List of American high school students who have run a four-minute mile explained

This is a list of American high school students who have run a four-minute mile since the feat was first accomplished in 1964.

The first person to run the mile (1,760 yards, or 1,609.344 metres) in under four minutes was Roger Bannister in 1954, in a time of 3:59.4.[1] This barrier would not be broken by a high school student until 1964, when Jim Ryun ran the distance in a time of 3:59.0 at the Compton Relays.[2] Ryun went on to set a national high school record of 3:55.3, which stood until 2001 when it was broken by Alan Webb.[3] Twenty-three U.S. high school students have run the mile in less than four minutes since 1964.

U.S. high school mile record holders

Jim Ryun

After setting the national high school record in the mile, Jim Ryun set the world record in 1966 and then again in 1967, when he ran 3:51.1. Ryun was 19 at the time, making him the youngest world record holder in the mile to date. His record stood for nine years.[4] Ryun competed in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympic games. He took silver in the men's 1500m at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Alan Webb

Alan Webb broke Ryun's 36-year old high school mile record (3:55.3), running 3:53.43 at the Prefontaine Classic in 2001. Webb also ran what was then an American record in the mile, in 2007, at 3:46.91. Despite finding success in high school and on the track, Webb had an inconsistent career that was riddled with injuries, such as achilles tendonitis and a stress fracture in his foot and tibia.[5]

Sub-four-minute mile runs by U.S. high school students

Name TimeDateVenue Location
align=right 3:59.0[6] align=right June 5, 1964Compton Invitational Los Angeles, California
align=right 3:58.3[7] align=right May 15, 1965KSHSAA Track and Field Championships Wichita, Kansas
align=right 3:58.1[8] align=right May 29, 1965California Relays Modesto, California
align=right 3:56.8 align=right June 4, 1965Compton Invitational Los Angeles, California
align=right 3:55.3 align=right June 27, 1965AAU Track and Field Championships San Diego, California
align=right 3:59.4 align=right June 11, 1966San Diego Invitational San Diego, California
align=right 3:59.8 align=right June 23, 1967AAU Track and Field Championships Bakersfield, California
align=right 3:59.86 (indoors) align=right January 20, 2001New York City, New York
align=right 3:53.43 align=right May 27, 2001Eugene, Oregon
align=right 3:59.71 align=right June 11, 2011New York City, New York
align=right 3:59.38 align=right May 8, 2015Oregon Twilight Meet Eugene, Oregon
align=right 3:59.38 align=right June 4, 2015Festival of Miles St. Louis, Missouri
align=right 3:58.25 (indoors) align=right February 6, 2016Armory Track Invitational New York City, New York
align=right 3:57.81 (indoors)[9] align=right February 20, 2016New York City, New York
align=right 3:59.53 align=right April 29, 2016Jesuit Twilight Invitational Portland, Oregon
align=right 3:59.30 align=right June 1, 2017Festival of Miles St. Louis, Missouri
align=right 3:59.54[10] align=right May 23, 2020 The Quarantine Clasico El Dorado Hills, California
align=right 3:57.66 (indoors)[11] align=right February 7, 2021 American Track League Invitational Fayetteville, Arkansas
Colin Sahlmanalign=right 3:58.81 (indoors)[12] align=right February 5, 2022Dr. Sander Invitational/Columbia ChallengeNew York City, New York
Gary Martinalign=right 3:57.98[13] align=right May 14, 2022Philadelphia Catholic League ChampionshipsSpringfield, Pennsylvania
Colin Sahlmanalign=right 3:56.24[14] align=right May 28, 2022Prefontaine ClassicEugene, Oregon
Gary Martinalign=right 3:57.89[15] align=right June 2, 2022Festival of MilesSt. Louis, Missouri
Connor Burnsalign=right 3:58.83[16] align=right June 2, 2022Festival of MilesSt. Louis, Missouri
Rheinhardt Harrisonalign=right 3:59.33[17] align=right June 3, 2022Golden South Series #2Tarpon Springs, Florida
Simeon Birnbaumalign=right 3:59.51[18] align=right June 15, 2022Brooks PR InvitationalSeattle, Washington
Connor Burnsalign=right 3:59.51 (indoors)[19] align=right February 26, 2023Last Chance Indoor National Qualifier at BUBoston, Massachusetts
Rocky Hansen3:59.56[20] align=right April 30, 2023Virginia High Performance MeetCharlottesville, Virginia
align=right 3:57.53 [21] June 1, 2023Festival of Miles St. Louis, Missouri
align=right 3:58.24 [22] June 1, 2023Festival of Miles St. Louis, Missouri
align=right 3:58.7 [23] June 1, 2023Festival of Miles St. Louis, Missouri
align=right 3:59.08 [24] June 1, 2023Festival of Miles St. Louis, Missouri
JoJo Jourdonalign=right 3:59.87 (indoors)[25] align=right February 3, 2024New Balance Indoor Grand PrixBoston, Massachusetts
align=right 3:57.72 [26] align=right May 30, 2024 Festival of Miles St. Louis, Missouri
align=right 3:59.00 [27] align=right June 16, 2024 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
align=right 3:59.62 [28] align=right June 16, 2024 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Note: all of the above runners were high school seniors when they ran under four minutes for the mile except for Ryun in 1964, and Burns and Birnbaum in 2022, who were juniors at the time.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: First Four-minute Mile . A&E Television Networks . 9 February 2010 . 14 November 2018.
  2. Web site: A Brief History of the Sub-4-Minute Mile . Martin Fritz Huber . 9 June 2017 . 14 November 2018.
  3. Web site: Webb Sets High School Mile Record . Camille Powell . 28 May 2001 . 14 November 2018.
  4. Web site: Fifty Years Ago, the College Kid From Kansas Broke the World Record . Roger Robinson . 15 July 2016 . 14 November 2018.
  5. Web site: American distance record-holder Alan Webb battles back from injuries . www.bringbackthemile . Jeff Faraudo . 30 April 2012 . 14 November 2018.
  6. Web site: Four Reasons Why More High Schoolers are Running Sub-4:00 . Ashley Freeby . 16 June 2016 . 14 November 2018.
  7. Web site: Four Reasons Why More High Schoolers are Running Sub-4:00 . 30 May 1965 . 10 June 2019.
  8. Web site: James Ronald "Jim" Ryun . 29 May 1965 . 22 April 2022.
  9. Web site: 2016 Results - NYRR Millrose Games . 20 February 2016 . 24 May 2020.
  10. Web site: Highland's Leo Daschbach runs rare sub-4 mile time in his final high school track and field race. Dana. Scott. Arizona Republic . May 24, 2020 .
  11. Web site: Mull. Cory. Hobbs Kessler Sets Insane Indoor National Mile Record. 2021-02-08. MileSplit United States. en.
  12. Web site: Mull. Cory. Colin Sahlman Breaks 4, Becomes Third-Fastest In Mile Ever. 2022-02-06. MileSplit United States. en.
  13. Web site: Elvin . Gustav . Archbishop Wood's Gary Martin runs sub 4-minute mile at the Philadelphia Catholic League championships . 2022-05-14 . inquirer.com . en.
  14. Web site: Ekpone. Olivia. Colin Sahlman Does It Again, Clocks 3:56 Mile At Prefontaine. 2022-05-30. MileSplit United States. en.
  15. Web site: St. Louis Track Club Men's Mile Results. 2022-06-02. stlfestivalofmiles.com. en.
  16. Web site: St. Louis Track Club Men's Mile Results. 2022-06-02. stlfestivalofmiles.com. en.
  17. Web site: Golden South Series #2 @ East Lake 2022 - Complete Results. 2022-06-04. flrunners.com. en.
  18. Web site: Track & Field and Cross Country Statistics . 2022-06-16 . Athletic.net . en.
  19. Web site: Track & Field and Cross Country Statistics . 2023-03-29 . Athletic.net . en.
  20. Web site: Tysiac . Ashley . BREAKING: Rocky Hansen Joins Sub-4-Minute Mile Club . 2023-05-01 . MileSplit United States . en.
  21. Web site: Hoka Festival of Miles 2023 Results . 2023-06-01 . tfmeetpro.com . en.
  22. Web site: Hoka Festival of Miles 2023 Results . 2023-06-01 . tfmeetpro.com . en.
  23. Web site: Hoka Festival of Miles 2023 Results . 2023-06-01 . tfmeetpro.com . en.
  24. Web site: Hoka Festival of Miles 2023 Results . 2023-06-01 . tfmeetpro.com . en.
  25. Web site: JoJo Jourdon Enters The Sub-4 Club In Boston . 2024-02-06 . Milesplit United States . en.
  26. Web site: Drew Griffith Shatters 4, Becomes Fifth Fastest Miler Ever . 2024-05-31 . MileSplit United States . en.
  27. Web site: Drew Griffith ends High School Career with National Title . 2024-06-18 . MileSplit United States . en.
  28. Web site: Drew Griffith ends High School Career with National Title . 2024-06-18 . MileSplit United States . en.

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