The Jim Ryun Festival of Miles honors the 50th anniversary of the first high school sub-4 minute Mile by legend Jim Ryun who ran 3:59.0 at the Compton Relays, CA on June 5, 1964. The celebratory event will have a series of Mile races at historic Balboa Stadium in San Diego.
June 5, 2014
“My hope is this will be the genesis of things to come. We’ve started a little spark that could grow into a fire — and grow the sport back.” - Jim Ryun
By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego
Chula Vista native Eric Avila pointed to the crowd on the homestretch and leaped as he crossed the finish line, sending dozens of fans into their own jumps for joy.
June 3, 2014
“The Mile will always have a special place in people’s hearts. It transcends track & field, because it’s a very relatable distance.” - Alan Webb
Fifty years ago on June 5, a scrawny 17-year-old finished last in a historic Mile race in Compton, California. But it wasn’t just any Mile race. For the first time in history, an entire eight-runner field broke the 4-minute barrier. And for the first time in history, a high school student was among them, finishing in 3:59.0.
April 25, 2014
Weeklong celebration begins Friday, May 30 at 17th Suja Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Expo and culminates on Thursday, June 5 at Balboa Stadium with Festival of Miles
SAN DIEGO – On June 5, 2014, one of the most significant athletic achievements of the last century will be celebrated at San Diego’s historic Balboa Stadium: the 50th anniversary of Jim Ryun’s extraordinary feat to become the first high school boy to run a sub-4 minute Mile. A national coalition including representatives from the San Diego Track Club, Bring Back the Mile, Competitor Group, Inc. and Ryun himself have announced plans for the Jim Ryun Festival of Miles, a summertime celebration in San Diego to honor the milestone achievement.
Return the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.
ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.
CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance, to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.
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