Tuesday, February 07, 2017

Anzar HS '13 graduate Diego Leon runs altitude adjusted sub 4 minute mile

The following is from a Montana State University press release which you can view at this LINK. Leon won the CCS Cross Country Division V individual championship in 2002. During the following track and field season, he recorded PRs of 2:00.94, 4:30.84 and 9:47.55. Leon then ran at Hartnell College where he was the 2015 CCCAA Male Athlete of the Year. Video highlights posted below.


The junior crossed the line in 4:07.52, which converted with altitude and track size to a sub-four minute mark of 3:59.13. His time is the 11th fastest in Division I track and field this indoor season and puts him atop the conference performance list.

Leon became just the third Bobcat to ever eclipse the mark. The Hollister, Calif., native joined two former All-Americans under the four-minute barrier. Cristian Soratos (in photo on left with Leon) was the last Bobcat to achieve the feat and finished his career with a personal-best time of 3:55.27 in 2015. Patrick Casey was the first MSU runner to eclipse four minutes as a junior in 2010 and holds the school record with a time of 3:54.49 he set as a senior in 2011.

Leon is the third Bobcat to earn the weekly award this indoor campaign. Junior Kyle Douglass won the Men's Field award on Jan. 17 and senior Christie Schiel was recognized as the Women's Track Athlete of the Week by the Big Sky on Jan. 23.

The following is a Montana State University media release:

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have never heard of an altitude adjusted 4 minute mile. How long has this been going on. Does it count on the all time sub 4 mile lists?

Albert Caruana said...

I am not sure when they started adjusting time for altitude but it has definitely been around for a while. As for the time counting, that is a very good question. Anyone? I am sure he will have other opportunities to dip under 4 minutes later without the altitude.

Coach Ibarra said...

Yes, the records count... Back when Soratos ran a sub 4 altitude adjusted time everyone kicked him saying he hadn't really done it... The following week he went to sea level and shattered sub 4... I grew up and raced in Utah.. altitude is no joke... Watch how much faster those Utah kids run when they come to Arcadia or NTN... Those altitude adjusted times are spot on or may even be a bit of tougher standards when done up there...

Rob Collins said...

Actually I've learned a lot about altitude adjustments since living and coaching here in Colorado Springs, it has been very interesting on all the different conversions they look at! The NCAA also has a altitude adjustments for different parts of Colorado! Planning a track meet schedule is very difficult on just trying to find the right race and dropping down to 5000 to 5500ft if your lucky to qualify for State since Colorado State meet is based on timing only like Swimming, anytime during the season! Like Gus said earlier Altitude is no choke and I have a lot more respect for it now! In the Springs they will use anywhere from 7 seconds to 10 seconds per mile, pending where you raced then sometimes you need to be a where of the Barometric pressure on certain days!

Anonymous said...

Salas does it again. Props to these kids for going to Hartnell and sticking with what they love. Too many now quit to go party at some big name college. How many potential superstar runners are at Stanford that quit because a 4:20 isn't worth the time of day to them. I love these stories and wish more kids would keep running. Keep killing it Monterey/Salinas!

Popular Posts