ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, June 04 — Thankfully, no one was forced to pick an overall athlete of the meet for the HOKA Festival of Miles. How to choose between Jackson Spencer and Ellery Lincoln?
Spencer has dominated prep competition in ’25–26 — cross country, indoor and outdoor — and was the mile leader coming in with his 3:58.17 at the Nike Jesuit Twilight Relays. On a quest to challenge Alan Webb’s 25-year-old HSR, the Herriman (Utah) senior basically led wire-to-wire. His 3:57.24 in breezy conditions, No. 5 all-time, beat Simeon Birnbaum’s ’23 meet record and led two others under 4:00.
But Lincoln, whose prep-leading 4:30.00 also came at Jesuit, was arguably even more impressive. She withstood a fierce challenge from Braelyn Combe (Santiago, Corona, California), who was with her with less than 200 to go, and blazed home in 64.40, stopping the clock at 4:27.65. Only ’25 champ Jane Hedengren and Sadie Engelhardt have ever run faster.
With one pace light ambitiously set at 4:27.0, plus another at 4:35.0, Lincoln and Combe found good position quickly behind the pacesetter, passing 3 laps to go (409m) in 68.21, with a massive pack close at hand.
There was no slowing down on the second circuit, however, which quickly stretched the pack. Lincoln’s relentless tempo chasing sub-4:30 was too rich for all but Combe as they passed 809m in 2:15.61, with Texas homeschooler Elin Latta third at 2:16.58.
The lead duo passed 400 to go in 3:23.25 and then, on the backstretch, Combe poured all she had into a long kick. She tried to overtake Lincoln starting around the curve — but that was it. The junior held her spot and went full throttle as the Californian faded hard.
“I don’t think I would have been able to run as fast as I did today if Braelyn wasn’t in this race,” said Lincoln. “I knew that she was going to give me a run for my money.” Combe’s 4:32.41 is No. 9 all-time, easily the fastest non-winner ever. Abigail Hennessy (Academy, Westford, Massachusetts) at 4:35.14 and Latta at 4:35.98 also made history with four girls at 4:35 or better.
Next, Jackson set out to follow rabbit Austen Dalquist and pace lights at 3:53.50 pace. The rest of the field had another pace light at 3:59.50 and were caught between trying to challenge the BYU recruit or focusing on pace and sub-4.
Spencer wasn’t quite ready for 3:53. He hit 60.08 and 1:59.12 at 409m & 809m, more than a second up on Carter Smith (Mifflin County, Pennsylvania) and a huge throng. Among the other contenders, Marcelo Mantecon (Belen Jesuit Prep, Florida) began fading, eventually to finish 8th, while defending champ Quentin Nauman was never in it (13th).
In the third lap, Spencer slowed slightly and Brian Burns (Bentonville, Arkansas) – whose brother Connor ran 3:58.83 here 4 years ago — picked it up with 59.03 to close within 0.28 at the gun. Spencer found another gear, not quite the 55.1 Webb had, but a 58.06 that carried him to a decisive margin. Smith (3:59.00) caught Burns (3:59.70), and made it the second race ever with 3 or more sub-4s.
“I was thinking I just got to get out harder than ever before, to make sure I have a shot at the record,” Spencer said afterward. “The last two laps were pretty hard… I think on my best day, I probably could have gone maybe 3–4 seconds faster. But it’s great winning a big meet like this.”
He noted later, however, that Webb was able to run in a pro race, with no wind, and that he would have a similar chance soon (without revealing details).
HOKA RESULTS
BOYS EVENTS
800: 1. Owen Horeni (Yorkville, Il) 1:48.58; 2. *Ben Gorsage (Washington, Il) 1:48.60; 3. *Lucas Alberts (Jesuit, Carmichael, Ca) 1:49.59; 4. Gus Simmons (Reynolds, Asheville, NC) 1:49.63.
Mile: 1. Jackson Spencer (Herriman, Ut) 3:57.24 (HSL) (4, 5 HS) (3:40.30 HSL—10, x HS);
2. Carter Smith (Mifflin, Lewistown, Pa) 3:59.00; 3. Brian Burns (Bentonville, Ar) 3:59.70; 4. Rocco Culpepper (Niwot. Co) 4:00.37; 5. *Drew Beroset (McCallie, Chattanooga) 4:00.68; 6. **Abdinasir Hassan (Northfield, Denver) 4:00.90 (soph-class record); 7. Camden Gibson (College Park, The Woodlands, Tx) 4:02.94; 8. *Marcelo Mantecon (Belen, Miami) 4:04.70; 9. Maximo Zavaleta (King, Riverside, Ca) 4:04.92.
Elite Mile: 1. Michael Ferguson (North Buncombe, Weaverville, NC) 4:02.37; 2. *Benjamin Adams (Mountain Vista, Highlands Ranch, Co) 4:02.96; 3. Paul Van Laningham (Cooper, Union, Ky) 4:03.03; 4. Cadel Ruthven (Ft Collins, Co) 4:03.57; 5. Canaan Dunham (Pella, Ia) 4:03.61 (13 sub-4:09).
GIRLS EVENTS
800: 1. *Josie Hill (Sonoma, Santa Rosa) 2:05.86; 2. Emma Steffensen (Waverly, Nb) 2:06.96; 3. Polina Krupsky (Lake Zurich, Il) 2:07.14; 4. Charlize-Trinity McKenzie (Cedarburg, Wi) 2:07.21.
Mile: 1. *Ellery Lincoln (Lincoln, Portland) 4:27.65 (HSL) (3, 4 HS) (4:09.13 HSL—7, x HS);
2. Braelyn Combe (Santiago, Corona, Ca) 4:32.41 (9, x HS) (4:09.96—8, x HS);
3. Abby Hennessy (Academy, Westford, Ma) 4:35.14; 4. **Elin Latta (Home, San Antonio) 4:35.98; 5. **Kara Glenn (North, St Charles, Il) 4:38.68; 6. Chiara Dailey (La Jolla, Ca) 4:42.50; 7. *Abigail Anstett (Visitation, Washington, DC) 4:42.87; 8. Sundara Weber (Sandwich, Il) 4:44.96.
Elite Mile: 1. Mary Nesmith (Marietta, Ga) 4:42.95; 2. Ellie Maddox (Christian, Sioux Falls, SD) 4:44.10.
