Drew & Lyell Both Run 4:04.6 at Clemson's Indoor Mile

Ryan Drew (striped singlet)

Patrick Lyell leading heat two.

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Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Patrick Lyell and Ryan Drew returned to Clemson's Indoor Track Facility three weeks after placing first and second in Clemson Orange and Purple meet. Less than .07 seconds separated them then as Lyell won in 4:06.76 with Drew next at 4:06.82 Things were a somewhat different today as Drew was in heat one of four, while Lyell was seeded first in the second heat. 

Drew had to follow the field as the early leaders sped through the first 409 meters in a quick 57.7 (sub-3:50 mile pace). Although he had moved up in the field by 809 meters (2:00.61) a gap had opened as the leading pacer split 1:58.93. The early pace may have taken a toll as Drew's final 200 meters of 31.69 was his slowest lap of the race. His final time of 4:04.62 placed 11th overall among the four heats which included over 40 competitors. 

The second heat was a different story as Lyell took the lead from the starter's gun and passed 409 meters in 1:00.22 and 809 meters at 2:01.35. After leading through 1009 meters (2:31.98) Patrick ran the 6th lap in 31.43, which was his slowest of the eight circuits. He closed in 30.14 to place 3rd in the heat and 12th overall with a time of 4:04.65. 

Interestingly, after only being separated by .06 seconds three weeks ago, the difference between the training partners was even closer today, with a difference of .03 seconds--even though they were in separate heats. 

Ryan Drew and Patrick Lyell prepping for their races.

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Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is well into its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. The program developed and produced one participant for the 2024 Olympic Games marathon in Paris; four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles; one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in Lima, Peru; three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA; one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase in Eugene, OR;  three qualifiers for the 2024 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Orlando, FL and currently two for the 2028 Olympic Trials Marathon. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. GTC-ELITE  produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year and recently had the top two ranked South Carolina road racers for 2024.

​The program is sponsored and supported by the 54-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.​