Simeon Birnbaum makes US history in two-mile run

Every time Simeon Birnbaum breaks a record, or hits a milestone, it’s hard to imagine what’s next. But once again, for the third time in four weeks, he’s making headlines for another run that hits the charts as one of the best all-time in U.S. history.

Simeon Birnbaum, now graduate of Rapid City Stevens, broke the Brooks PR Invitational two-mile meet record in Seattle, Washington this week. Not only did he win his race with an incredible time of 8:34.10, but it’s one of the fastest times ever recorded by a high school runner in the two-mile run.

The only high school runner to run a faster two-mile in the nation’s history was Lukas Verzbicas of Illinois in 2011. Next year, Birnbaum will attend the University of Oregon to continue his running career at the collegiate level. Connor Burns of Missouri, who finished .23 seconds behind Birnbaum in Wednesday’s two-mile run, is also committed to running next year for the Ducks.

At the end of May, Birnbaum broke the South Dakota high school state record held by Rod DeHaven in the 1600m run with a time of 4:02.78. And then two weeks ago, ran a 3:57.53 mile in St. Louis, Missouri during the HOKA Festival of Miles. This was the fourth fastest one-mile time in US history by a high schooler as well.

Birnbaum, despite being a high school graduate, is still considered a high school runner as far as national eligibility.

Last year at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, Washington, Birnbaum became just the third high school junior to run a sub four-minute mile.