The Pacific Northwest was well-represented by the Crater duo and senior Owen Powell of Mercer Island, Washington, who also set the U.S. high school indoor record of 3 minutes, 56.66 seconds in his race.

In a post-race interview with the three standouts, a genuine mutual respect could be felt as they discussed their historic outings.

“It was hard, but we knew we were super fit,” said Tostenson, “so we came here just to execute.”

“And we got the job done,” added Kitchen. “Three sub-fours in one meet — and not in the same race — so that’s also cool. And with two from one high school and two future (University of Washington) teammates, too.”

That’s when Powell gave an under-the-breath hint about the possibility that there could be more than just two future teammates, in a nod toward Kitchen’s still uncommitted status. Kitchen, who just chuckled at the comment, said last week that he was narrowing down his collegiate choice and hoped to have a decision in the coming weeks.

“I’m really happy how I did myself,” said Powell, “but, like, seeing these two guys run so well, too, that’s just the cherry on top. I’m super thrilled for us to represent right here.”

Powell’s performance provided a precursor for good things to come, with his 3:56.66 not only breaking the high school indoor record but also making him the fourth high schooler ever to dip under 3:57.

Only Alan Webb, Jim Ryun and Colin Sahlman have run faster than Powell for the mile — indoors or outdoors — as high schoolers. Webb holds the long-standing overall U.S. high school mile record in 3:53.43, and Ryun’s 3:55.30 from 1965 has him at No. 2 all-time.

Tostenson and Kitchen didn’t have a trip to Massachusetts necessarily on their radar, but after stellar showings the previous week at the Husky Classic in Seattle, they each decided to test themselves and see what it would be like to run a fresh mile. In double duty with the 3,000-meter run at the Husky Classic, they each also turned in mile results clocking in the 4:02-4:05 range.

Tostenson and Kitchen became the first-ever high school teammates to dip under four minutes in the mile. They ran in the second heat at the BU Terrier DMR Challenge, and got to draw inspiration from Powell’s performance.

That list not only included his running mates, but his Crater head coach in Justin Loftus and all the Comets — and other Southern Oregon runners — that have raised the bar over the years.

Powell became the first high school athlete indoors or outdoors from Washington to go below four minutes in the mile, while Tostenson and Kitchen became the first Oregon runners to accomplish the feat indoors and second and third, respectively, to do so overall from the state.

Matthew Maton, an eventual All-American at the University of Oregon, ran 3:59.38 at the Oregon Twilight meet in 2015 to become Oregon’s first sub-four high schooler.

For added perspective, Tostenson and Kitchen surpassed Galen Rupp (4:01.80) on the all-time, all-conditions Oregon mile list with their efforts in Boston.

The group continues a recent trend of high schoolers clipping off times well ahead of their old-school peers, with enhancements in knowledge for training and racing opportunities boosting the newer crop of distance runners in the U.S.

Fifteen of the top 20 indoor mile times in U.S. high school history have come within the past five years, as have 10 of the top 20 U.S. outdoor performances.

Tostenson and Kitchen will continue their indoor seasons at the upcoming New Balance Nationals Indoor track & field championships set March 13-16 in Boston. That will be the final meet before settling into training for the spring outdoor season, where potential state championships beckon in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters.

Last fall, Tostenson signed an NIL deal with New Balance.

Competing at the Dempsey Indoor Facility in Seattle last week, Kitchen recorded the fastest 3,000 meters ever for a high school boy (indoors or outdoors) when he cruised across the finish line in 7:55.48.

Kitchen broke the previous American record by more than one second, and became the fourth high schooler to ever break eight minutes in the event.

Tostenson followed quickly on Kitchen’s heels to record the fourth-fastest all-conditions time in 7:47.42 — making him the fifth high schooler to eclipse the eight-minute mark.