Simeon Birnbaum, one of the best high school athletes in state history, wrapped up his historical prep running career on Saturday in Sioux Falls during the 2023 state track and field meet.
His final curtain call was the 1600m run, an event that he’s impressed in over the years. As a junior, he became just the third high school junior in the nation's recorded history to run a sub-4 minute mile, and on Saturday, he ran the 1600, which is technically about 9.3 meters shorter than an actual mile, at 4:02.78.
Saturday’s run wasn’t just impressive to the thousands of fans watching from Howard Wood Field, but it also broke legendary South Dakota long distance runner Rod DeHaven’s state meet record in the event set in 1984. DeHaven’s record in the 1600 at the state meet was 4:09.8.
“It was kind of like… I’m not going to say that emotional, but it was probably one of the most emotional days I’ve had running,” Birnbaum said. “Just because, it is my last day in a Stevens uniform, it’s the last day probably running in South Dakota, maybe my last race in South Dakota ever, so I just have to try to cherish this moment, and I’m sure it’ll live in my memories.”
When Birnbaum rounded the final turn at Howard Wood Field, fans began to rise to their feet to show appreciation for one of the greats.
Simeon Birnbaum's final curtain as a SD high school runner. #SDTrack23 #sdpreps pic.twitter.com/opXD2K4pN8
— SDPB Sports (@SDPBSports) May 27, 2023
“I wasn’t really thinking of anything other than a normal race, like I don’t really remember much of what goes on during a race, but I was moving my eyes over, looking over at the crowd a little bit, but I was looking at the crowd, looking at the time, I was just kind of being in the moment and trying to almost take a mental picture,” exclaimed Birnbaum. “This will be the last time I race as a high schooler in South Dakota.”
A year ago, Birnbaum announced his commitment to run in college for the Oregon Ducks.
“A new opportunity with teammates. I haven’t been able to run really hard workouts with anyone since middle school,” he said as he chuckled. “Learning from the best of the best at Oregon, so I’m excited to just get beat, to push myself to places I’ve never been before.”
Oregon has a phenomenal program, one of the best in the country, with cross country and track & field.
“We’ve got some crazy good freshmen coming in,” Birnbaum stated. “We’re going to be a powerhouse in cross-country I think for the next couple of years. I think straight away we’re going to have some guys who are really going to make a name for Oregon, like present day Oregon, on the track.”
His aspirations extend even higher than the collegiate slate however. Birnbaum will admit, he’s got higher goals for himself in the coming years.
“I’ve never been shy to say that I want to be in Paris in ’24, and I’ll [be aiming] for a medal in [’28 Olympics in LA], hopefully,” he said. “It’s not often you get to have the Olympics in your home country, so I want to take advantage.”
But Birnbaum also understands his South Dakota roots and the memories and accomplishments he’s had here. From the multiple individual state championships, and to the records he holds, he’s leaving quite a legacy behind. It’s the relationships, however, that he says he’ll never forget.
“It's probably been the most eventful time of my life so far. I guess that's not saying much as a teenager, but the memories, the teammates, probably the best memories will happen off the track,” Birnbaum exclaimed. “It was a really great go, and my coach, Coach [Jesse Coy] and my teammate Grady Loos and all the people throughout the years, they really make running what it is to me.”
