with fields under 2:10 (girls) at 1:51 or better, two middle school invitational races with fields at 4:50 or better (boys) and 5:25 or better (girls), not to mention the professional mile and Missouri mile fields, this year's Festival of Miles had all the makings of a phenomenal evening.
The atheltes did not disappoint with several state records, top national marks, meet records, and personal bests were set at Thursday night's meet, a meet which, ultimately, was run to benefit two local athletes in need.
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Jackson Spencer Stays Undefeated, Runs US #4 3:57.24
In the penultimate race of the night, Herriman (UT)'s Jackson Spencer put on a show for the fans with a 3:57.24 full mile, a US #4 all-time mark and his second performance under 4:00 this spring. It was the second fastest time we have seen since Alan Webb's 3:53.43 national record in 2001 and broke the Festival of Miles meet record set by Simeon Birnbaum in 2023.
Spencer's senior year has been one for the ages, possibly the greatest of all time. He went undefeated in high school races during cross country season with major wins at both national meets (Brooks XC Championships and Nike Cross Nationals), the Woodbridge Classic, and his Utah State Championship meet, and has stayed undefeated this spring with major victories at the Arcadia Invitational (3200), Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays (Mile), Utah State Championships (800/1600/3200), and now Festival of Miles. He told us after this race that he is headed to New Balance Nationals and the U20 National Championships as he continues his quest for history this summer.
Two others broke 4:00 in the Championship race, both for the first time in their careers. Mifflin County (PA) senior Carter Smith and Bentonville (AR) Brian Burns both dodged the chaos of the final lap, pushed themselves to the front of the pack, and crossed in 3:59.00 and 3:59.70, respectively. Smith's time is tied for US #14 all-time, but, surprisingly, only third in Pennsylvania history behind Drew Griffith and Gary Martin.
Burns' mark was a long time coming for the Bentonville senior. Thrice 4:00-4:01 during the indoor season, and 4:00.02 at the RunningLane Track Championships two weeks ago, Burns finally snuck under the barrier and became the first Arkansan to do so. He also joined his older brother, Connor, as the first brother duo to ever both break the 4:00 barrier.
Three others ran top-45 times in US history, but just missed breaking 4:00. Rocco Culpepper (4:00.37, US #35), Andrew Beroset (4:00.68, US #40), and Abdinasir Hassan (4:00.90, US #44) finished fourth, fifth, and sixth in the star-studded field, respectively. Culpepper nearly became the first Coloradan to break the barrier, but did just barely break Zane Bergen's state record of 4:00.48. Beroset's time was a Tennessee state record, taking down Brodey Hasty's 2017 4:01.75. And Hassan's time was a sophomore national record, breaking the previous mark held by Rheinhardt Harrison.
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Lincoln Posts US #3 All-Time 4:27.65
Ellery Lincoln came all the way down to St. Louis from Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon to try her hand in the nation's premier event for high school milers. She left with the third-fastest mark in US history, and third fastest mark in FOM history: 4:27.65.
Lincoln's time, an Oregon state record, ranks her now behind only Jane Hedengren and Sadie Engelhardt and solidifies her as one of the greatest high school milers of all time. The junior also set a national class record for 11th graders with her dominant 5-second victory.
Santiago Corona (CA) senior Braelyn Combe, Lincoln's close friend and rival throughout the season, finished second in 4:32.41. Good enough for a California state record and US #5 all-time placement, Combe's incredible season just got even better.
Three other girls broke 4:40, with Westford Academy (MA)'s Abigail Hennessy running 4:35.14, Elin Latta hitting 4:35.98, and Kara Glenn from St. Charles North (IL) going 4:38.68. Hennessey's time was actually not a personal best, but instead just off the 4:34.69 US #9 all-time mark she posted at last year's New Balance Nationals Outdoor. Latta, however, ran the fourth fastest time in US history for a sophomore and a Texas state record. Glenn's time was third all-time for Illinoisans and eighth all-time for sophomores.
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More From Festival of Miles
- North Buncombe (NC)'s Michael Ferguson ran 4:02.37 for the win in the Spewak Training Elite Mile. It was an NC #2 all-time mark and would have placed the senior seventh in the Championship race. Paul Van Laningham was third overall in the Elite race, running a new Kentucky state record of 4:03.03. Benjamin Adams was second overall for the second straight year with a 4:02.96 mark.
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- Mary Nesmith from Marietta (GA) brought home the win in the Spewak Training Elite mile, running a new personal best of 4:42.95 and breaking Georgia's state record by nearly four seconds. Sioux Falls Christian (SD)'s Ellie Maddox was second in the second fastest time in her state's history: 4:44.10.
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- The Missouri Mile went to SLUH's Jackson Miller and Father Tolton's Angelina Cottone. Miller, recently stripped of his state title due to a celebration disqualification, got his redemption on his home track with a 4:05.96 personal best. He held off Festus phenom Carson Driemeier, who remarked after the race that was the second straight weekend he had been out-leaned in a 1600. His 4:06.09 is US #29 this season while Miller sits at US #26. Jack McGovern dipped under Connor Burns's sophomore state record, becoming the first 10th grader in state history to run under 4:10 for a recorded full mile.
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- There are also 800 meter races at the Festival of Miles and the boys race, once again, belonged to Illinois. Yorkville's Owen Horeni and Washington Community's Ben Gorsage battled all the way to the line, with Horeni taking the tape in a new meet record of 1:48.58 and Gorsage finishing just behind the meet record with a 1:48.60. Both marks are top two in Illinois this season and US #6 and 7. Sonoma Academy (CA)'s Josie Hill secured the win in the girls' race, running a US #14 mark of 2:05.86.
