Oregon recruited and signed two of the best distance talents in years, with one, Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City, South Dakota, who ran two races recently that set records, and was second best All- Time HS time in both the 1500 and two mile!

 

Connor Burns of Ashland Missouri comes to Oregon generally running the longer races, and he broke Galen Rupp’s National HS record in the 5000 recently, and both Ducks were in the HS Mile National Championship going against the twin brothers of Leo and Lex Young who are headed to Stanford.  Lex is a longer-distance runner like Connor, and he broke Connor's record in the 5,000 three weeks after Burns did it. 

 

All four were in this final, and Burns said before the race that the Young brothers had been dodging he and Birnbaum all year.
    

My feathered friends, this shapes up as some epic races in the future between these four, and final result of this race was incredible.  I have the video qued up to near the end of the race so you can see the battle, the unlikely kick, and how it finished.

 

Oregon Track & Field recruiting is coming back....like a Duck in this race!

 

 

Simeon had a lot left, and he should be an interesting one to watch help bring back Oregon's distance running. 

 

Interesting to hear the pundit mention Prefontaine as a comparison. Prefontaine didn't come from the back, he led all the way and punished people. Nobody is like Pre, and maybe someday we will see another.

 

We can hope Simeon will learn from some of his quotes, the way he trained, raced. Be somebody Simeon!

To me, Leo Young had a commanding lead, but that kick by Birnbaum was amazing.  For those who are track fans...does that kick remind you of anyone?

There are a few, but none were as inspirational as Joaquin Cruz.

 

Olympics – 1984 Los Angeles – ABC Profile – Track 800m – BRA Joaquim Cruz – ImaSportsphile

IMASPORTSPHILE.COM

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DOG ASIDE: Joaquim Carvalho Cruz (born March 12, 1963 in Taguatinga, Distrito Federal) is a former Brazilian athlete....who won the men's 800m dash at

 

No doubt the men will be stronger next year and if Birnbaum and Burns can both double, that could be a lot of points.  If Micah Williams gets healthy, we could be good in the 100 and 200.  Big question is how much will Lanning allow Roderick Pleasant to run track; as a 100/200 CA State champ, he could be a force, certainly in conference and maybe at Nationals.  As the teams look stronger and stronger, that might draw in some recruits currently sitting on the fence.