Distance Men Headed to Seattle

Marcus O'Sullivan is sending five of his top distance men to this weekend's Husky Classic at the University of Washington in Seattle. Hugo Beamish and Brian Long are declared in the 5000 in a heat that includes Solomon Haile, Mohamud Ige, Ahmed Osman, Danny Mercado and other top national figures. Mathew Mildenhall will compete in the 3000 in a heat that features Trevor Dunbar, Hassan Mead, and Justin Harbor. Solomon Haile is declared in the 5000 as well, but will have to choose between the 5 and the 3.
Perhaps most interesting are the possibilities in the mile. Carl Mackenzie and Matt Gibney are both declared. Mackenzie has a sub 4:01 PR for the mile and will be in heat 7 along with such competitors as Alex Hatz, Julius Bor, and pro runner Jordan Horn. In heat 8 of the mile, Matt Gibney is scheduled to go against USA 10,000 meter record holder and sub 13:00 5000 meter man Chris Solinsky, Mac Fleet, AJ Acosta, and others. Mackenzie and Gibney are both looking to join the ranks of sub 4:00 milers. Both Mackenzie (3:41.99 in May 2010 at Swarthmore) and Gibney (3:40.58 in May 2009 in the NCAA finals) have gone sub 3:42.2 for 1500, the metric equivalent of the feat, but neither has run under 4:00 in an open mile; Mackenzie just missed going sub 4:00 in 2008 when he ran 4:00.25 indoors at the Armory. Given the level of competition, both have a real chance to do so this weekend if their races go out smartly. At last year's Husky Classic, 13 men ran sub 4:00 miles, with Adrian Blincoe's 3:57.05 topping the list. The last two Villanovans to break 4:00 were Bobby Curtis and Michael Kerrigan in 2007 at the Swarthmore Last Chance meet.