Powell breaks the National High School Indoor Mile Record

Owen Powell, senior runner of the Mercer Island High School, recently experienced epic back-to-back weekends, which led to record-breaking Mile Times on the east and west coast in the interiors.

In the middle of the winter break, Powell entered the territory of the area previously not administered by voting the first mile of the first mile for a high school in Washington State. With his breathtaking brand of 3: 57.74 at the University of Washington Husky Classic on February 15th, he broke the Olympian Gerry Lindgrens record of 4: 01.50 in 1964.

If that wasn't enough, Powell then traveled to Massachusetts to break a national high school record at Boston University DMR Challenge on February 21. The dazzling time of the island dweller of 3: 56.66 snatched the Olympic Hobbs Kessler's Indoor record of 3: 57.66 in 2021.

Mi trainer Susan Empey was overwhelmed by Powell's performances on consecutive weekends.

“He is good for a great season with the Spring Track and has many more goals to pursue,” said Empey. “Owen makes something special that it is clearly talented, but is also a very wiser, hard -working and funny athlete to train. He hears processes and then acts on what they say and 99% of the time meets exactly what they tell him. ”

In the preparatory scene in recent years, Powell, who was the Track & Field player of 2023-24 Gatorade Washington, has won a few 3a state championships in the 1,600-meter run, two 3A State Cross Country title and an 800-meter crown with 3a State 800-meter crown.

Next autumn Powell will visit the University of Washington and compete under the direction of his parents and Husky coach Andy and Maurica.

Powell reflected his two race weekends when he returned to the island.

“It feels pretty good at the moment. Although it is a few days later, I'm definitely still right, ”said Powell. “I worked hard, not only in the last few weeks, I think in the years since I started the high school.”

The athlete said that his consistent training had built in this vertebral wind of the success and it has been more than at all in his running since he was finished.

To make the sub-four mile so close to home and at its future university for Powell a special day.

“It was cool there. Because then my parents are there too. My trainer is there. Many of my teammates and friends and I am glad that this happened there, ”said Powell, who added that it was a hard race to conquer in a field of College runners.

“I really have the feeling that some of these boys were much larger than me,” he continued. “I felt like I was put around a bit, but I did the same with the race that I try to do every race that only does my best. Give a 100 % effort. Basically empty the tank. ”

In the race against college and the professional runners in Boston, Powell said that this second event felt a time earlier with a low-risk, high-ranking competition.

“I think that really triggered a lot of stress and nerves. So I could just do the same thing I did the week before. Just go out, run as hard as possible and was a little faster that day, ”he said.

Powell's younger brother Jake, 14, is a eighth grade runner on the Islander-Middle School and gains inspiration when he tears his siblings tearing the route.

“It gives me something that I can look forward to and try to beat when I am his age. I think it's always so much fun to see him racing, ”said Jake, adding that the immense support of Owen's family and friends makes the Mi -Senior to be successful.

And then there are the cats of the Powells, meatballs and shabby, who always wait for Owen to return home. Jake said the cats kept Owen running and he was happy to be back in her presence after having broken up a storm and broken records.