The HOKA Festival of Miles celebrates the classic mile distance. Now in its 19th year, the HOKA Festival of Miles was begun by Big River Running Company and then by Big River manager Ben Rosario. The event is now a collaboration between HOKA and Big River Running Company.
HOKA celebrates the best high school milers in Missouri and around the U.S. Besides those events, the HOKA Festival of Miles always features strong Pro Miles.
This year, Ellery Lincoln and Jackson Spencer impressed. HOKA and Big River seeded fifteen boys under 4:05 for the mile and fifteen girls under 4:50 for the mile. Their 800 meters were deep as well, with girls under 2:10 and boys under 1:51. The junior high fields were also quite impressive.
Jackson Spencer set a new Meet Record for the HOKA Festival of Miles with his 3:57.24. Spencer went through the 400m in 59 seconds, the 800m in 1:59, and the 1200m in 2:59, running alone in the last, setting his PB for the mile at a fine 3:57.24. Jackson Spencer is to run at BYU once his missionary service is completed (I believe that takes from six months to twenty-four months). Jackson Spencer won both the NIKE Cross nationals and Brooks XC Nationals last fall, won the 5000m and DMR at the New Balance Indoor. Outdoors, Jackson Spencer ran 3200m in 8:31.80 at the Arcadia Invitaitonal and a 13:54.70 solo run for the 5,000 meters indoors. Jackson Spencer is a very talented athlete who has had strong coaching in high school and will be under the tutelage of Ed Eyestone, Director of Track & Field at Brigham Young University. Ed Eyestone is one of the finest coaches in the country. Jackson will be in good hands.
Ellery Lincoln ran the finest mile of her life at the HOKA Festival of Miles. A junior at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon, Ellery ran a fine 4:27.65, a new meet record. Ellery had company with Braelyn Combe, a senior at Santiago High School in Corona, California.
Ellery Lincoln won two titles at the Oregon State meet, winning the 1,500 meters in 4:18.83 and 3,000 meters in 9:30.41, winning by twelve seconds in the 1,500 meters and seventeen seconds in the 3,000 meters. Braelyn Combe won the 800 meters in 2:05.13, the 1,600 meters in 4:35.99, and the 4x800m in 8:46.16 (a new State record with her team) in California. Ellery’s time is the #3 All-Time High school girls’ mile time!
Ellery Lincoln and Braelyn Combe battled until the last furlong, as Ellery pushed away, building a small lead, and moving to a big lead, winning in 4:27.65 to 4:32.41. After the race, Ellery praised Braelyn in an interview with Dawn Harper (gold, Bejing 2008 and silver, London 2012, bronze, Daegu 2011, silver, London 2017). Ellery Lincoln, a junior, is committing to the University of Oregon, and Braeylyn Combe, a senior, is committed to the University of Arkansas. Ellery will be coached by Shalane Flanagan as a Duck, and Braelyn will be coached by Chris Johnson as a Razorback. Both coaches are at the top of their game and will help these athletes grow into their promise.
2026 HOKA Festival of Miles
June 4, 2026, Saint Louis University High Track, Saint Louis University High School, Saint Louis, Missouri
### **2026 HOKA Festival of Miles Results**
*June 4, 2026 | St. Louis University HS, St. Louis, MO*
#### **Championship Elite HS Boys Mile**
1. Jackson Spencer, 3:57.24
2. Carter Smith, 3:59.00
3. Brian Burns, 3:59.70
4. Rocco Culpepper, 4:00.37
5. Andrew Beroset, 4:00.68
6. Abdinasir Hassan, 4:00.90
7. Camden Gibson, 4:02.94
8. Marcelo Mantecon, 4:04.70
9. Máximo Zavaleta, 4:04.92
10. Noah Strohman, 4:07.83
11. Peter Mecham, 4:09.02
12. Jameson Pifer Jr, 4:09.43
13. Quentin Nauman, 4:11.40
14. Jay McDonald, 4:22.66
#### **Championship Elite HS Girls Mile**
1. Ellery Lincoln, 4:27.65
2. Braelyn Combe, 4:32.41
3. Abigail Hennessy, 4:35.14
4. Elin Latta, 4:35.98
5. Kara Glenn, 4:38.68
6. Hallie Heemeyer, 4:39.00
7. Abigail Anstett, 4:40.68
8. Colby McCollum, 4:40.72
9. Gabbie Bishop, 4:40.90
10. Addy Cotter, 4:42.96
11. Sundara Weber, 4:43.72
12. Addison Ritzenhein, 4:43.94
13. Georgy Helmers, 4:43.96
14. Amelia Avila, 4:44.07
15. Chiara Dailey, 4:37.08
#### **Missouri HS Boys Mile**
1. Jackson Miller, 4:05.96
2. Carson Driemeier, 4:06.09
3. Jack McGovern, 4:09.91
#### **Missouri HS Girls Mile**
1. Angelina Cottone, 4:53.79
2. Ella Messner, 4:54.65
3. Tessa Perdue, 4:54.74
4. Grace Murphy, 4:59.08
5. Lily Hurt, 4:59.26
6. Brooke Hedger, 4:59.29
7. Lucy Wright, 4:59.41
8. Makaylin Viet, 5:00.79
9. Jocelyn Haynes, 5:05.59
10. Ellie Lichte, 5:06.15
**ST. LOUIS TRACK CLUB ELITE MEN’S MILE**
1. Isaac Basten, 3:57.01; 2. Kasey Knevelbaard, 3:57.24; 3. Jack Crull, 3:57.37; 4. Craig Engels, 3:57.66; 5. Jaxson Copelin, 3:57.71; 6. Eric Holt, 3:57.83.
**DRURY HOTELS ELITE WOMEN’S MILE**
1. Rachel McArthur, 4:27.91; 2. Christina Aragon, 4:32.02; 3. Flomena Asekol, 4:32.29; 4. Sadie Sargent, 4:32.81; 5. Ella Donaghu, 4:34.41; 6. Claire Green, 4:36.62.
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