* PA MileSplit caught up with Drew Griffith following his historic effort
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SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- At the PIAA Track and Field State Championships on Friday, Drew Griffith soared to the fourth-fastest 1,600m in U.S. high school history.
Griffith ran an astonishing 3:57.08 in the Class AAA final. The performance was the fastest ever at the 1,600m distance outright.
In doing so, Griffith shattered a 2001 record set by Alan Webb.
Webb previously held the National Federation of High School State Associations' (NFHS) 1,600m record of 3:59.51. NFHS records must be set at NFHS sanctioned meets and are not considered overall national high school records.
Griffith also broke Gary Martin's PIAA record (4:01.56) and his PA state record in the event, which previously stood at 3:59.55.
Griffith opened up with a 58.04 before coming through 800m in 1:58.92. He split 60.79 over the next quarter before unleashing a 57.98 to close out the historic run.
In all, seven boys ran 4:08 or faster in the PIAA 3A Championship. It took a 4:10.44 to make the podium.
Ryan Pajak (Ringgold) finished second with a 4:04.72, while Dale Hall (Hampton) finished in third after winning the event a year ago.
After the winning effort, Alan Webb congratulated Drew on his achievement. He commented on a PA MileSplit Instagram post;
"Congratulations Drew!! Wow!" he wrote. Real recognize real and one of the best American distance runners in US History certainly recognizes the next era of distance running.
