Sub 4 in Sub 4: Andrew Dusing

Hello once again everyone! We are back at it after our summer vacation, and much like the post office, trying to make sure we're able to deliver the goods to you fine folks, no matter what!

The pantheon of Wisconsin's sub-4 milers is filled with names like Hacker and Solinsky, whose ascent into such hallowed performances seemed all but certain at an early age. Some of the more recent additions to the club have not been state champions or the most highly touted recruit in their graduating class. This week's episode comes to us from someone who wasn't even the best middle distance runner on their own high school team.

In 2012, the Brookfield Central Lancers set the boys 4x800m state record to upset an incredibly deep field for the D1 title. The anchor leg carry of junior Carl Hirsch, unofficially timed at under 1:50, in addition to his commanding victories in the 1600 and 3200 were the talk of the weekend. The following year, Hirsch literally fell just short of pulling off the elusive 3200-1600-800 triple crown. It would take a state record performance from Eric Brown to defeat Hirsch, who hit the track just steps before the finish line. In addition to Brown, Hirsch's Lancer teammate Andrew Dusing crossed before Hirsch willed himself across the finish line in third place.

The Lancers had a dominant distance squad on the track, but the name Andrew Dusing did not appear on their cross country roster (He played volleyball). Dusing, who had carried the baton in the lead leg for the record setting BC relay, went on to attend college and compete for the University of Miami (Ohio), a program who did not sponsor men's indoor track & field. He would go on to be a First-Team NCAA Division 1 All-American, run 3:40 for 1500m, and spoiler alert, break 4:00 in the mile.