St. Joe’s Cooper Teare caps great series of runs
Oregon-bound senior's near sub-4 performance capped the greatest month-long stretch by an individual in California distance running history.
By Mitch Stephens, SF Gate
Cooper Teare crossed the finish line to a giant groan from the crowd at El Camino College in Torrance on Friday. He immediately dropped to his knee before flopping on his back.
The St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda senior threw his arms straight toward the sky, pleading to the track & field heavens for an explanation.
Teare, the defending state 3200 meter champion, had just won the Mt. SAC Relays high school Mile in 4 minutes, 00.16 of a second, the 10th fastest individual mark all-time in U.S. prep history. The converted 3:58.76 electronic time in the 1600 meters is the fastest in state history.
All that was secondary, because Teare’s goal was to break the coveted and historic 4-minute Mile barrier. The Oregon-bound runner missed by a whisker.
“I tested my speed and strength here in the Mile,” Teare told PrepCalTrack.com after the race. “The last 200, I saw 3:31. I heard the crowd cheering. I gave it all I had down the last stretch but was just a little off of it. … I was a little disappointed when I crossed but I’m definitely happy with my effort.”
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