Casey Runs Mile in Under Four Minutes to Break Montana State Record

1/29/2010 9:11:51 PM | Track & Field

By: Chris Syme

Montana State sophomore Patrick Casey ran a lightning-fast time in the mile of 3:59.17 (alititude adjusted) to gain a provisional bid to the NCAA National Track and Field Championship in March, and break the all-time record in the event at Montana State. The mark puts him eighth on the Big Sky Conference All-Time list. He lapped two runners in the race at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman Friday night. Casey becomes the only collegiate runner in Montana history to run a sub four-minute mile on Montana soil.

“I didn't plan on going out that fast, but it felt good, so I kind of went with it” Casey said. “It's awesome and now I'm going to try and improve on what I just ran, so it's exciting.”

Casey, a University Studies major from Laurel, ran a Big Sky Conference qualifying time in the 800 at 1:52.66, winning that race as well. He qualified for the conference meet in the 3000-meters and 5000-meters last week.