Two of the top distance stars in Texas and in the nation are entered to run the Jerry Thompson Invitational Mile at this year's 2017 Texas Relays in Austin. Reed Brown and Sam Worley have elected to forgo the high school boys 1600m and instead compete against elite collegiate and professional runners on April 1.
Brown, a senior at Southlake Carroll and Oregon signee, is the 2016 Footlocker Cross Country Nationals champion as well as the Gatorade Texas Runner of the Year. Just three weeks ago, Brown ran an indoor 1600m in 4:06.40 for a U.S. No. 2 as well as an outdoor 800m PR of 1:54.41 this past weekend for another U.S. No. 2 ranking.
Worley, a senior from New Braunfels Canyon and a Texas signee, has yet to run since his eighth-place finish at the 2016 Footlocker Cross Country Championships. Worley is also the 2016 UIL 6A cross country champion and the 2016 Nike Cross Nationals runner-up.
At the 2016 UIL state track meet, Brown beat runner-up Worley in the 3200m in a UIL record of 8:50.43 over Worley's 8:51.44. Worley then returned later to capture the 1600 in 4:04.59 while Brown finished second in 4:04.82.
With Brown and Worley figuring to chase the state record in either race, their entries into the Jerry Thompson Mile Invitational have huge implications for both athletes as well as Texas distance running.
Another big event for Texas distance running is the Texas Distance Festival in Southlake on March 18, which has several of the nation's top stars already committed to participate in the elite 5K. The meet is being live-streamed by Texas MileSplit, and the 5K has the potential to be the fastest ever on a high school track.
