Heath Wins U.S. Road Mile Title

Former Stanford star Garrett Heath ’09 captured the USA 1 Mile Road Championship on Tuesday night in cold and breezy conditions in downtown Des Moines.

Heath ran 4:02.79 to set a course record in winning the fourth annual Grand Blue Mile. Heath edged Jeff See (4:02.91), with 2012 Olympic 1,500-meter silver medalist Leo Manzano (4:03.59) in third.

Heath and Manzano took out the pace, only for Brian Gagnon to seize the lead at the half-mile. Manzano later went ahead, only to be passed by See and Heath down the homestretch.

Heath, a former All-American at Stanford, claimed the $5,000 purse and an extra $2,500 for setting a new course mark in the fourth annual race.

In the women’s race, two-time race champion Sara (Bei) Hall ’05 finished second in 4:43.61. Hall took the lead at the three-quarter mile mark. Hall ran stride for stride with Kate Grace, but ultimately was unable to keep pace with Grace, who pulled away in the final meters, to win in 4:43.02.

Heath, a nine-time All-America and former Stanford assistant coach, is scheduled to return to The Farm on Sunday to run the 5,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Cobb Track and Angell Field.

Hall, a six-time All-America at Stanford, also is scheduled to run at the Payton Jordan, in either the 1,500 or 5,000.