By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Here are boys storylines to follow at the Brooks PR Invitational at Renton Memorial Stadium in Renton, Wash.

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Pursuit Of A Sub 4

Will the Brooks PR Invitational get its first sub-four mile? The last closest attempt to the exclusive mark came in 2017 when Sam Worley of Comal Canyon TX clocked 4:02.04 to win the event. Four years later, Nathan Green, recent graduate of Borah High in Boise, Idaho brings high hopes after running 4:00.97 in pursuit of history. He’ll be challenged by a talented field that features junior Gary Martin of Archbishop Wood PA, who ran a personal-best and state record time of 4:03.53, on June 4, as well as 4:04.36 Colorado state 1,600 meters champion Harrison Witt of Mountain Vista CO. Earlier this month, Witt became the first prep in Colorado history to go sub-1:50 in the 800 when he clocked a US#1 time of 1:48.50, breaking the state record.  

Washingtonians Feature In 2-Mile

Nationally ranked local talent could come up big in the boys 2-mile, always an exciting event at Brooks. Ethan Coleman of Olympia High (an hour's drive from Renton), who is a rising senior, is one of the top contenders in the event. Coleman won the Olympia Invite 3,200 in a current US#10 time of 8:49.57. His time was fourth-best in Washington history. 

Fellow rising senior Isaac Teeples of Kennewick (Kiamiakin HS) is another in-state talent who is in contention for the 2-mile title after finishing second on June 3 in the 3,200 at the Stumptown Twilight meet in Portland, running 8:51.43. 

It will be a loaded race, as Larry Josh Edwards of Morgantown, W.V. and his US#9 time of 8:49.04 are making the trek to Washington. Parker Wolfe, who won the Colorado 5A state 3,200 (9:07.87) last weekend is also in it. 

Florida Hurdles Showdown

While Texas’ Kendrick Smallwood, a rising senior from Mesquite, Texas has the No. 2 110-meter hurdles time in the country, 13.47, and the best time entering Brooks, two of the other top names -- Leonard Mustari of Fort Meyers and Jerry Philippe of Fort Lauderdale - will be vying for not only the Brooks crown, but bragging rights for the state of Florida. It will take a big effort as Smallwood has yet to lose this spring. At the Texas 5A state meet, his winning time of 13.47 was just .70 off the state state-meet record of 13.40 (set by Beaumont Ozen's Tony Brown in 2013).

At the Florida 3A state meet, Mustari won in 13.62, while Philippe finished second (13.77). Philippe also has a personal-best of 13.62. 

Olympic Trialist Highlights Dash

It’s been quite the month for Fairfield CO senior Gavin Schurr. On June 3, the standout sprinter committed to USC to run for the Trojans this coming fall. On June 25, he competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene. Along with Florida's Jaylen Slade of IMG Academy FL, Schurr was one of just two high schoolers that qualified for the men’s 200. Schurr finished in 21st overall, running 20.92. He’ll complete the whirlwind start to the summer by looking to win the Brooks 100-meters title. Earlier this year he won the 100 at the NSAF Meet of Champions in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

In May, Schurr ran his first sub-21 second 200 at the BYU Cougar Invitational when he clocked 20.52. Schurr will be up against future University of Washington Husky Anthony Smith of Eastside Catholic WA, who is the local favorite. Smith also brings in a time of 10.36. The two will be challenged by Aaron Bell of Jacksonville, Fla., who won the 3A state title in 10.34.

Focused On 400

Justin Braun has been running into the record books in Ohio. That trend could continue Friday. The standout sprinter from Westerville Central OH, is coming off an historic state meet in early June where he claimed the Division 1 100 (10.47 seconds), 200 (21.13) and 400 (46.14), becoming just the 16th athlete in the 113-year history of the event to win all three titles. 

Braun, who transferred from Thomas Worthington to Westerville last spring, tied the 100 state record of Gahanna’s Blake Heriot from 2009. His 400 time is US#1. Braun will go up against recent graduate Markevus Jackson of Osceola FL, who is US#7 with 46.84 and will move to North Carolina A&T University this fall. If conditions are right, Braun could finally go under 46, as he’s chasing the exclusive Ohio state 400 record of 45.59 by Chris Nelloms of Dayton Dunbar set in 1990.

A Hot 800

It’s been six years since a boy ran under 1:50 at Brooks PR Invite, when Donavan Brazier ran a blazing 1:47.55.

Stanford-bound John Lester of Pleasanton CA was on the cusp of earning at U.S. Olympic Trials spot in the 800 after running 1:46.75 for No. 6 all-time at the Stumptown Twilight in Portland.

Nick Plant of Canfield, Ohio has also gone under the 1:50 mark, as he won the Ohio Division 1 800 meters in 1:49.79, the third-fastest time in state history. 

Sam Austin of Oviedo, Fla. brings in a 1:50.00 time he achieved in April. The University of Florida-signee, won the Florida 4A 800 in 1:51.06.