Mile News


Peters, Leonard Win BMC Mile at Oxford

July 21, 2013

BMC celebrates 50th anniversary with classic Mile races at famed Iffley Road track; Peters, Mellor go sub-4

By David Lowes, Athletics Weekly

The BMC Grand Prix at Oxford on Saturday was the fourth in the series and a celebration of the organization’s 50 years in existence.

With the event taking place on the hallowed Iffley Road track which saw the most momentous occasion in middle-distance history, the first sub-4 minute Mile by Sir Roger Bannister, the 1500m was dropped in favor of the Mile.

And so to the star attraction, the men’s Mile. Could anyone break the 4-minute barrier and could anyone run faster than Bannister’s 3:59.4 set 59 years ago on a then cinder track? The answer was an emphatic yes, and just like waiting for a bus, there was a double whammy.

Richard Peters came storming down the home-straight to stop the clock at 3:58.70, a performance he hopes may sneak him into next week’s Emsley Carr Mile. Not to be outdone, Jonny Mellor also finished strongly and his reward was a 3:58.76 clocking – two excellent runs in not very helpful conditions.

Earlier, Alison Leonard failed to finish the 800 meters, citing problems with a lack of motivation, but later in the afternoon, and no doubt fired up by her failure over two laps, Leonard asked to be entered into the Mile and finished stronger than anyone else taking the race in 4:42.40 from Stevie Stockton who clocked 4:43.60.

There were youngsters on view too with the Peter Coe (male) and Frank Horwill (female) races for under-17 athletes, most of who had qualified via PB Classic races earlier in the season at Millfield, Milton Keynes and Corby.

In the girls’ race Sophie Tooley (U15) took the title in 4:58.66 from Gemma Shepherd 5:01.58 and Lydia Hallam 5:05.21. In the boys’ race George Elliott clocked 4:23.41 with a much quicker final two laps to take the title from Billy White (4:24.91) and Jamie Dee (4:26.98).

The Mile may be a thing of the past for many, but at Oxford the magic still remains.

Continue reading at: www.athleticsweekly.com

Tags: roger bannister (175) , richard peters (1) , jonny mellor (1) , british milers club (3)

Facebook Comments

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.

Become a Mile Maniac member or a BBTM sponsor today! Join us, and go Mile!

Join Us

Thanks for joining the movement and being a Mile Maniac. We'll keep you up to-date with our Mile wires as well as exclusive contests and opportunities. Help us spread the word by sharing our site and joining us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!