Weeks ago, a couple of friends from competing schools had an idea. With both of their collegiate track careers coming to a close, wouldn’t it be cool to break a four-minute mile together?

Michigan senior Lex Williams and Eastern Michigan’s David Brent thought so, and their coaches agreed, so the Washtenaw Invitational Mile was added to the EMU Twilight Invitational. The plan was in place. A pace setter would be used, and the field would consist of runners close enough to the barrier to create an ideal atmosphere for a milestone run.

In the words of Outkast, “You could plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather.”

With a strong, consistent wind that gusted near 30 miles per hour at times Friday night, the pace was slower than expected from the very beginning with the designated pace setter, Luke Pawlaczyk, finishing the first lap in one-minute flat. An ideal pace would have been around 57 seconds.

Brent led at the beginning of the final lap, but Michigan’s Brendon Blacklaws overtook him with a strong push down the home stretch.

Blacklaws’ winning time of 4:07.02, was far from what the runners were hoping to accomplish.

“I didn’t really know how fast we were going, but I knew it wasn’t a four minute pace. With about 200 left I felt pretty good and decided to go for it,” Blacklaws said.

Brent finished in second with a time of 4:09.06, nearly nine seconds slower than his personal best.

“All I was doing was sitting around all day, watching TV and checking the weather,” Brent said. “I didn’t let it get to me because crazy things can happen you get out there and start feeling good even with the wind. We had to give it a shot, which we did, but it took its toll.”

Williams, who finished in fourth with a time of 4:11.98, said the wind took a mental toll as well, as did hearing the higher-than-ideal splits announced over Rynearson Stadium’s public address system.

“I think we were all a little disheartened when we came out and the weather was like it is,” Williams said. “I think that kind of took my head out of it from the start. I was even more disheartened when I heard 3:03 with a lap to go.”

Williams and Brent were both attempting to become the first runner from the state of Michigan (Williams is from Dexter, Brent from Monroe) to run a sub-four minute mile outdoors in Michigan. Four of the other six finishers were Michigan natives as well.

“I tried to remind David that the weather was not ideal when Roger Bannister first broke sub-four, but it wasn’t this bad,” said Eastern coach John Goodridge. “They gave a great effort and that’s what’s important. We’re real proud of all the athletes that came out today, they gave it a good go.”

More details from the EMU Invitational can be found at EMUEagles.com and MGoBlue.com.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com, or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.