Son Of Washington Coaches Breaks Through Sub-Four Barrier At 'Home' On Dempsey Track

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Ken Martinez photos

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS | RACE VIDEOS

SEATTLE – Gerry Lindgren’s high school accolades are some of the greatest feats set by a prep athlete in United States history.

But one thing missing from Lindgren’s historic high school resume was a sub-four minute mile.

Lindgren held the Washington state high school mile record for 61 years (4:01.5) until Owen Powell came along and lowered that standard to 4:01.14 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Feb. 2. 

On Saturday at the Husky Classic at the Dempsey Indoor track, Powell became just the seventh athlete in high school history to break four minutes for the full indoor mile.

But Powell didn’t just run under four minutes, he ran under it and then some: 3:57.74.

“I looked up at the three and I couldn’t believe it,” Powell said.

Powell’s time is the second-fastest ever by a prep indoors, trailing only Hobbs Kessler, who ran a high school record 3:57.66 in 2021.

Powell, who’s committed to run for Washington next school year, joins Kessler, Drew Hunter, Colin Sahlman, Connor Burns, Alan Webb and JoJo Jourdon on the sub-four indoor list. Powell is also the 24th prep athlete to break four minutes in the mile between indoor and outdoor. 

“All these guys talk about how the first time they broke four is like a special day,” Powell said. “I can totally feel that right now.”

Racing against a field of collegiate competitors Powell put himself in the mix right from the gun, going through the first 440 yards in 57-58 seconds. 

Through the next half mile, Powell positioned himself in fourth until the final lap where he came through 3:13 with 300 meters to go.

Powell found one more gear with under 200 meters left when he went flying by Gonzaga’s Wil Smith, trying to chase down Northern Arizona’s Caleb Easton in the home stretch.

As he crossed the line, he took one look up at the timing board and walked away in disbelief.

“Being in a race like this and being able to chase people helps a ton,” Powell said. “Fortunately, I was able to run in a competitive heat like this, so I don’t think that would have happened.”

Mobbed by high school friends, his coach Susan Empey and his parents Andy and Maurica Powell, Powell’s dream became a reality.

“Doing it at home, 20 minutes away from my house, in front of friends and family here is just the coolest thing,” Powell said.