Good things must come to an end, and even though we feel like we just got started here in Canada, the Harry Jerome Track Classic will mark the end of our journey up North. We’ve already seen meet records go down in Edmonton, and watched in Victoria as several studs from NCAAs and USAs continued their upward trajectory.

On Thursday in Vancouver, a Miracle Mile has been assembled that will feature some of the biggest names in Canada as well as an American field that is headlined by Chris Derrick and AJ Acosta. Of course, sub-4 is the goal, but this group has higher aspirations, as the winner of the mile will receive $6000 plus an extra $4000 if he can run under 3:56. All that adds up to a thrilling nightcap in what will by yet another exciting evening of track and field in the NTL series. Here are some names to watch in the Harry Jerome Miracle Mile.
 

Nate Brannen

 

You can’t have a Miracle Mile in Canada and not talk about two-time Olympian Nate Brannen. Brannen most recently won the 1500 at the Canadian championships in 3:42.50, and he boasts a lifetime best of 3:52.63 in the mile. You may remember that Brannen took down the Canadian indoor record for 1k at the BU Last Chance meet in March in a time of 2:16.86. Brannen also won the 1500 at Harry Jerome last year, and enters the mile tonight as one of the favorites.

 

Chris Derrick

 

Chris Derrick doesn’t always race the mile, but when he does…wait, Chris Derrick almost never races the mile. In fact, we think that this might be Derrick’s first outdoor mile ever as a pro, and first time in over a year racing anything shorter than 3,000m. The Bowerman TC athlete last ran the 1500 at Oxy 2013, where he set his PR of 3:39.45.

Derrick is coming off a 2nd place finish in the 10k at USAs where he led for the latter half of the race before succumbing to the overwhelming speed of Galen Rupp in last lap. Derrick will use the Miracle Mile to test his speed and prepare for the Heusden 5k on July 19th.

 

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot

 

For our purposes, let’s just call the next athlete ‘Charles’, because wow, what a name. The French-Canadian took 2nd in last month’s Canadian championships, right behind Nate Brannen, and is coming off a win in Victoria.

Charles ran his personal best of 3:38.55 at Oxy in May where he finished right behind fellow Canadian Cam Levins. While there may be more recognizable names in tonight’s field, Charles has shown excellent recent form and should be among those vying for the win.

 

AJ Acosta & Eric Avila

 

Eric Avila broke 4 minutes in the mile for the first time last month in San Diego, smashing that barrier by running 3:56.89. Avila was a NAIA star at Southern Oregon, and he showed promise for the future by making the final at USAs and placing 10th in 3:41.29. Avila enters Harry Jerome after running a PR of 1:48 in Victoria.

Editor's Note: GIVE THEM THE BEAK.

 

AJ Acosta was 2nd behind Avila at that race in San Diego. The former Oregon Duck placed 6th at USAs, and has shown much better form recently after struggling in his transition from college to pro. Acosta holds a 3:36 lifetime best, and will most certainly be in the mix over the final lap tonight.

 

A big run from either Avila or Acosta could result in a victory for either, and if they run like they did in San Diego, that $10,000 prize money could be in danger.

 

The Harry Jerome Track Classic will be LIVE on Flotrack starting at 5:35 (PT) on Thursday.