RunnersWeb Athletics: Pair of sub-four minute milers lead the field in junior international mile at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Multiple international medalists make for two of the deepest mile races in high school history

Boston, Mass. (Feb. 1, 2023) – For the first-time in US high school history, two sub-four minute milers will race head-to-head in a high school-only indoor mile at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Sat., Feb 4, organizers announced today.

After temporarily relocating to Staten Island due to COVID-19, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix will make its debut at its new home, the TRACK at new balance, a new, state-of-the-art indoor track and field facility at New Balance’s world headquarters in Brighton, Mass.

Tickets for the event on Feb. 4, which forms part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold, are now on sale at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722.

Making a first in US high school athletics, Connor Burns and Simeon Birnbaum, both sub-four minute milers from 2022, will clash in the Boys International Junior Mile at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Burns ran a lifetime best 3:58.83 last year to break Jim Ryun’s high school junior-class record, while Birnbaum recorded a 3:59.51 in the same race behind Burns.

The Girls’ International Junior Mile will feature a battle between accomplished US high schoolers and European international talent. The field features European U18 gold and bronze medalist in the metric mile Annie Mann (GBR) and Iris Downes (GBR) respectively, as well as last year’s New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Girls’ Mile winner and Massachusetts-native Ellie Shea and New Balance Outdoor Nationals champion Isabel Conde De Frankenberg,

The full list of International Junior Milers together with a list of their accolades reads as follows:

• Connor Burns (Ashland, MO, USA) – 2022 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year; 3:58.83 Mile PB

• Simeon Birnbaum (Rapid City, SD, USA) – South Dakota State HS record-holder, 3200m; 3:59.91 Mile PB

• Devan Kipyego (Warwick, RI, USA) – 2022 New Balance Outdoor National Champion, 2000mSC; 4:00.68 Mile PB

• Rocky Hansen (Hendersonville, NC, USA) – 2022 New Balance Outdoor Nationals Champion, 2 Mile; 4:00.76 Mile PB

• Aaron Sahlman (Camarillo, CA, USA) – 2022 Nike Cross Country National Champion; 4:01.34 Mile PB

• Corey Campbell (East Lothian, Scotland) – Age 15 world record holder, Mile – 4:05.77

• Kole Mathison (Carmel, IN, USA) – 2022 Champs Sports Cross Country Champion; 4:04.82 1600m PB

• Caolan McFadden (Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland) – 2022 Irish National U16 Cross Country Champion

• Isaac Rothwell (Cambridge, England) – Fastest British U18 1500m runner in 2022; 3:47.85 1500m PB

• Sean Cronin (Rush, Co. Dublin, Ireland) – 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival bronze medalist, 1500m

• Isabel Conde De Frankenberg (Cedar Park, TX, USA) – 2022 New Balance Outdoor Nationals Champion, 800m; 4:38.55 Mile PB

• Tatum David (Olney, IL, USA) – 2022 Illinois Class 2A State Champion, 1600m and 3200m; 4:42.15 Mile PB

• Iris Downes (Shrewsbury, England) – 2022 European U18 Championships bronze medalist, 800m; 4:23.02 1500m PB

• Ellie Shea (Belmont, MA, USA) – 2022 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Junior Girls’ Mile Champion; 4:40.01 Mile PB

• Amelia Everett (Newton, MA, USA) – 2022 Massachusetts Gatorade Athlete of the Year; 4:49.31 Mile PB

• Clodagh Gill (Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland) – 4th, 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival, 3000m; 4:39.02 1500m PB

• Annie Mann (Romsey, England) – 2022 European U18 Champion, 1500m; 4:19.63 1500m PB

• Jennifer O’Leary (Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Ireland) – 2022 Irish U16 National Schools Champion, 1500m; 4:30.17 1500m PB

• Lia Pugsley (Sterling, VA, USA) – 4-time Virginia State Champion; 4:57.27 Mile PB

Those top athletes join the previously announced Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas, Grant Holloway, Trey Cunningham, Laura Muir Ciara Mageean, Katie Moon, Katerina Stefanidi, Mariano Garcia, Bryce Hoppel, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Shericka Jackson, Mikiah Brisco, Aleia Hobbs, Femke Bol and Woody Kincaid.

The previously announced Jake Wightman and Marvin Bracy-Williams have withdrawn.

Please note that media accreditation is now closed and those with confirmed credentials should have received all information relevant to media.

Now in its 28th year, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix has played host to nine world records and 16 American records.

About New Balance

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