Saturday, May 06, 2000
La Salle's Padgett breaks 9-minute mark in 3,200
8:56 may be second-fastest prep time in U.S.
By
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Breaking nine minutes in the 3,200 meters was one of Steve Padgett's goals this season, and the LaSalle senior achieved it Friday in a Dayton track meet.
Competing in the Roosevelt Invitational at Welcome Stadium, Padgett covered the distance in 8:56, finishing second behind Dathan Ritzenheim (8:41.0) of Rockford, Mich.
“No Cincinnati runner has ever broken nine minutes,” LaSalle coach Frank Russo said. “Doug Bockenstette (LaSalle) set the city record of 9:03.25 in 1994.”
Ritzenheim's time is the fastest by a high school runner in the country this season and only one second off the national high school record.
“Dathan and I have become good friends,” Padgett said. “We warmed up together and he told me he wanted to go 9:40. He's an incredible runner who you'll see in the Olympics someday.”
According to records published in the May issue of U.S. Track and Field Magazine, Padgett has the second-fastest time in the country. Previously, David Adams (Hilton Head, S.C.) was second at 8:57.00.
“I went out in 63 seconds (in the first 400 meters) and 4:26 the first mile,” Padgett said. “Coach Russo yelled at me I had to go 70 seconds the final lap to break nine minutes. I knew that wouldn't be a problem.”
Padgett, the 1999 Division I state cross country champion, will attempt to win both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter state titles on June 3 at Welcome Stadium.
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