Mercer Island High School’s swift-footed senior runner Owen Powell recently experienced epic back-to-back weekends that resulted in record-breaking mile times on east and west coast indoor courses.

Over mid-winter break, Powell first entered previously untrodden territory by notching the first-ever sub-four minute mile time for a Washington state high-schooler. With his stunning mark of 3:57.74 at the University of Washington Husky Classic on Feb. 15, he broke Olympian Gerry Lindgren’s record of 4:01.50 set in 1964.

If that wasn’t enough, Powell then travelled to Massachusetts to break a national high school mile record at the Boston University DMR Challenge on Feb. 21. The Islander’s dazzling time of 3:56.66 snapped Olympian Hobbs Kessler’s indoor record of 3:57.66 set in 2021.

MI coach Susan Empey was blown away by Powell’s performances on consecutive weekends.

“He’s well set up for a great spring track season and has plenty more goals to chase,” Empey said. “What makes Owen special is that while he is clearly talented, he is also a very wise, hard working and fun athlete to coach. He listens, processes, and then acts on what you say and 99% of the time hits exactly what you tell him to do.”

On the prep scene over the last few years, Powell — who was the 2023-24 Gatorade Washington Boys Track & Field Player of the Year — has won a pair of 3A state championships in the 1,600-meter run, two 3A state cross country titles and a 3A state 800-meter run crown.

Next fall, Powell will attend the University of Washington and compete under the tutelage of his parents and Husky coaches, Andy and Maurica.

Powell reflected on his two weekends of races upon returning to the Island.

“It feels pretty good right now. Even though it’s a couple of days after, I’m still right on that high, for sure,” Powell said. “I’ve been working hard, not only these last couple of weeks, but I think the years since I started high school.”

The athlete said his consistent training has been building up into this whirlwind of success, and he’s been dialed into his running more than ever since it’s his senior year.

Running the sub-four mile so close to home and at his future university made for a special day for Powell.

“It was cool there. ‘Cause then my parents are there, too. My coach is there. A lot of my teammates and friends and I’m glad that happened in there,” said Powell, who added that it was a tough race to conquer amidst a field of college runners.

“I really feel like some of those guys were a lot bigger than I was,” he continued. “I felt like I was getting pushed around a bit, but I did the same thing that race I try to do every race, which is just try my best. Give a hundred percent effort. Empty the tank, basically.”

In the race against college and pro runners in Boston, Powell said that since he already achieved a sub-four time a week earlier, that second event felt like a low-risk, high-reward competition.

“I think that really took a lot of the stress and the nerves off. So I was able to just do the same thing I did the week before. Just go out there, run as hard as I can and just ended up being a little faster that day,” he said.

Powell’s younger brother Jake, 14, is an eighth-grade runner at Islander Middle School and gains inspiration watching his sibling tear up the track.

“It gives me something to look forward to and try to beat when I’m his age. I think it’s always just so fun to just see him run,” said Jake, adding that the immense support from Owen’s family and friends drives the MI senior to succeed.

And then there’s the Powells’ cats, Meatball and Scrappy, who are always waiting for Owen to return home. Jake said the cats keep Owen going and he’s happy to be back in their presence after running up a storm and breaking records.