Friday, June 17, 2011

Lucas Verzbicas - High School 3min 59.71sec Mile Runner

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

Lucas Verzbicas - Athlete in the Making

Sat Jun 11 2011

Former Olympian Jim Ryun, the legendary runner was a witness in seeing Lucas Verzbicas doing a sub-4min in the Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile at Icahn Stadium in New York City. Verzbicas did in a time of 3:59:71 by a margin of 2.12 seconds over the runner who came in second by the name of Austin Mudd
Verzbicas is also the 2009 ITU Duathlon Junior World Champion, thus became the fifth member of a most exclusive club of high school sub-4 minute milers. Other past 4 runners include Alan Webb (3:53:43 in 2001), Jim Ryun (3:55.3 in 1965), Tim Danielson (3:59.4 in 1966), Marty Liquori (3:59.8 in 1967).

Verzbicas, the 18-year-old athletic left Lithuania and emigrated to the United States with his mother and stepfather 9 years ago. He also just graduated from Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois and has been on a record-setting tear for the past few months. Last weekend he set a national high school outdoor two-mile record by 5 seconds with a time of 8:29:46 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene Oregon. Verzbicas also set the high school indoor 5000-meter national record of 14:06 this season. 

Picture 1 - Verzbicas, breaking the 2-mile record




While only a number of high school runners have broken the 4-minute mile, since Sir Roger Bannister first cracked that mark at Oxford, England in May 1954, many college students and professional athletes from many countries have been comfortable with a sub-4min.

At present, the current world record for the distance of 3:43.12 was set by Morocco's Hicham El-Guerrouj on July 7, 1999, in Rome.

In future, Verzbicas wants to focus on triathlon national and world championship events this summer. Later on, he vows to focus strictly on running for the University of Oregon for the next four years.

Over time, Verzbicas told that he will evaluate whether running or triathlon is the best for him in the 2016 Olympics.


Note:

By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.