Jantzen Oshier and Jim Ryun have bonded, and hope to have something in common soon: A 4-minute mile.
Photo by Anne Ryun
As a junior, Oshier made an immediate impact in cross country, finishing seventh in the Division I state meet. During the indoor track season, he was the 1,600 champion – by a wide margin - during the California Invitational in Fresno.
The Mustangs' rising star called his junior track season "sensational. I was undefeated (in the 1,600) until the CIF Masters."
He carved out his first major victory in the prestigious Arcadia Invitational by winning the mile in 4:12.8.
"I was ecstatic," he said. "On the last lap, a hole opened up. I found myself on the outside and just flew. It was the first time I beat Elias Gedyon (Loyola of Los Angeles). It really helped my confidence and showed that I could be one of the top guys."
The state track meet proved to be a disaster, though. During the preliminaries, he got caught on the inside and stepped on the rail, badly injuring his ankle. That ended his title hopes.
Clemons says that his teenage star is a quick healer, has a great attitude and apparently a very high tolerance for pain.
"What amazes me the most is how mature he has been about it," Clemons noted. "He doesn't get blown away by his performance. It's expected, very calculated. He's able to respond from setbacks and comes back very well. His personality is special to me. He's got to be the nicest kid I've ever met."
His ability to rebound never was more apparent than one week later when he heavily taped his ankle and ran a personal-record 4:10 mile to place fourth at the Portland (Ore.) Track Festival.
Oshier is the first to admit that his senior cross country campaign was disappointing, even though he placed 22nd in the Foot Locker Nationals.
"I didn't compete very well," he said honestly. "I never got my brain back into it. It was kind of like I wanted to get through it and go on to track."
Clemons believes that Oshier's intense love for the mile was the root of the problem. "He lives and breathes that race," he pointed out.
As soon as he reached the indoor track season, Oshier sprung to life by winning the mile at the first annual Brook Invitational in Seattle. His time of 4:07 was a personal record. He, indeed, was back on track – no pun intended.
Outdoors, he also ran 4:07 to win the qualifier for the Jim Ryun Dream Mile. He repeated as Arcadia mile champion in another PR of 4:06.81. His most recent triumph was an outstanding nation-leading 4:04.24 clocking in the 1,600 during the Orange County Championships.
Working on speed during a couple dual meets, he clocked an outstanding 48.1 for 400 meters and 1:52 for 800 meters. All of these meets ultimately are preparing him for the possibility of becoming the fifth high school runner to crack the coveted 4-minute mile barrier.
Oshier calls meeting legendary Jim Ryun "one of the most inspiring things I've ever done. He's really humble about everything he's ever done. He's very spiritual and a huge role model (for me) now. Suddenly I've re-found a connection and have a new purpose in my running. I feel like God really has been helping me. My goal is to inspire people."
Ryun, who runs Christian-oriented camps (Ryunrunning.com), said, "I reminded him that God gives us great talents. He has a platform and don't be afraid to point people to the right things in life."
Oshier and defending champion Lukas Verzbicas – along with 10 other qualifiers - could push each other to a great clocking when the Dream Mile is held on June 11 at Randall's Island in New York City. Ryun's personal goal is to see more prep runners join the list of sub-4-minute milers.
He projected, "That will help usher in the next generation of middle distance runners."
"It's definitely in his future," Clemons said of Oshier's quest to break the 4-minute barrier. "He shows me he's got that potential. He's got the innate speed, ability and unmatched work ethic. The sky is the limit."
Oshier reasons, "Until it's done, it's just talk. It's a huge mental barrier. My goal is simply to run as fast as I can."
Regardless of his athletic accomplishments, the University of California recruit, who also loves surfing, skating and playing his guitar, will continue following his life-long philosophy.
"My father (Jud Oshier) bought me a running journal when I was 7. He wrote on the inside cover, ‘Run faster with love in your heart.'''
