Lassiter shoots
for ‘sub-four’

That's what it has taken
to win the men's title in the
Waikiki Mile

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

For Seneca Lassiter, being in Hawaii for the first time and in the same racing field as his boyhood idol, Ireland's Marcus O'Sullivan, is a bit overwhelming.

''When I was young, I used to watch him run on TV and I was like, man, four-minute miles. How can anybody do that?" Lassiter said. "It's kind of funny seeing guys you used to look at in awe and you're running against 'em now."

But O'Sullivan and some of the other guys Lassiter looks up to see the 20-year-old fresh-faced Native American from the University of Arkansas as a genuine threat in tomorrow's fourth Nike P.L.A.Y. Waikiki Mile.

The women's race starts at 3:45 p.m., followed by the men's race at 4. The races will start and finish at the corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues.

''The biggest problem I've had with Seneca is trying to keep him back," Arkansas head coach John McDonnell said in a Track and Field News article in July.

He is the first man to win the NCAA and U.S. 1,500-meter outdoor titles in the same year since Sydney Maree did it in 1985. But Lassiter hasn't run under four minutes in the mile, a mark always bested by the winner at Waikiki.

Defending champion Graham Hood of Canada finished in 3:59 here last year, and O'Sullivan has 98 outdoor and indoor "sub-fours" in his career. He's broken four minutes twice at Waikiki.

Americans Steve Holman, Bob Kennedy and Steve Ave and Kenya's Martin Keino are other runners in the field with sub-four credentials.

But a look at Lassiter's progress over the past few years indicates the four-minute dam could break at any time.

In 1995, as a senior at Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Va., his personal bests in the mile and 1,500 meters were 4:08.62 and 3:53.21, respectively. This year, his bests are 4:01.30 and 3:38.85.

''I suppose anything is possible," Lassiter said when asked if he thinks he can break the magic number.

O'Sullivan agreed.

''It's only a matter of time before he does it," he said. ''Can he do it here? I don't know, but it's possible."

Lassiter, who raced three times on the European circuit -- winning in Stockholm -- said his long-term goal is to break Maree's U.S. record in the 1,500 (3:39.77).

''Right now, coach McDonnell says he's going to try to get me down to 3:33," he said.

Lassiter admits he can be impetuous in competition. He said he failed to heed McDonnell's advice to go out in the top 35 at the recent 10-kilometer NCAA cross country championships, and finished well back in the field.

''I went out too hard and learned," he said.

Canada's Kevin Sullivan, a University of Michigan product, is also dangerous. Sullivan was second at the NCAA cross country event, covering 5 kilometers in 14 minutes, 10 seconds.

''That's 20 seconds faster than he has run on the track or the road," said Toni Reavis, the host of a syndicated racing show. ''And Lassiter was doing quarters (400 meters) at 58.00, 58.00, and 59.00 just a few days ago before he got here.

''These college kids are just in sharper shape."

But Lassiter said there are a lot of unknowns in the Waikiki Mile.

''I've raced Kevin, Steve and Bob, but I never raced Graham, and as far as the other guys in the field, I never raced 'em either."

Kennedy, the American record holder in the 5,000 meters, finished second in the U.S. cross country championships Sunday. Hood is coming off the Canadian cross country championships.

American Rich Kenah also can't be counted out. Kenah won bronze medals in the 800 meters at the world indoor championships in Paris in March and the world outdoor championships in Athens in August.

''If I'm close with 50 meters to go, the 800 runner in me may help," Kenah told Running Stats editor Paul Christman.

Sullivan said he is concerned with Kenah's kick. He also said he is impressed by the overall balance for the race.

''The men's race, I think, is better balanced than the women's race," he said.

Nike P.L.A.Y. Waikiki Mile men's field Steve Holman (U.S.): Only American among world's top 10 at 1,500. 7th world in mile. 4th best U.S. time in 1,500 (3:31.52), 6th best U.S. time in mile (3:50.40). Bob Kennedy (U.S.): record holder at 5,000, 3,000 and 2 miles. One of only two non-Africans to break 13 minutes at 5,000 meters (12:58.21). Seneca Lassiter (U.S.): First man since Sydney Maree to win NCAA and USATF 1,500-meter championships in same year (1997). 2nd-ranked U.S. in 1,500. Marcus O'Sullivan (Ireland): Has more sub-4-minute miles than any other active miler. Irish record holder in mile. 14th-ranked world in mile. 2-time sub-4-minute runner-up in Waikiki Mile (1994-95). Graham Hood (Canada): Defending Waikiki Mile champion. Top-ranked Canadian in 1,500. Owns Canadian 1,500-meter record (3:51.55). 13th-ranked world in mile. Martin Keino (Kenya): 1995 NCAA 5,000 champion. Son of former mile great Kip Keino beat his father's personal best of 3:53.1 with a 3:52.33. Has personal best of 3:33.0 at 1,500 meters.. Kevin Sullivan (Canada): 1997 NCAA national cross-country runner-up for Michigan. 3rd in 1994-95 Waikiki Mile races (3:59.52/4:00.31). Set Canadian 1,500-meter record (3:35.19) in 1997. Moses Kigen (Kenya): 3rd in 1996 Waikiki Mile (3:59.66). Ran 3:36.38 this year at 1,500 meters in Qatar. Stephen Kipkorir (Kenya): 3rd in Kenyan national 1,500-meter championships in 3:37.00. But has 3:31.87 personal best at 1,500 meters. David Lelei (Kenya): Newcomer with little international competitive experience but clocked strong 3:33.83 at 1,500 meters in Italy this year. Steve Ave (U.S.): Pacemaker. Has a 3:56.50 personal best in the mile and 3:38.91 at 1,500 meters.