Watch the full Mile Race Above
As expected, the duel between Brian DiCola (Hatboro Horsham) and Drew Griffith (Butler) on the Ashenfelter banks - yielded one of the best results in PA History.
In their fourth match-up of the 2022-23 school year slate - the two traded leads before Griffith eventually came away with the Indoor Mile State Championship - in a stunning 4:07.24 result, the third fastest mark All-Time.
It is also the fastest Indoor Mile by a junior in PA History.
So how did it happen?
Griffith and DiCola may have been initially content to race strategically. After all, they were both planning on doubling back later in the day - and DiCola would be competing for an Individual State Title in the 3000m (which he ended up winning).
But the two LaSalle College High School teammates, Drew Brill and Ryan McGinley had different plans. They brought the pace out at a respectable clip - splitting 62 through the opening quarter and 2:06 through the opening 809 meters.
Feeling the pace slow - Griffith eased his foot onto the gas and took control of the race at the halfway point, and DiCola moved into position behind him. Then the two were off to the races.
In a cat-and-mouse affair, DiCola took the lead with 300m to go, and Griffith laid back in wait before unleashing a brutal kick with 150m remaining, shutting the door on DiCola, who tried to respond.
Griffith closed in a 57-second last 400m.
DiCola finished second - in 4:08.73, the seventh fastest Mile in PA History. TJ Roden (Central Dauphin) finished in 16th - the 16th fastest mark All-Time.
With Griffith's mark, he tied Noah Affolder for the third all-time rank. Affolder also ran 4:07.24 at the Millrose Games in 2017.
Griffith's former teammate, CJ Singleton, owns the two-spot, while Gary Martin owns the state record with his 4:02.34 from last year's New Balance Nationals meet.