Boone Runs Sub-Four Minute Mile

Feb. 7, 2009

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Oklahoma sophomore Jacob Boone became the first-ever OU runner to run a sub-four minute mile Saturday with his 3:59.07 performance at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend. The NCAA automatic qualifying mark boosted the Lee's Summit, Mo., native atop the Oklahoma performance list in the event ahead of classmate Rob Sorrell's 4:03.66 run in 2008 and gave Boone an automatic entry to the 2009 NCAA Indoor National Championships.

Boone opened the race on the 300-meter track towards the back of the pack until the 11-man race split into two groups with Boone at the back of the lead pack. It was on the fifth and final lap that Boone unleashed a strong kick that the Oklahoma men's distance runners are starting to become known for, picking off competitors one-by-one for the fourth-place finish and an automatic entry to the NCAA Championships.

With the performance, Boone became the third OU athlete this season to record an NCAA automatic qualifying mark and the first this season on the track after Shardae Boutte and Ti'Anca Mock both accomplished the feat in the triple jump.

The men's 800-meter run saw Scott Cooper run the sixth-fastest time in Oklahoma history and a PR, 1:50.52, just off the NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 1:50.50 to finish fourth. Also running a PR in the event was Chris Sweeney who took 11th with a time of 1:51.52, the seventh-fastest time in OU history.

Sorrell narrowly missed an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 3,000-meter run by crossing the line in 8:07.72, off the provisional time of 8:05.00. Sorrell finished within eight seconds of the event's winner and sits at No. 3 on the Oklahoma performance list.

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