Dave Polgar - 4:17.83

When David Polgar ran 4:17.83 at the BU meet, there was a small but significant shifting of the the universe of Mass. high school running. Breaking 4:20 for the first time is always a big deal, but Polgar's run was about more than besting a numerical barrier. With that time, run early in the season off limited speedwork, Polgar staked his claim as the favorite to repeat as Mass. State indoor mile champion, achieved national attention as he tries to earn a berth in the Millrose Games HS mile, and probably achieved his goal of increasing the value of college scholarships he might be offered.

Of course, David Polgar is already a legend at Newton North for his talent as a runner, his prodigious appetite for junk food, his dreadlocks, his competitive fire, his generous personality, his leadership abilities... oh, and did I mention the dreadlocks? On any other stage, David Polgar would long ago have been the star attraction, but for three years he has run in the shadow of Chris Barnicle, and so this larger-than-life figure has, amazingly, remained somewhat unpublicized. But no more.

Polgar's national reputation actually began with his 3:05 1200 meter leg at the Penn Relay's last year. That was a revelation to those who thought that Newton North was "Barnicle plus three other guys." Now Polgar has an early mark in the mile that should put him in the top 5 in the US. The question is, can he bring that time down, and by how much?

Last year, 25 HS runners ran 4:17 or better indoors, but only 14 ran 4:16 or better. Improving by even a couple of seconds would be huge. It looks like Polgar will have his chances. Rumor has it he is planning to run in the Hispanic Games at the NY Armory on January 7th. Should he win that race, Polgar would earn an automatic entry into the Millrose Games HS mile, and a chance to run in Madison Square Garden. Of course, Barnicle won the Millrose HS mile last year.

Is it possible for Polgar to eclipse Barnicle's lifetime 1M best of 4:11.93? Although it's only six seconds, it looms as a large gap for Polgar to close. After all, Barnicle ran that time as a junior and never broke it as a senior. Barnicle also ran 4:16.58 as a sophomore (losing to Victor Gras in the State Indoor championships). It might not seem like much to improve six seconds with a whole season in front of you, but it is a formidable task. For now, Polgar is focused on training hard, staying healthy, and taking his shots. It's working out well for him so far, and it's nice to see him finally getting the recognition he deserves.