To-date, only 15 father / son combinations have broken the coveted 4 minute benchmark for the Mile with the most recent: USA’s Reuben Reina and son Reuben, Jr., who joined the exclusive club with his father, clocking 3:59.91 indoors on January 12, 2024 at the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville, AR.

Legend Kip & Martin Keino of Kenya were the first father / son combo to break 4 minutes for the Mile, 3:54.2 (1965) and 3:58.73 (1994), respectively.

Barry & Darren Brown were the first U.S. father / son combo to go sub-4 minutes for the Mile, 3:58.8 (1973) and 3:59.99 (2008), respectively, and third overall.

The Gregoreks have produced the best overall father-son Mile PR combo average of 3:50.66 (John = 3:51.34 and John, Jr. = 3:49.98i).

Below is a chronological order and summary of the 15 fathers & sons who have run under 4 minutes for the Mile - first time date, including personal record and combo PR average & overall ranking.

#1 – first overall
3:54.16 Kip Keino (KEN) 08/30/65
3:58.73 Martin Keino (KEN) 06/04/94

PR AVE = 3:52.72 (Kip = 3:53.1 and Martin = 3:52.33) – #2 PR average

#2
3:59.3   Andy Carter (GBR) 06/10/72
3:57.30 Tom Carter (GBR) 08/06/05

PR AVE = 3:58.30 (Andy = 3:59.3 and Tom = 3:57.30) – #12

#3 – first U.S.
3:58.8   Barry Brown (USA) 05/13/73
3:59.99 Darren Brown (USA) 04/05/08

PR AVE = 3:58.58 (Barry = 3:58.8 and Darren = 3:58.35) – #13

#4
3:59.2    Matt Centrowitz (USA) 05/24/75
3:57.92i Matthew Centrowitz (USA) 02/14/09

PR AVE = 3:52.74 (Matt = 3:54.94 and Matthew = 3:50.53) – #3

#5
3:59.35 David Kebenei (KEN) 07/17/82
3:48.50 Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 06/07/09

PR AVE = 3:53.93 (David = 3:59.35 and Asbel = 3:48.50) – #5

#6
3:58.7    Sam Bair, Jr. (USA) 06/23/67
3:59.72i Sam Bair, III (USA) 02/13/10

PR AVE = 3:58.21 (Sam, Jr. = 3:56.7 and Sam, III = 3:59.72i) – #11

#7
3:56.2    Eamonn Coghlan (IRL) 05/10/75
3:59.32i John Coghlan (IRL) 01/28/12

PR AVE = 3:54.55 (Eamonn = 3:49.78i and John = 3:59.32i) – #6

#8
3:57.43   Abdi Bile (SOM) 07/21/84
3:59.04i Ahmed Bile (USA) 01/31/15

PR AVE = 3:53.62 (Abdi = 3:49.40 and Ahmed = 3:57.84i) – #4

#9
3:57.10  John Gregorek (USA) 05/30/81
3:57.47i John "Johnny" Gregorek, Jr. (USA) 02/14/15

PR AVE = 3:50.66 (John = 3:51.34 and John, Jr. = 3:49.98i) – #1 fastest PR average
(photo right; credit: Matthew Sonnenfeldt)

#10
3:59.17  Billy Dee (GBR) 07/14/91
3:58.19i Liam Dee (GBR) 02/26/17

PR AVE = 3:58.68 (Billy = 3:59.17 and Liam = 3:58.19i) – #14

# 11
3:56.40 Graham Williamson (GBR) 07/02/78
3:58.99 Jamie Williamson (GBR) 07/16/18

PR AVE = 3:54.82 (Graham = 3:50.64 and Jamie = 3:58.99) – #7

#12
3:57.8    Dick Quax (NZL) 03/18/70
3:58.13i Theo Quax (NZL) 02/15/20

PR AVE = 3:57.18 (Dick = 3:56.23 and Theo = 3:58.13i) – #10

#13
3:58.15   Alan Culpepper (USA) 05/11/97
3:59.53i Cruz Culpepper (USA) 01/30/21

PR AVE = 3:56.39 (Alan = 3:55.12 and Cruz = 3:57.66i) – #9

NOTE: There are three younger Culpepper boys so we could see a sub-4 father with multiple sub-4 sons down the road.

#14
3:55.7     Tim Hacker (USA) 06/05/88
3:59.04  Olin Hacker (USA) 07/01/21

PR AVE = 3:55.89 (Tim = 3:55.19 and Olin = 3:56.59) – #8

#15
3:58.88i  Reuben Reina (USA) 02/18/89
3:59.91i   Reuben Reina, Jr. (USA) 01/12/24

PR AVE = 3:58.50 (Reuben = 3:57.08i and Reuben, Jr. = 3:59.91i) – #13
(photo right; credit: Arkansas Track & Field)

i = indoors

Corrections or additions to: milemaniac@bringbackthemile.com

Read about Sam Bair, III's determined quest for sub-4 HERE.

Top 25 Fastest Married Couple for the Mile HERE.

SOURCE: BringBacktheMile.com