Kejecha's Magnificant Mile Pulls Pilot Runner Into History

by Harry Cummins

     Two-time IAAF World Champion Yomif Kejelcha ran the fastest mile ever run this early in a calendar year when he won the University of Washington Indoor Preview Mile last Saturday in a   sensational clocking of 3:52.61.

     Kejelcha, an Ethiopian who currently trains as part of the Beaverton-based Nike Oregon project, also won the 1,000 meter race held just 50 minutes earlier, holding off Olympian Clayton Murphy to cap an amazing double. His time in the mile was easily the fastest clocking in the world this year and established a new Dempsey indoor facility record as well.

     The University of Portland redshirt senior Logan Orndorf finished 5th behind Kejelcha, stopping the watch at 3:59.94 to become the first Pilot in UP history to run a sub-four minute mile. He surpasses the 2014 indoor mile mark set in 2014 of 4:01.28 by Ryan Poland.