SI High School Athlete of the Month: Mikey Brannigan

SI High School Athlete of the Month: Mikey Brannigan

Ali Fenwick

Mikey’s parents, coaches and a trio of world class athletes were on hand to congratulate the Northport High senior and defending national outdoor two-mile champion as he was handed a framed copy of the SI issue in which he was featured. From left to right: Parents Edie and Kevin Brannigan, NBC commentator and Olympic decathlete, Dan O’Brien, Mikey Brannigan, Rolling Thunder coach and founder Steve Cuomo, Northport High coach Jason Strom, Olympic medalist, five-time world champ and American record holder in seven middle-distance events, Bernard Lagat, former world champ, Eamonn Coghlan, known as the “Chairman of the Boards” for his indoor track success, and SI/SI.com executive editor B.J. Schecter.

Ali Fenwick

Mikey Brannigan, one of the top high school middle distance runners in the U.S., and track legend Bernard Lagat, one of the top middle-distance runners in the world, share a moment in a cool down lap at the end of the 108th annual NYRR Millrose Games.

Ali Fenwick

After the NYRR Millrose Games concluded, Mikey Brannigan, right, ran a few cool-down laps with pro runner Will Leer, winner of last year’s Wanamaker Mile.

Ali Fenwick

Bernard Lagat congratulates Mikey Brannigan as Mikey’s high school coach looks on.

Ali Fenwick

Steve Cuomo, coach and founder of Rolling Thunder, a special needs running club based in Long Island, chats with Eamonn Couglin, Irish senator and seven-time winner of the Millrose Games’s Wanamaker Mile. Rolling Thunder is expanding into a national program this year, with plans to open chapters in other cities across the U.S.

Ali Fenwick

Mikey, holding his framed issue, would go on to turn in a 4:12.69 in the boys’ high school invitational New Balance Mile later that evening, a personal best and good for third place.

Ali Fenwick

Mikey Brannigan and Bernard Lagat discuss their respective races at night’s end. An eight-time Wanamaker Mile champ, Lagat finished fourth in the men’s race but shattered Eamonn Coghlan’s previous masters’ indoor mile world record (3:58.15 set in 1994) with a 3:54.91 finish.