Thomas Ratcliffe ran 4:01.50 at the Adrian Martinez Classic on June 2, 2016, in the Adro Mile. Running in the pack for three laps, Thomas kept his cool and ran a gutty last lap, to run 4:01.50 and take the top position on the list of fine Massechuesetts high school boys who have raced the mile distance.
On June 17, in the adidas Dream Mile, Thomas Ratcliffe pushed the pace, searching for that sub four minute mile. His heart and his legs battled, and he nearly held on for the win, until Jack Salisbury went by with six or seven meters to go, winning in 4:04.21 to 4:04.40.
Here is Thomas after the Adrian Martinez mile. Ratcliffe ran brave races at both.
He was sad after the mile at adidas BOOST Boston, but I congratulated him anyway, telling him that he showed guts and spirit in his Dream Mile race!
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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by Larry Eder
