Road Mile world records ratified for Hiltz and Prakel
The inaugural records were set at the 2023 Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines, Iowa
From World Athletics
The winning times from this year’s USA Road Mile Championships – 4:27.97 for Nikki Hiltz and 4:01.21 for Sam Prakel – have been ratified as the inaugural world records for the road Mile.
The road Mile became an official world record discipline as of September 1, 2023. As announced after the World Athletics Council Meeting in November 2022, official recognition of a world record would require a performance of at least 3:50.00 (men) or 4:19.00 (women) between January 1 and September 1, 2023 on a World Athletics certified, record standard course. If they were not met, the fastest recorded record-eligible performances would be recognized as the world records.
As such, the winning times at the USA Road Mile Championships hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, April 25 proved to be the fastest eligible performances within that time frame and they have now been ratified as the inaugural world records.
Women’s road Mile world record
4:27.97 Nikki Hiltz (USA) Des Moines April 25, 2023
Men’s road Mile world record
4:01.21 Sam Prakel (USA) Des Moines April 25, 2023
There will, however, be a strong chance of these records being broken at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 on Sunday, October 1, where the road Mile is being contested by dozens of the world’s best middle-distance runners as part of a program that also features 5K and half-marathon races.
Among those entered for the Mile in Riga are Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who has broken three world records in the 1500m, Mile and 5000m on the track in 2023, plus her compatriot Beatrice Chepkoech, Australia’s Jessica Hull and Ethiopia’s Teddese Lemi, Kenya’s Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot and Prakel.
