AMERICAN MILERS CLUB SERIES DAY ONE

(Day two recap below)

Olympian Prince Mumba (Zambia) along with two-time U.S. Olympian Robert Gary won their respective events of the 800 and steeplechase on the first day of the American Milers Club High Performance Series on July 6th, in Bloomington, Indiana.

Mumba, followed closely by athletes from the NIKE Farm Team and the Indiana Invaders, won the 800 with a time of 1:47.97. The race went out very aggressively in the first 150 meters as Mumba, Jacob Koczman, and Ricardo Bell (Indiana Invaders) pursued a 1:46 pace but slowed down in the last 100. Invaders' Jacob Koczman, a 2004 Olympic Trials Finalist, ran a season best to take fourth with a time of 1:48.47.

In the 1500, Ryan McKenzie, of the University of Windsor (CAN), came out on top with a winning time of 3:41.23 beating runner-up Olympian Julius Achon, of the Nike Oregon Project. Achon is a five-time World Championships competitor and two-time NCAA mile champion. The 1500 also had an aggressive early pace as several athletes explored 3:36 pace in the first half of the race.

In the 3000 steeplechase, two-time U.S. Olympian Robert Gary, of Reebok, missed the stadium record by half a second with his winning time of 8:26.58 and 12 seconds faster then his time at the US Outdoor Championships qualifying round.

A total of eight athletes bettered the 2005 US Outdoor Championship qualifying standards on the first day of American Milers Club High Performance Series and five athletes ran life time bests.

AMERICAN MILERS CLUB SERIES DAY TWO

Day Two of the American Milers Club High Performance Series was impressive with two sub-3:38 performances in the 1500 and five sub-1:48 performances in the 800. Some of the fastest races on the North American continent this season were produced by NCAA Champions, Olympians, and top Indiana athletes going head-to-head.

Scott McGowan led the charge over the final 600 meters after the early pacesetter stepped of the track as a strong 1500 field pursued "3:36 pace". The final 200 meters had McGowan in a narrow lead with a strong pace but then was nipped at the finish line by Nathan Brannen's time of 3:37.85 to McGowan's time of 3:37.99.

McGowan is this year's US Indoor Champion at 1500 meters. Brannen wins the first race of his professional debut after signing a shoe sponsor contract and forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility at the University of Michigan. AMC Series Day One winner Ryan McKenzie took third with a time of 3:40.05.

The 800 was won by Jebreh Harris with a time of 1:46.77 outgunning Olympian Derrick Peterson (1:47.09) to the finish. Series Day One winner, Olympian Prince Mumba (Zambia), took sixth (1:48.16). Invaders' Jacob Koczman was ninth (1:48.60) and Ricardo Bell was tenth with a career best of 1:48.62.

The finale of the American Milers Club High Performance Series will be on July 12th in Center Grove, Indiana. McGowan returns along with Olympians Julius Achon in the 1500 and Prince Mumba in the 800. Jebreh Harris also returns to defend his series leading 800 meter time of 1:46.77.

In two days of the American Milers Club High Performance Series a total of 21 performances bettered the 2005 US Outdoor Championship qualifying standards (8 on day one, 13 on day two). Additionally, there have been 11 Life Time Best athlete performances and 26 marks that are the equivalent of a "sub-4 Minute Mile" when you include comparisons of the 800 and Steeple.