Lester passes on time trial at home in California in order to make quick trip to Arizona for elite 800-meter race, responds by running 1:48.26 for No. 3 performance by a junior in prep history; Garrett, Reniewicki and Smith also secure victories

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. – John Lester was the last athlete added to the list of more than 500 competing at the Desert Dream - Last Hurrah, with he and Amador Valley CA coach Jason Oswalt making the decision Thursday night to make the flight Saturday morning to Phoenix.

But Lester was the first to the finish line in the boys 800 meters in impressive fashion Saturday night at Poston Butte High, producing the third-fastest time by a junior in United States prep history, clocking a personal-best 1 minute, 48.26 seconds to energize the socially distant crowd on the third day of competition at the first track and field meet in the U.S. since March 14 as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

RESULTS | PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS

“I couldn’t have asked for any better,” Lester said. “It was a great crowd, and even though it’s 90 degrees, it doesn’t really feel like it.”

Lester, who elevated to No. 5 all-time in state history, trails only the junior class national record of 1:47.68 recorded by Elijah Greer of Lake Oswego, Ore., in 2008 and the 1:47.96 produced by former California prep star Michael Granville during his junior year at Bell Gardens at the 1995 Arcadia Invitational. Granville ran 1:46.45 in 1996 to achieve the national high school record.

Lester, who had run 1:49.36 in an 800 time trial April 15, was scheduled to have another one Saturday in Northern California, with the goal to dip under 1:49.

But the chance to compete against Niwot CO graduate and Washington signee Cruz Culpepper, along with St. Raphael Academy RI junior and reigning Pan American U-20 silver medalist Darius Kipyego was too enticing for Lester and Oswalt to pass up.

“We had been looking for an opportunity like this, but up until now, it hadn’t come together,” Oswalt said. “It wasn’t until we found out that Cruz and Darius were going to be here did we really feel like this was going to be the one. John deserves all the credit. He’s the one putting in the work and organizing the time trials. I’m just glad he had a chance to show off all that training.”

Lester participated in the Quarantine Clasico mile race May 23 at Oak Ridge High, placing fifth in a personal-best 4:07.22. But after finishing seventh in the 800 at last year’s state final, Lester has remained committed during the past year to not only becoming the top 800 runner in California, but one of the best in the country.

“I didn’t really get that race feeling with the adrenaline until I came out here, and that’s just something special,” Lester said. “I know a lot of runners in the country who do their workouts and time trials haven’t had the pleasure of being able to compete against other people, so for me to be able to come out here and show what I’ve got against the best, it’s just such a blessing. I’m glad we were able to do it.”

Lester covered the first lap in 52.9, then made a significant surge on the back stretch to reach the 600-meter mark in 1:19 and create enough of a gap against Culpepper, who closed strong to take second in 1:48.50. Kipyego was third in 1:51.59.

“I got out in 52 just like I wanted. The pacer was perfect, he came off right when we came up on him,” Lester said. “I kind of just started really dialing in with 250 to go and just held on for dear life.”

Lester is optimistic he’ll have another chance to improve his mile time this summer, as Jesuit CA graduate and Portland signee Matt Strangio is still pursuing a sub-4 effort, with a race in the coming weeks still developing.

In the men’s elite mile race, won by Arizona State’s John Reniewicki in 4:01.46, three high school athletes looked to measure themselves against older competition.

Sophomore Rheinhardt Harrison of Nease FL was the top prep finisher, placing fourth in 4:09.79. Jonas Price of Eisenhower, Wash., was fifth in 4:10.57 and Parker Wolfe of Cherry Creek, Colo., took sixth in 4:16.61.

Freshman Ty Garrett of Center Grove IN won the boys 3,200 in 9:08.87, with Erik Le Roux of Cheyenne Mountain, Colo., taking second in 9:09.34.

Following a pair of second-place finishes Friday in the 100 and 200 meters, junior Anthony Smith of Eastside Catholic, Wash., prevailed in the 400 in 48.06.

After a personal-best 63-9 (19.43m) to win the shot put Friday, Zach Landa of Desert Ridge, Ariz., won the discus Saturday with a 182-foot throw (55.47m).

Gabriel Binion of Mountain View Mesa, Ariz., won the long jump with a fifth-round leap of 22 feet (6.70m), in addition to placing fifth in the 200 (22.66) and 400 (49.80).

Owen Olney of Rio Rancho, N.M., cleared 6-8 (2.03m) to win the high jump.

Yan Vazquez of Red Mountain, Ariz., won the 300-meter hurdles in 39.09, took second in the 110 hurdles in 14.90, and placed runner-up in the high jump with a 6-2 clearance (1.87m).