Ryan Deak launches 2002 indoor track season

By David Yon
The indoor track and field season is off to a roaring start and while there is much news at the adult level, the Midwest Indoor Track Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska provided the setting for Ryan Deak to create some early season excitement for high school track. Ryan had planned his race around a strong finish and executed the strategy almost perfectly. Well perfectly might have been .02 seconds and a lean faster. According to the report on Dye Stat and confirmed by father Bob, Ryan flew over the last 200 meters of the two mile race in 28-29 seconds to set a new PB of 9:14.53, a mere fraction behind winner Chris Solinsky who finished in 9:14.51. Ryan was closing fast and just missed catching the winner who was “fading” with a 31.8 last 200. Ryan talked about his race plans on the Dye Stat page: “My strategy was to go out in 4:40, run 69s for 1200, then 65 the last 400, regardless of the competition,” he said. “I felt I had to stick to my game plan. If you do the times, the places will come.” The result was very impressive.

Ryan’s time was fast enough to make him the 6th fastest finisher for two miles based on the Dye Stat list as of February 7, 2002. His previous best two mile time was 9:29; although he also ran a 9:19 3200 meter race (probably equal to a 9:23 two mile). One report suggested his time may be in the top 25 all time for the two mile distance in the state. Number four on that list is a familiar name – Herb Wills, who ran 9:00.9 for Leon High School in 1977. The state record for two miles is 8:53.1 held by Brett Hoffman. Ryan is now running for Lincoln High School after many years at Maclay.