By 605 Sports Staff

EUGENE, OR — Rapid City Stevens junior Simeon Birnbaum wrapped up his junior season with a second place finish in the 800-meter run (1:50.12) at the Nike Outdoor meet in Eugene Oregon. 

Birnbaum was near the back of the pack early but moved into the top-five on the second of the two laps. Zane Bergen, the athlete who finished second to Birnbaum in the Brooks PR Invitational mile run earlier in the week, won the race with a time of 1:49.04.

Birnbaum’s time (1:50.12) is the fastest time ever run by a South Dakota prep athlete breaking the 1:50.50 set by Sioux Falls Lincoln athlete Jim Reinhart in 1973. 

Prior to the race, commentators noted that Birnbaum’s 3:59.51 mile run earlier in the week is the only sub-four minute mile in US history run by a 16-year old. 

Birnbaum finishes his junior campaign holding state records in the 800-meter run, (mile run - 1,600 meter run), 3,200 meter run and Sprint Medley relay.