Sam Tanner continues streak by winning the New Zealand national mile crown...

WHANGANUI, New Zealand--University of Washington redshirt freshman Sam Tanner (photo by Mark Roberts, Athletics New Zealand) continued his roll by winning the New Zealand national mile title Saturday night at the Cooks Classic.

The 20-year old picked up his second national title in a week, adding the mile to the 3000 meter crown that he won last week in Hastings.

Tanner destroyed the field with a scintillating burst of speed to carve almost three-and-a-half seconds from his personal best and clock 3:54.97, which is currently the fastest time in the world so far this young season.

It was a performance which lifted the youngster to eighth on the all-time New Zealand lists for the distance – ahead of former Olympic medallists Sir Murray Halberg, John Davies and Dick Quax – and inside the top ten mile performances ever seen at this historic venue.

“It is such an honor to win the New Zealand mile title, I had been looking forward to it and I’m really proud of how I performed – I can’t complain with a 3:54 mile,” an elated Tanner said post-race.  

“I’m so stoked and blessed to be in the country for what was my last race before I fly back out to the US tomorrow,” added Tanner, who will now return to Seattle to rejoin his University of Washington teammates, and in all probability makes him the early favorite to take the NCAA indoor title.

Had that mark been performed indoors, Tanner would move up to number 2 on the UW all-time list. It would also be a Washington school outdoor record. It is believed to be the first time a UW undergrad has broken 4 minutes in the mile outdoors.

Courtesy of Athletics New Zealand, here is Tanner's race (go to 2:17:00 mark).

Results of the Cooks Classic meet are available here. The Athletics New Zealand meet recap is available here.

NOTE: Athletics New Zealand contributed to this report.

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