The overall depth and talent in this year’s boys distance class is one of the strongest in recent memory. Big time performances at the Arcadia Invitational, Penn Relays and handfuls of other meets around the country continue to prove that this year’s class is special.

As Saturday’s Dream Mile approaches, we break down the field, marking the accomplishments of the 15 boys entered in the field.

(in alphabetical order)

Andres Arroyo (Colonial H.S., FL)

March and April were great months for the native of Puerto Rico. Arroyo ran eye opening early season times, running a 4:04.45 1,600m performance in March, while following that up with a US#1 time over 800m, when he ran 1:47.79 at the Florida Relays. To top it off, Arroyo launched an 8:51.47 3,200m solo effort in mid-April. Many wonder whether he peaked too early in the season, while others are marking him as the favorite to take home the Dream Mile gold and break the four minute barrier. What will happen is anyone’s guess.

College: University of Florida

Edward Cheserek (St. Benedicts H.S., NJ)

During the indoor season, Cheserek seemed destined to break national records all season long, turning in one of the finest prep careers in U.S. high school history. After his 8:39.15 indoor two mile performance, Cheserek went quiet. Limited racing leaves questions to be answered. A mile loss to fellow Dream Miler Ben Malone at the Loucks Games, where Malone kicked home to a 4:09.73-4:11.19 victory, shook up the field a bit.

Cheserek came back this past week, running a fine 1:50.84 800m performance at the Essex County Championships. Cheserek had a rough go at the Dream Mile in 2012, looking a bit out of place and finishing a distant 12^th. Obviously he wants to change his fortunes this time around.

College: University of Oregon

Robert Dominic (Hebron H.S., TX)

In one weekend, Dominic propelled himself into one of the top contenders in this weekend’s Dream Mile. At the Texas State Track and Field Championships, Dominic outkicked the competition in the 5A 1,600m final, winning in 4:07.49. The University of Mississippi-bound senior outdid two other Dream Milers in Trevor Gilley and Cameron Villarreal, while winning the 3,200m final as well in 8:57.95. While his state performance was one to remember, he proved his strength two weeks earlier when he ran a 4:11.23/9:04.70 distance double.

College: University of Mississippi

Trevor Gilley (Southlake Carroll H.S., TX)

Dominic’s future University of Mississippi teammate is having a heck of a season in 2013. In early April, Gilley broke 4:10 with a 4:09.24 1,600m effort, coming back at the Arcadia Invitational with a 8:56.07 3,200m performance. Then, on April 20, Gilley broke 4:10 again with a 4:09.67 time. In the 5A final two weeks ago at the Texas State Track and Field Champinoships, Gilley lowered his 1,600m personal best to 4:07.87, losing by less than a half second to Dominic. The two are great at keying off one another and don’t be surprised to see them working together in New York.

College: University of Mississippi

Blake Haney (Stockdale H.S., CA)

One of only two juniors in the field, Haney looks to improve upon his 13^th place finish at the Dream Mile in 2012 and has shown a few times this season that it shouldn’t be an issue. Just this past week, Haney ran a US#11 1,600m time of 4:07.16. This coming off a 8:48.58 3,200m third place performance at the Arcadia Invitational earlier in the season. Haney is a proven competitor and has shown time and again that he’s willing to go head-to-head against the best. He might be a junior in a senior loaded field, but he’s shown he belongs.

College: NA

Ben Malone (Pascack Valley H.S., NJ)

Many considered Malone a top ten favorite for this year’s Dream Mile when the season began. If the past few weeks are any indication, he’s looking to win. Malone has come on strong late in the season, finishing second in the mile at the Penn Relays in a US#2 time of 4:05.59, finishing only behind Sean McGorty’s US#1 4:04.47.

Then, at the Swarthmore Last Chance Qualifier, Malone blitzed a 3:46.97 1,500m performance to finish third in a collegiate field, while coming back to beat Edward Chesrek in the mile at the Loucks Games in 4:09.73. Malone is rolling and like any other sport, generally those who are performing best heading into an event end up doing great things.

College: Villanova University

Sean McGorty (Chantilly H.S., VA)

The Stanford University-bound senior earned attention during the fall as he stomped through the competition in cross country. Coming into the track season, many anticipated McGorty would have a big season and he sure hasn’t let anyone down. A relatively solo 8:46.07 3,200m performance ranks him US#2, while his big-time Penn Relays meet record mile win of 4:04.17 ranks him US#1 heading into Saturday’s contest in New York City. McGorty isn’t known for blazing 400m speed, but he’s shown he’s more than capable of running very consistent and very, very fast.

College: Stanford University

Bernie Montoya (Cibola H.S., AZ)

Last year’s Dream Mile champion returns to defend his title. Montoya threw himself into the national spotlight last spring, winning the Dream Mile while finishing in an incredible 4:01.32 in what is the best prep mile race ever run on U.S. soil. Since then, many have speculated if the Arizona standout can break the four minute barrier and Saturday’s race is lining up to be a test of skill and speed with a 3:59.99 or faster clocking being the goal.

At the Arizona Track and Field Championships a couple weeks ago, Montoya won the 1,600m in 4:05.89, as well as the 800m in a US#2 time of 1:50.19. Earlier in the season, Montoya ran to a second place finish at the Arcadia Invitational over 3,200m, finishing less than two seconds behind race winner Ben Saarel in 8:47.07. His combination of strength and speed make him one of the most versatile athletes in the field.

College: Arizona State University

Connor Mora (Cedar Springs H.S., MI)

While numerous entries in the Dream Mile ran in the biggest and best track meets during the outdoor season, Mora stayed in Michigan, quietly training and racing, preparing himself for the end of the season and a shot at improving his 4:10.28 fourth place mile performance at New Balance Indoor Nationals. The University of Michigan signee ran to an eighth place effort at the Brooks PR Invitational, proving he’s a top ten threat in the Dream Mile.

College: University of Michigan

Garrett O’Toole (Middlesex H.S., MA)

Breakthrough moments define athletes. It’s when they take that next big step and prove to everyone, including themselves, that they belong. Garrett O’Toole’s moment came at the Regis College Pride Invitational, where the Massachusetts star ran 1,500m in 3:53.93. As one of only two juniors in the Dream Mile, O’Toole will gain valuable experience in New York. We're also hearing he's the rabbit, so he'll get some front running experience, too.

College: NA

James Randon (Middlesex H.S., MA)

Randon leaped onto the national stage with his 3:49.43 US#2 1,500m effort at the Brown Springtime Open. It’s not that Randon had not proven himself earlier in the season, he had, with a fifth place, 4:11.12 mile at New Balance Indoor Nationals, but his 3:49.43 coverts to 4:07-high for a mile. A little more fine-tuning and heavier competition should give the Yale-bound senior a chance to push the 4:05 barrier, if not faster.

College: Yale University

Ben Saarel (Park City H.S., UT)

Heading into the season, much of the mile hype surrounded last year’s Dream Mile winner Bernie Montoya, but that talk faded a bit after Saarel outkicked Montoya not once, but twice. Saarel got the best of Montoya at the Arcadia Invitational, winning the 3,200m in 8:45.74, coming back at the Mt. SAC Relays to best Montoya in the mile, 4:08.55-4:09.18. For someone who lives and trains at altitude, Saarel has shown he has a tremendous amount of speed.

Such speed was showcased again last weekend, when Saarel set Utah state records in both the 1,600m and 800m races, winning in 4:07.95 and 1:51.13. Saarel is on a roll and seems unstoppable at this point. Does that mean a sub-4 time in New York City and a big Dream Mile victory?

College: University of Colorado

Jacob Thomson (Holy Cross H.S., KY)

Breaking your state meet 1,600m record is a great way to tune up for the Dream Mile. Thomson, who’s been a leading distance runner in his home state of Kentucky since his freshman year, dominated the field this past weekend, charging home to victory in 4:09.99. His 1,600m performance, along with his solo 9:07.17 3,200m state victory, closed out his in-state prep career on a very high note.

Thomson has proven he’ll be right in the race at the final bell Saturday. His runner-up effort to Tennessee’s Brock Baker at the Eastern Relays, where he ran 4:06.98 to Baker’s 4:06.77 over the mile distance, along with his 8:48.58 fourth place 3,200m Arcadia performance, show he’s primed and ready to run something very fast in New York City.

College: North Carolina State University

Cameron Villarreal (Martin H.S., TX)

Villarreal came up big at the Texas State Track and Field Championships with a third place effort in the 5A 1,600m final, finishing slightly behind 1-2 finishers, and fellow Dream Milers, Robert Dominic and Trevor Gilley, while finishing with a new best of 4:09.24. His state final propelled him to a big performance at the Golden South Classic last weekend, where he won the mile in 4:08.11. With obvious momentum on his side, don’t be surprised to see Villarreal run another PR this weekend…sub 4:07 perhaps.

College: Texas A&M University

Henry Wynne (Staples H.S., CT)

It’d be easy to say Wynne has been overlooked a bit this season, considering he’s stuck mostly to racing in Connecticut the majority of this season, but one needs to remember that Wynne set the tone early nationally with his mile victory at New Balance Indoor Nationals in 4:08.15. Since then, Wynne has quietly racked up solid performances, including a 1:51.87 800m first place finish at the Greater Hartford Invitational two weeks ago. He’s a sleeper in the field for sure, but should not be overlooked.

College: University of Virginia