The race at Drake was better, overall, IMO. Pollard dominated most of this race and the atmosphere was still fantastic while that was going on, but the entire second half of the Drake race was a free for all between the top four guys. This one didn't get interesting in terms of a battle for first until the final lap, which was the best lap of a 2-mile I've ever seen. Austin really kicked it into gear when he got to the bell, and he also broke the previous record. Meier damn near got under the 9-minute mark, as well.
Distance running in the state is at its absolute peak right now. We'll never see a group like this come through at the same time again. Austin, Meier, Pollard, Melchert, Evans on the boys side and Jenks and Topham for the girls. It's mind-blowing just how many truly elite distance runners there are in the state right now.