Joe Bistritz & Gavin Gaynor The Adidas Dream Mile - 6:50pm Today!

(photo Phil Grove)

Joe Bistritz is no surprise.  He began to develop in XC his sophomore year (2013) when he went from 56th in the D2 State meet as a freshman with a time of 16:49.87 to 2nd with a time of 16:10.67.  He won as a junior in 2014 (15:44.37) and again this past fall, as a senior, with a time of 15:16.90.

Indoors, he did not compete in the OATCCC.  This year he was 2nd in the MileSplit Scholastic Showcase 3,200 with a 9:14.62 and won the Saucony HS Scholastic Meet in the 1,600 with a 4:14.28.

Outdoors he was 2nd in the D2 1,600 in both 2014 and 2015, running 4:18.80 and 4:15.02.  Early in the year, he ran a 9:08.47 in the 3,200 at the Berea Relays.  He showed he was ready for a fast 1,600 when he split a 4:05 in the 4x1,600.  At State, he set a D2 State, D2 State Meet and Owens Stadium records winning the 1,600 in 4:05.62.  His time is US #9, Ohio #1 in the Ohio All-Time MileSplit data base and an Ohio All-Time #9 1,600. 

The Dream Mile - Bistritz comes into the race with the 3rd best Mile of 4:05.62c.  Ahead of him are to experienced distance runners.  Thomas Ratcliffe of Concord-Carlsile, MA and Eduardo Herrera of Madiera South, CA.   Ratcliffe has the fastest time of 4:00.10c.  Herrera has a time of 4:03.57c.  Just behind Bistritz is Dowling Catholic, IA's Ryan Schweitzer who has run 4:05.83.  The next seed time belongs to Patrick Parker of American Fork, UT. Parker has run 4:08.35.  Rounding out the field are  Jack Salisbury of LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI and Hudson's Gavin Gaynor.  Salisbury has run 4:08.35 and Gaynor 4:09.24.  Bistritz opted out of the Midwest Meet of Champions 1,600 over the weekend to rest from competition for a week and get ready for the Dream Mile.  Weather cooperating, you won't have to worry about this one not going out fast enough. Ratcliffe would like to go under 4:00 and Herrera will not let him go by himself.  I would expect one of these two to take the lead with around 600m to go.  Can Bistritz run with them?  We'll see.  He should be good through the half and if he can hang with the leaders through the 3/4 he should be in the race.  I would expect a time of around 3:02-3:03. If it comes down to a sprint, Herrera appears to have the speed, having the fastest 800 of the 3 with a 1:53.85.   My pick is their seed order.  Ratcliff wins, Hererra is 2nd and Bistritz will get 3rd.