Bowerman Mile Explained

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Location:Hayward Field
Eugene, Oregon, United States
Type:Track and field
Distance:One Mile (1,609.344 meters)
Est:2000
Organizer:Prefontaine Classic
Record: Jakob Ingebrigtsen 3:43.73 (2023)

The Bowerman Mile is a prestigious and historic mile race for elite middle distance runners held annually at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

Along with Oslo's Dream Mile and New York's Wanamaker Mile, the Bowerman Mile is among the world's premier track mile races, and one of the few examples of a major international mile race, since the 1500m is the much more common event.[1]

The Bowerman Mile, and the Prefontaine Classic as a whole, is famous for its "Hayward Magic", where the crowds and energy of Hayward Field push competitors to fast times.[2] In fact, between the Bowerman Mile and other mile races held at the University of Oregon, Hayward Field has seen more than 500 sub-four minute mile clockings, the most of any facility in the world.[3]

History

The Prefontaine Classic began in 1973, as a Hayward Restoration meeting. Two years later, the meet was officially founded and was set to be named the "Bowerman Classic" after University of Oregon Coach Bill Bowerman.

However, following Steve Prefontaine's tragic passing in 1975, the meeting's name was switched to the Prefontaine Classic in honor of him.

The Prefontaine Classic has held mile races since 1975, but the Bowerman Mile was not established until 2000, where Bill Bowerman's name would find a place to be honored.[4]

2001: Alan Webb's high school mile record

At the 2001 Prefontaine Classic, Alan Webb competed in the Bowerman Mile against elite international runners, in a field that included world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, and the 2000 Sydney Olympics 1500m bronze medalist Bernard Lagat of Kenya (at the time).

Although El Guerrouj won in 3:49.92, with Kevin Sullivan (3:51.82), Bernard Lagat (3:53.14) and Adil Kaouch (3:53.40) following behind, the young Webb finished in 5th place.[5] Webb ran 3:53.43 and broke Jim Ryun's national high school record of 3:55.3 that had stood for 36 years.[6]

2023: Jakob Ingebrigtsen's mile & 3000m double

In the 2023 Prefontaine Classic & Diamond League Final, on September 16, Norwegian athlete Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the Bowerman Mile, in a time of 3:43.73, with the aid of pacing lights and pacemakers Erik Sowinski & Cameron Myers.

Ingebrigtsen missed Hicham El Guerrouj's mile world record by .60 seconds, still having run the fastest mile in 24 years and the third fastest mile in history at the time.

Ingebrigtsen was closely followed by Yared Nuguse, who finished in an American record time of 3:43.97, breaking Alan Webb's former 2007 American mile record of 3:46.91 by almost three full seconds and running the fourth fastest mile in history at the time.

The race closely mimics El Guerrouj's 1999 world record run in Rome, where El Guerrouj won in 3:43.13, but was being closely tracked by Kenyan athlete Noah Ngeny, who came in second place at 3:43.40. El Guerrouj and Ngeny still hold the first and second fastest mile times respectively as of 2023.

These four men (El Guerrouj, Ngeny, Ingebrigtsen, Nuguse) remain the only ones in history to have run a mile under 3:44.00 as of 2023, with the #5 fastest mile of all time being Noureddine Morceli's 1993 time of 3:44.39.[7] [8] [9]

The next day, Ingebrigtsen would go on to win the 3000 m, in a time of 7:23.63, beating Yomif Kejelcha by only one hundredth of a second. At the time, this ranked Kejelcha at #4 all time and Ingebrigtsen at #3 all time, behind Hicham El Guerrouj's 7:23.09 and Daniel Komen's world record of 7:20.67.[10]

Both of Ingebrigtsen's performances stand as Diamond League Records and are the third fastest performances in their respective event as of 2023.

2024: "The Mile of the Century"

A good benchmark of physical fitness for the approaching 2024 Summer Olympics, and an analogue to the Paris 1500m final, the 2024 Bowerman Mile on 25 May featured the greatest 1500 meter and mile runners in the world today, including Josh Kerr, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Yared Nuguse.[11] This 2024 edition, considering these three athletes and the historically deep field, was billed as the "Mile of the Century".

Kerr won in a new British record time of 3:45.34, eclipsing Steve Cram's previous 1985 record of 3:46.32, with Ingebrigtsen coming second in 3:45.60 and Nuguse in third at 3:46.22.[12]

Annual Champions

Year[13] AthleteCountryTime
Bowerman Mile
2024Josh Kerr3:45.34
2023Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway3:43.73 MR
2022Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway3:49.76
2021Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway3:47.24 MR*
2020Meet Not Held (COVID-19 Pandemic)
2019Timothy Cheruiyot3:50.49
2018Timothy Cheruiyot3:49.87
2017Ronald Kwemoi3:49.04
2016Asbel Kiprop3:51.54
2015Ayanleh Souleiman3:51.10
2014Ayanleh Souleiman3:47.32 MR*
2013Silas Kiplagat3:49.48
2012Asbel Kiprop3:49.40
2011Haron Keitany3:49.09
2010Asbel Kiprop3:49.75
2009Asbel Kiprop3:48.50
2008Shadrack Korir3:50.49
2007Daniel Kipchirchir Komen3:48.28 MR*
2006Bernard Lagat United States3:51.53
2005Alex Kipchirchir3:50.91
2004Alan Webb United States3:50.85
2003Bernard Lagat3:50.21
2002Hicham El Guerrouj3:50.89
2001Hicham El Guerrouj3:49.92 MR*
2000William Chirchir3:51.84
Pre-Bowerman Mile
1999Noah Ngeny3:52.09
1998Daniel Komen3:50.95 MR*
1997Laban Rotich3:52.68
1996David Kibet3:52.28 MR*
1995Steve Holman United States3:52.89 MR*
1994Bob Kennedy United States3:56.21
1993Bob Kennedy United States3:56.71
1992Not Held (Meet had 1500m)
1991Doug Consiglio Canada3:59.80
1990Maurice Smith United States3:57.36
1989Tim Hacker United States4:02.12
1988Joaquim Cruz Brazil3:56.9h
1987Joaquim Cruz Brazil3:56.36
1986Jim Spivey United States3:58.80
1985Not Held (Meet had 1500m)
1984Steve Scott United States3:54.44
1983Tom Byers United States3:53.25 MR*
1982Sydney Maree United States3:54.10 MR*
1981Not Held (Meet had 1500m)
1980
1979Phil Kane United States4:03.1h
1978Not Held (Meet had 1500m)
1977Steve Scott United States3:57.9h MR*
1976Not Held (Meet had 1500m)
1975Lars Kaupang Norway4:01.4h MR*
*All former meet records in the Bowerman Mile are denoted with an asterisk. The current meet record is bolded.

Other "Miles" at the Prefontaine Classic

Source:

Men

The Bowerman Mile is not to be confused with an "International Mile", a race held in conjunction with the Bowerman Mile, from 2010-2018, and in 2021. The meet record for this "International Mile" is held by Thiago Do Rosario Andre of Brazil, with his 2017 clocking of 3:51.99.

In 2015, a high school boys' mile was also held, which was won by Carlos Villarreal of Mexico, in a time of 4:05.25.

In 2004, 2008, 2013, and 2022, a 1500m run was held in addition to the Bowerman Mile. Standalone 1500m races were also held in 1976, 1978, 1980-1981, 1985, and 1992. The fastest 1500m time recorded, not en-route to a mile, was Samuel Tanner of New Zealand's 2022 time of 3:34.37. Otherwise, the fastest 1500m recorded at the Prefontaine Classic was 3:28.90 by Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, en route to his 2023 time of 3:43.73.

Women

As of 2024, there is no Women's Bowerman Mile, with women instead competing in the 1500m run. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya holds the Prefontaine 1500m record, with her 2023 time of 3:50.72.

However, in 1975, 1987-1989, 1991, and 1993, a mile run was held for women instead of the 1500m, with Mary Decker holding the meet record with her 1988 time of 4:21.25.

A high school girls' mile was also held in 2015, won by Ryen Frazier of the United States, in a time of 4:39.84.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Bowerman Mile: Why It Matters . 2024-03-23 . Bring Back the Mile.
  2. Web site: Hayward Magic as world records fall on final session in Oregon News Oregon 22 World Athletics Championships . 2024-03-23 . worldathletics.org.
  3. Web site: 2024-05-25 . Josh Kerr, Jakob Ingebrigtsen clash in Pre’s Mile of the Century . 2024-05-25 . Orange County Register . en-US.
  4. Web site: Prefontaine Classic & Bowerman Mile PLAQUE World Athletics . 2024-03-08 . worldathletics.org.
  5. Web site: 2001 Results - Prefontaine Classic .
  6. Web site: Webb Sets High School Mile Record. .
  7. Web site: Wright . Andy . 2023-09-17 . Bowerman Mile 2023 - Eugene Mile Madness . 2023-11-01 . Meta Endurance . en-GB.
  8. Web site: LetsRun.com . 2023-09-16 . Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:43.73) Tops Yared Nuguse (3:43.97) in Epic 2023 Bowerman Mile . 2023-11-01 . LetsRun.com . en.
  9. Web site: One Mile - men - senior - outdoor . 2023-11-01 . worldathletics.org.
  10. Web site: 3000 Metres - men - senior - outdoor . 2023-11-01 . worldathletics.org.
  11. Web site: Ingebrigtsen, Nuguse & Kerr Set To Headline The Prefontaine Classic’s Bowerman Mile. .
  12. Web site: Programme 2024 . 2024-05-25 . eugene.diamondleague.com.
  13. Web site: Results . 2024-03-23 . The Prefontaine Classic . en-US.