History : Bring Back the Mile

WORLD: WOMEN
TIME ATHLETE (CTZ) LOCATION DATE
4:27.97 Nikki Hiltz (USA) Des Moines, IA USA April 25, 2023
4:20.98 Diribe Welteji (ETH) Riga, LAT October 1, 2023

SOURCE: WorldAthletics.org (officially recognized September 1, 2023)

Outdoor Mile record progression
Per IAAF / World Athletics ratification

WORLD: MEN = 32 records by 23 men
TIME ATHLETE (CTZ) LOCATION DATE
4:14.4 John Paul Jones (USA) Cambridge, MA USA May 31, 1913 – first official IAAF ratified Mile world record
4:12.6 Norman Taber (USA) Cambridge, MA USA July 16, 1915
4:10.4 Paavo Nurmi (FIN) Stockholm, SWE August 23, 1923
4:09.2 Jules Ladoumègue (FRA) Paris, FRA October 4, 1931
4:07.6 Jack Lovelock (NZL) Princeton, NJ USA July 15, 1933
4:06.8 Glenn Cunningham (USA) Princeton, NJ USA June 16, 1934
4:06.4 Sydney Wooderson (GBR) Motspur Park, GBR August 28, 1937
4:06.2 Gunder Hägg (SWE) Göteborg, SWE July 1, 1942
4:06.2 Arne Andersson (SWE) Stockholm, SWE July 10, 1942
4:04.6 Gunder Hägg (SWE) Stockholm, SWE September 4, 1942
4:02.6 Arne Andersson (SWE) Göteborg, SWE July 1, 1943
4:01.6 Arne Andersson (SWE) Malmö, SWE July 18, 1944
4:01.4 Gunder Hägg (SWE) Malmö, SWE July 17, 1945
3:59.4 Roger Bannister (GBR) Oxford, GBR May 6, 1954 – first sub-4 minute Mile
3:58.0 John Landy (AUS) Turku, FIN June 21, 1954
3:57.2 Derek Ibbotson (GBR) London, GBR July 19, 1957
3:54.5 Herb Elliott (AUS) Dublin, IRL August 6, 1958
3:54.4 Peter Snell (NZL) Wanganui, NZL January 27, 1962 (also his first sub-4 and on a 386 yard grass track!)
3:54.1 Peter Snell (NZL) Auckland, NZL November 17, 1964
3:53.6 Michel Jazy (FRA) Rennes, FRA June 9, 1965
3:51.3 Jim Ryun (USA) Berkeley, CA USA July 17, 1966
3:51.1 Jim Ryun (USA) Bakersfield, CA USA June 23, 1967
3:51.0 Filbert Bayi (TAN) Kingston, JAM May 17, 1975
3:49.4 John Walker (NZL) Göteborg, SWE August 12, 1975
3:49.0 Sebastian Coe (GBR) Oslo, NOR July 17, 1979
3:48.8 Steve Ovett (GBR) Oslo, NOR July 1, 1980
3:48.53 Sebastian Coe (GBR) Zürich, SUI August 19, 1981
3:48.40 Steve Ovett (GBR) Koblenz, GER August 26, 1981 – shortest time to hold Mile WR = 2 days
3:47.33 Sebastian Coe (GBR) Brussels, BEL August 28, 1981
3:46.32 Steve Cram (GBR) Oslo, NOR July 27, 1985
3:44.39 Noureddine Morceli (ALG) Rieti, ITA September 5, 1993
3:43.13 Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) Rome, ITA July 7, 1999 – longest standing outdoor Mile WR, overall, 25 years!

WORLD: WOMEN = 15 records by 12 women
TIME ATHLETE (CTZ) LOCATION DATE
4:37.0 Anne Rosemary Smith (GBR) London, GBR June 3, 1967
4:36.8 Maria Gommers (NED) Leicester, GBR June 14, 1969
4:35.3 Ellen Tittel (GER) Sittard, NED August 20, 1971
4:29.5 Paola Cacchi (ITA) Viareggio, ITA August 8, 1973
4:23.8 Natalia Marasescu (ROM) Bucharest, ROM May 21, 1977
4:22.1 Natalia Marasescu (ROM) Auckland, NZL January 27, 1979
4:21.7 Mary Decker (USA) Auckland, NZL January 26, 1980
4:20.89 Lyudmila Veselkova (URS) Bologna, ITA September 12, 1981
4:18.08 Mary Tabb (USA) Paris, FRA July 9, 1982 – shortest time to hold women’s outdoor Mile WR = 70 days
4:17.44 Maricica Puică (ROM) Rieti, ITA September 16, 1982
4:16.71 Mary Slaney (USA) Zürich, SUI August 21, 1985
4:15.61 Paula Ivan (ROM) Nice, FRA July 10, 1989
4:12.56 Svetlana Masterkova (RUS) Zürich, SUI August 14, 1996 – longest held women’s outdoor Mile WR, nearly 23 years!
4:12.33 Sifan Hassan (NED) Monaco, MON July 12, 2019
4:07.64 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) Monaco, MON July 21, 2023

SOURCE: IAAF / WorldAthletics.org

USA: MEN
TIME ATHLETE LOCATION DATE
4:43.8 Edward Merritt Mott Haven, NY October 24, 1877
4:37.6 William Duffy Mott Haven, NY September 20, 1879
4:29.5 Lon Myers New York, NY May 31, 1880
4:27.6 Lon Myers New York, NY November 11, 1882
4:21.4 Thomas Conneff New York, NY September 19, 1891
4:17.8 Thomas Conneff Cambridge, MA August 26, 1893
4:15.6 Thomas Conneff Travers Island, NY August 28, 1895
4:15.4 John Paul Jones Cambridge, MA May 27, 1911
4:14.4* John Paul Jones Cambridge, MA May 31, 1913
4:12.6* Norman Taber Cambridge, MA July 16, 1915, record lasted nearly 15 years
4:12.4 Ralph Hill Eugene, OR May 17, 1930
4:11.1 Glenn Cunningham Chicago, IL June 11, 1932
4:09.8 Glenn Cunningham Chicago, IL June 17, 1933
4:08.7 Bill Bonthron Princeton, NJ July 15, 1933 – second to Jack Lovelock (NZL) who set the WR (4:07.6)
4:06.8* Glenn Cunningham Princeton, NJ June 16, 1934
4:06.5 Gil Dodds Cambridge, MA July 24, 1943
4:06.0 Bill Hulse Berea, OH July 31, 1943
4:02.4 Wes Santee Compton, CA June 5, 1953
4:01.3 Wes Santee Kansas City, MO May 29, 1954
4:00.6 Wes Santee Compton, CA June 4, 1954
4:00.5 Wes Santee Austin, TX April 2, 1955
3:58.7 Don Bowden Stockton, CA June 1, 1957 – first U.S. sub-4 minute Mile
3:58.6 Dyrol Burleson Eugene, OR April 23, 1960 (also his first sub-4)
3:58.0 Jim Beatty Modesto, CA May 28, 1960 (also his first sub-4)
3:57.6 Dyrol Burleson Eugene, OR May 24, 1961
3:56.5 Jim Beatty London, GBR August 18, 1962
3:56.3 Jim Beatty Helsinki, FIN August 21, 1962 – shortest span between U.S. Mile records (men) = 3 days (also indoor)
3:55.5 Jim Beatty Compton, CA June 7, 1963
3:55.4 Jim Grelle Vancouver, CAN June 15, 1965
3:55.3 Jim Ryun San Diego, CA June 27, 1965 – high school athlete
3:53.7 Jim Ryun Los Angeles, CA June 4, 1966
3:51.3* Jim Ryun Berkeley, CA July 17, 1966
3:51.1* Jim Ryun Bakersfield, CA June 23, 1967, last world record on U.S. soil (outdoor)
3:49.68 Steve Scott Oslo, NOR July 11, 1981
3:48.53 Steve Scott Oslo, NOR June 26, 1982
3:47.69 Steve Scott Oslo, NOR July 7, 1982 – longest U.S. record holder holder (men), 26+ years (July 11, 1981 – July 21, 2007)
3:46.91 Alan Webb Brasschaat, BEL July 21, 2007
3:43.97 Yared Nuguse Eugene, OR September 16, 2023
*also World Record

SOURCE: USATF

USA: WOMEN
TIME ATHLETE LOCATION DATE
4:51.1 Doris Brown Victoria, CAN August 19, 1967
4:42.2 Doris Brown Seattle, WA June 8, 1968
4:41.5 Francie Larrieu Berkeley, CA June 5, 1971 – shortest span to hold U.S. Mile record = 1 day
4:41.3 Doris Brown Tacoma, WA June 6, 1971
4:39.6 Doris Brown Portland, OR June 12, 1971
4:38.7 Francie Larrieu Bakersfield, CA May 19, 1973
4:37.88 Francie Larrieu Austin, TX April 12, 1974
4:33.1 Francie Larrieu Eugene, OR June 8, 1974
4:31.69 Francie Larrieu Wichita, KS May 31, 1975
4:30.98 Jan Merrill West Point, NY May 14, 1977
4:28.2 Francie Larrieu Mainz, GER June 28, 1977
4:23.49 Mary Decker Philadelphia, PA June 30, 1979, last on U.S. soil (outdoor)
4:21.68* Mary Decker Auckland, NZL January 26, 1980
4:21.46 Mary Tabb Oslo, NOR June 26, 1982
4:18.08* Mary Tabb Paris, FRA July 9, 1982
4:16.71* Mary Slaney Zürich, SUI August 21, 1985 – longest held U.S. Mile outdoor record, men or women, 37-plus years!
4:16.35 Nikki Hiltz Monaco, MON July 21, 2023
*also World Record

SOURCE: USATF

Indoor Mile record progression

WORLD: MEN
TIME ATHLETE LOCATION DATE
4:39.2 Lon Myers (USA) New York, NY USA April 25, 1885
4:39.2 Ernest Hjertberg (USA) New York, NY USA May 10, 1889
4:31.4 William Day (USA) Brooklyn, NY USA February 5, 1890
4:28.4 Ernest Hjertberg (USA) Boston, MA USA February 13, 1892
4:26.0 Andrew Walsh (USA) Brooklyn, NY USA November 30, 1895
4:25.2 Melvin Sheppard (USA) New York, NY USA January 26, 1906
4:23.8 Melvin Sheppard (USA) New York, NY USA March 30, 1906
4:19.8 Herbert Trube (USA) New York, NY USA February 13, 1909
4:19.8 Oscar Hedlund (USA) Troy, NY USA February 22, 1912
4:18.8 Oscar Hedlund (USA) New York, NY USA February 12, 1913 – three days, shortest held men’s indoor Mile WR
4:18.2 Abel Kiviat (USA) New York, NY USA February 15, 1913
4:16.0 John Overton (USA) Philadelphia, PA USA March 10, 1917
4:14.6 Joseph Ray (USA) Chicago, IL USA April 12, 1919
4:13.6 Paavo Nurmi (FIN) New York, NY USA January 6, 1925
4:13.4 Lloyd Hahn (USA) New York, NY USA February 14, 1925
4:12.0 Paavo Nurmi (FIN) Buffalo, NY USA March 7, 1925
4:12.0 Joseph Ray (USA) New York, NY USA March 17, 1925
4:11.2 Gene Venzke (USA) New York, NY USA February 6, 1932
4:10.0 Gene Venzke (USA) New York, NY USA February 17, 1932
4:08.4 Glenn Cunningham (USA) New York, NY USA March 17, 1934
4:07.4 Glenn Cunningham (USA) New York, NY USA March 12, 1938
4:07.4 Charles Fenske (USA) New York, NY USA February 3, 1940
4:07.4 Charles Fenske (USA) New York, NY USA February 17, 1940
4:07.4 Leslie MacMitchell (USA) New York, NY USA February 15, 1941
4:07.4 Walter Mehl (USA) New York, NY USA February 15, 1941
4:07.3 Gilbert Dodds (USA) New York, NY USA March 11, 1944
4:06.4 Gilbert Dodds (USA) Chicago, IL USA March 18, 1944
4:05.3 Gilbert Dodds (USA) New York, NY USA January 31, 1948
4:04.9 Wes Santee (USA) East Lansing, MI USA February 15, 1954
4:03.8 Wes Santee (USA) Boston, MA USA January 29, 1955
4:03.6 Gunnar Nielsen (DEN) New York, NY USA February 5, 1955
4:03.4 Ronald Delany (IRL) Chicago, IL USA March 14, 1958
4:02.5 Ronald Delany (IRL) New York, NY USA February 21, 1959
4:01.4 Ronald Delany (IRL) New York, NY USA March 7, 1959
3:58.9 Jim Beatty (USA) Los Angeles, CA USA February 10, 1962 – first sub-4 minute Mile indoors
3:58.6 Jim Beatty (USA) New York, NY USA February 15, 1963
3:56.6 Tom O’Hara (USA) New York, NY USA February 13, 1964
3:56.4 Tom O’Hara (USA) Chicago, IL USA March 6, 1964
3:56.4 Jim Ryun (USA) San Diego, CA USA February 19, 1971
3:55.0 Tony Waldrop (USA) San Diego, CA USA February 17, 1974
3:54.93 Dick Buerkle (USA) College Park, MD USA January 13, 1978
3:52.6 Eamonn Coghlan (IRL) San Diego, CA USA February 16, 1979
3:50.6 Eamonn Coghlan (IRL) San Diego, CA USA February 20, 1981
OFFICIAL IAAF (January 1, 1987)
3:49.78 Eamonn Coghlan (IRL) East Rutherford, NJ USA February 27, 1983
3:48.45 Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) Ghent, BEL February 12, 1997 – longest held men’s indoor Mile WR, 22 years, 19 days!
3:47.01 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) Boston, MA USA March 3, 2019

NOTE: [4:04.4] Glenn Cunningham (USA) Hanover, NH March 3, 1938 = oversized track (261-plus yards); also a handicap exhibition race

SOURCE: IAAF / WorldAthletics.org and USATF

WORLD: WOMEN
TIME ATHLETE LOCATION DATE
5:17.2 Brenda Cook (GBR) Cosford, GBR February 5, 1966 – 7 days, shortest held indoor / outdoor Mile WR women (tie)
5:03.6 Joyce Smith (GBR) Cosford, GBR February 12, 1966 – 7 days, shortest held indoor / outdoor Mile WR women (tie)
4:52.0 Doris Brown (USA) Vancouver, CAN February 19, 1966
4:40.4 Doris Brown (USA) Vancouver, CAN February 18, 1967
4:38.5 Debbie Heald (USA) Richmond, VA USA March 17, 1972
4:35.6 Francie Larrieu (USA) San Diego, CA USA February 17, 1973
4:34.6 Francie Larrieu (USA) Seattle, WA, CA USA February 2, 1974
4:29.0 Francie Larrieu (USA) San Diego, CA USA February 15, 1975
4:28.5 Francie Larrieu Smith (USA) Richmond, VA USA March 3, 1975
4:24.6 Mary Decker (USA) Los Angeles, CA USA January 22, 1982
4:21.47 Mary Decker (USA) New York, NY USA February 12, 1982 – 7 days, shortest held indoor / outdoor Mile WR women (tie)
OFFICIAL IAAF (January 1, 1987)
4:20.5 Mary Decker (USA) San Diego, CA USA February 19, 1982
4:18.86 Doina Melinte (ROM) East Rutherford, NJ USA February 13, 1988
4:17.14 Doina Melinte (ROM) East Rutherford, NJ USA February 9, 1990 – longest held Mile WR, overall, 26 years, 8 days!
4:13.31 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) Stockholm, SWE February 17, 2016 – third fastest track Mile for women ever

NOTE: [4:17.55] Mary Decker (USA) Houston, TX USA February 16, 1980 = oversized track (352 yards)

SOURCE: IAAF / WorldAthletics.org

USA: MEN
TIME ATHLETE LOCATION DATE
4:39.2* Lon Myers New York, NY April 25, 1885
4:39.2* Ernest Hjertberg New York, NY May 10, 1889
4:31.4* William Day Brooklyn, NY February 5, 1890
4:28.4* Ernest Hjertberg Boston, MA February 13, 1892
4:26.0* Andrew Walsh Brooklyn, NY November 30, 1895
4:25.2* Melvin Sheppard New York, NY January 26, 1906
4:23.8* Melvin Sheppard New York, NY March 30, 1906
4:19.8* Herbert Trube New York, NY February 13, 1909
4:19.8* Oscar Hedlund Troy, NY February 22, 1912
4:18.8* Oscar Hedlund New York, NY February 12, 1913 – shortest span to hold U.S. Mile record (men) = 3 days (also outdoor)
4:18.2* Abel Kiviat New York, NY February 15, 1913
4:16.0* John Overton Philadelphia, PA March 10, 1917
4:14.6* Joseph Ray Chicago, IL April 12, 1919
4:13.4* Lloyd Hahn New York, NY February 14, 1925
4:12.0* Joseph Ray New York, NY March 17, 1925
4:11.2* Gene Venzke New York, NY February 6, 1932
4:10.0* Gene Venzke New York, NY February 17, 1932
4:08.4* Glenn Cunningham New York, NY March 17, 1934
4:07.4* Glenn Cunningham New York, NY March 12, 1938
4:07.4* Charles Fenske New York, NY February 3, 1940
4:07.4* Charles Fenske New York, NY February 17, 1940
4:07.4* Leslie MacMitchell New York, NY February 15, 1941
4:07.4* Walter Mehl New York, NY February 15, 1941
4:07.3* Gilbert Dodds New York, NY March 11, 1944
4:06.4* Gilbert Dodds Chicago, IL March 18, 1944
4:05.3* Gilbert Dodds New York, NY January 31, 1948
4:04.9* Wes Santee East Lansing, MI February 15, 1954
4:03.8* Wes Santee Boston, MA January 29, 1955
4:03.8 Dyrol Burleson Portland, OR March 3, 1961
4:03.6 Jim Grelle Milwaukee, WI March 11, 1961
3:58.9* Jim Beatty Los Angeles, CA February 10, 1962 – first sub-4 minute Mile indoors
3:58.6* Jim Beatty New York, NY February 15, 1963
3:56.6* Tom O’Hara New York, NY February 13, 1964
3:56.4* Tom O’Hara Chicago, IL March 6, 1964
3:56.4* Jim Ryun San Diego, CA February 19, 1971
3:55.0* Tony Waldrop San Diego, CA February 17, 1974
3:54.93* Dick Buerkle College Park, MD January 13, 1978
3:54.1 Steve Scott San Diego, CA February 16, 1979
3:53.0 Steve Scott Los Angeles, CA February 15, 1980
3:51.8 Steve Scott San Diego, CA February 20, 1981 – longest held U.S. men’s indoor Mile record, nearly 24 years
3:49.89 Bernard Lagat Fayetteville, AR February 11, 2005
3:47.38 Yared Nuguse New York, NY February 11, 2023
*also World Record

NOTE: [4:04.4] Glenn Cunningham Hanover, NH March 3, 1938 = oversized track (261-plus yards); also a handicap exhibition race

SOURCE: USATF

USA: WOMEN
TIME ATHLETE LOCATION DATE
4:52.0* Doris Brown Vancouver, CAN February 19, 1966
4:40.4* Doris Brown Vancouver, CAN February 18, 1967
4:38.5* Debbie Heald Richmond, VA March 17, 1972
4:35.6* Francie Larrieu San Diego, CA February 17, 1973
4:34.6* Francie Larrieu Seattle, WA February 2, 1974
4:29.0* Francie Larrieu San Diego, CA February 15, 1975
4:28.5* Francie Larrieu Smith Richmond, VA March 3, 1975
4:24.6* Mary Decker Los Angeles, CA January 22, 1982
4:21.47* Mary Decker New York, NY February 12, 1982 – 7 days, shortest held indoor U.S. Mile record for women
4:20.5* Mary Decker San Diego, CA February 19, 1982 – longest held U.S. Mile record, men or women, nearly 38 years!
4:16.85 Elinor Purrier New York, NY February 8, 2020
4:16.41 Elinor St. Pierre New York, NY February 11, 2024
*also World Record

NOTE: [4:17.55] Mary Decker Houston, TX February 16, 1980 = oversized track (352 yards)

SOURCE: USATF

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