Prep standout Drew Hunter competed at the Prefontaine Classic alongside a field of the best milers in the world earlier this year.
The race represented what many Oregon fans expected to be the first of many big performances at Hayward Field from Hunter, who was the top high school runner in the class of 2016 and thought to be one of the best high school runners to come along in decades. In fall of 2015 Hunter committed to spend his collegaite career at the University of Oregon.
However, the next time Hunter runs at Hayward, it won’t be in an Oregon kit.
Per Chris Chavez of Sports Illustrated, Hunter will forgo his collegiate career and run professionally. According to Chavez, Hunter is the first male high school distance runner to turn professional.
“I’m just really excited to take a different route than most people,” Hunter told Sports Illustrated. “It’s unique and will have its learning curve but I’m ready for the adventure ahead. I wrestled with the thought of passing up on the opportunity at Oregon for several months because it was a dream for me. It took me a while to open up to the new option. It was really hard because I love [Oregon cross country] coach [Andy] Powell and there’s no greater program out there.”
Hunter ran a 3:58.86 indoor mile last winter to break the U.S. record set by Allen Webb in 2001. Two weeks later, he reset his record with a time of 3:57.81.
Hunter was slated to join a young core of returning distance runners at Oregon that includes freshman Matthew Maton, sophomore Blake Haney, junior Sam Prakel and junior Travis Neuman. Defending NCAA champion Edward Cheserek is also weighing the possibility of going pro, but could return for his senior season.
“I love the college system,” Oregon associate head coach Andy Powell told reporters at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Friday. “It’s the best way to develop; I think that’s why you see so many runners continue to do well after they leave Oregon… But at the same time, it’s kind of like professional baseball; if you have an offer out there, whatever it is, before college, after college, you just have to weigh the pros and cons.”
Hunter has not yet announced when he will make his professional debut.
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