The Best Mile Moments of 2025
Strand sets absolute men’s NCAA Mile record; Nuguse, Ingebrigtsen indoor Mile WRs; Ruthe, youngest at 15, to run sub-4; absolute high school girls Mile record by Hedengren; most annual U.S. prep boys sub-4 with 7 individuals with 10 times; Johnson sets U.S. women’s track & road Mile records and more!
By Ryan Lamppa, Bring Back the Mile
Here is a look back at the Best Mile Moments as 2025 produced another stellar, thrilling, record-setting year for the Mile.
FAST FACTS 2025
► Event prize money increased from $637,000 in 2024 vs. $738,000 in 2025. The inaugural women’s ATHLOS Mile (track) paid out $100,800, the largest, guaranteed purse ever per gender for the distance.
► Across the country and the world, for the third straight year, the majority of Mile events reported record participation numbers. In the U.S., 10 races had more than 1,000 finishers.
► In 2025, an annual record 70 U.S. men ran their first sub-4 minute Mile on the track (previous record, 69 in 2023), and for the 20th consecutive year, the first sub-4 U.S. annual number again reached double digits with an average of 34 first-timers, representing 57% of the 847 overall total since BBTM’s 2012 launch compared to only 7 per year from 1957-2011.
► A record 7 U.S. high school boys joined the sub-4 club (old mark, 5 in 2022).
► In 2025, an annual record 17 U.S. women clocked their first sub-4:30 track Mile (previous record, 12 in 2024). Since 2012, first-time U.S. women to this select club have averaged 7 per year compared to only 1 per year from 1975-2011, or in other words, 73% of the overall total (98 women out of 135) achieved the landmark since 2012 (AKA The BBTM Effect)! NOTE: like in other running events, since 2021, super shoes have been a factor in the rapid rise of first sub-4 and sub-4:30 performances.
Coburn crushes indoor Mile at altitude – January 11
At the Potts Invitational in Boulder (5,337 altitude), Emma Coburn opened her 2025 season with a 4:33.29 Mile, a Colorado state women’s indoor Mile record and the second fastest indoor Mile at altitude (only Nikki Hiltz is faster, 4:32.23 in 2023 on an oversized track in Flagstaff, AZ).
First track sub-4 in Colorado, finally! – January 18
At the Colorado Classic in Boulder (5,337 altitude), Reece Sharman-Newell of Great Britain won the indoor Mile in 3:59.37, becoming the first one to officially go sub-4 on the track in the state. Americans Yasin Sado and Isaiah Givens followed closely behind in 3:59.56 and 3:59.97, respectively.
Green’s swift indoor Mile at UW – January 18
At the Mile City meet in Seattle, University of Washington’s Nathan Green clocked a fast 3:50.74, setting facility, personal, school and state records as well as the fastest Mile by an Idaho native, fastest Mile in January, the #9 American indoor all-time and #5 NCAA all-time, oh my! UW assistant coach Sam Prakel was second in 3:51.28, and overall, 18 men ran sub-4 in three heats, including a collegiate record 9 UW men in the same meet (old record, 8, UW in 2023).
Myers scorches indoor Mile junior world record – January 25
Talented teen Cameron Myers of Australia, 18, shattered the indoor Mile junior world record, breaking the beam in 3:53.12 at the Dr. Sander Scorcher in New York City. The previous WJR was American German Fernandez’s 3:55.03 from 2009. Ten men went sub-4 on the new Armory track.
In the pro women’s race, American star Katelyn Tuohy returned to racing action for the win in 4:25.54, followed closely by Sweden’s Wilma Nielsen in 4:25.89.
Cranny cranks out fast indoor Mile – January 31
At the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, U.S. Olympian Elise Cranny won the Mile in 4:20.83, becoming the 4th fastest American woman indoors and setting a Massachusetts state absolute record. Overall, six women went under 4:30, including U.S. first timers (Riley Chamberlain, 4:26.19, 3rd, and Abbe Goldstein, 4:28.61, 4th).
Strand shatters NCAA indoor & absolute Mile records – February 1
At the John Thomas Terrier Classic the next day, the University of North Carolina’s Ethan Strand won an exciting Mile race in 3:48.32 to shatter the NCAA indoor and absolute records (previous records, indoors, 3:50.39, Cooper Teare (Oregon), Fayetteville, AR, 02/12/21, and outdoors, 3:50.34, Todd Harbour (Baylor), Oslo, NOR, 07/11/81). In addition, the UNC senior became the third fastest man, #2 American all-time indoors, and en route shattered the NCAA 1500 record in 3:33.41.
Also under 3:50 were Robert Farken (GER) and Adam Fogg (GBR), 3:49.45 (a German indoor national record) and 3:49.85, respectively.
Commonwealth Games brings back the Mile! – February 6
For the first time since 1966, the Mile will replace the 1500 meters as an event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, hosted by Glasgow, Scotland. The epic Mile of Century or Miracle Mile between legends Roger Bannister of Great Britain and John Landy of Australia was contested at the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada. Bannister won, passing Landy in the home stretch, and the highly anticipated, thrilling match-up made history as the first time two men went sub-4 minutes in the same race, 3:58.8 to 3:59.6. The Mile was showcased at the Commonwealth Games from 1930-66. Well done, Glasgow, well done!
She’s back! – February 8
After the end of her 4-year drug suspension, Shelby Houlihan made an emphatic statement, running a Mile personal record of 4:20.30, #2 U.S. all-time indoors, on Boston University's ultra fast track.
Nuguse’s 3-peat & WR at iconic Wanamaker Mile! – February 8
Paris Olympics 1500 bronze medalist Yared Nuguse (photo, above) three-peated as Wanamaker Mile champion, clocking an indoor world record of 3:46.63 and holding off Hobbs Kessler (3:46.90) as both Americans finished under Yomif Kejelcha’s 2019 mark of 3:47.01. The Goose earned a $25,000 world record bonus for his performance. In addition, he became the first U.S. male to set a track Mile WR since 1978, Dick Buerkle, also indoor WR (3:54.93), and it was the first Wanamaker WR since 1955, 70 years! He also set en route the U.S. indoor 1500m record (3:31.74).
Overall, 4 national indoor records were set: USA, Australia (Cam Myers, 18, 3:47.48, also Junior world record), France (Azeddine Habz, 3:47.56) and Ireland (Andrew Coscoran, Ireland, 3:49.26) and 8 personal records, including collegian Gary Martin (Virginia), 3:48.82 (5th, #4 U.S. all-time indoors). Also, the top 4 entered the top 5 all-time indoors, a record 8 men broke 3:50 indoors and all 11 finishers were sub-3:56. Oh my, indeed!
In a close women’s race, Paris Olympics 1500m bronze medalist, Georgia Bell of Great Britain, won her debut Wanamaker, holding off Americans Heather Maclean and Nikki Hiltz, 4:23.35, 4:23.41 and 4:23.50, respectively. High school senior Sadie Engelhardt finished 11th, clocking 4:27.97 to set the absolute prep Mile record (previous record, 4:28.25, Mary Cain, indoors 2013). Overall, a record tying 11 women went sub-4:30 indoors (also 2024 Wanamaker Mile).
Norge! Ingebrigtsen finally gets coveted Mile world record – February 13
Ju
st five days after American Yared Nuguse set an indoor Mile world record of 3:46.63 in New York City, Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway (left) went one better at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF, clocking 3:45.14 to not only shatter the previous Mile mark, but also besting his indoor 1500m WR en route (3:29.63) in Liévin, France! Ingebrigtsen is also the first Norwegian to set a Mile world record.
Owen Powell, #24 U.S. prep sub-4 – February 15
At the Husky Classic in Seattle, Owen Powell became the 24th U.S. high schooler to record a sub-4 minute Mile, running 3:57.74 and finishing 7th in his heat. The senior at Mercer Island, WA is the second fastest prep indoors, #7 fastest overall and the 19th U.S. HSer sub-4 since the 2012 BBTM launch. His parent, Andy & Maurica Powell, direct the track & field program at the University of Washington.
Powell sets U.S. prep indoor Mile record – February 21
Six days later, at the Boston University DMR Challenge meet, Owen Powell continued his hot streak, setting the U.S. high school indoor Mile record in 3:56.66 to best Hobbs Kessler’s 2021 mark by 1 second (#4 U.S. prep all-time) and finishing 7th overall. In the second heat, two more American boys, now at 26 overall and 21 since 2012 BBTM launch, went sub-4 for the first time: Josiah Tostenson, 3:57.47 (#2 indoors & #5 individual), and Tayvon Kitchen, 3:59.61. #AGT (photo, right)
This was the first time 3 U.S. boys ran sub-4 indoors at the same meet, and also, the first time two boys – Tostenson & Kitchen – recorded sub-4s from the same high school (Crater, OR). Oregon has the most sub-4 HSers with 3 (also Matthew Maton, 3:59.38 in 2015), tied with Michigan.
MacLean blasts fast Mile at BU Last Chance meet – March 2
At the Boston University Last Chance meet, Heather Maclean won the Mile, clocking a fast 4:17.01, #4 all-time world and #2 all-time U.S. indoors as well as a Massachusetts state record and the fastest women’s Mile in March. En route, the 2020 Olympian also set the U.S. indoor 1500m in 3:59.60. In the men’s Mile, Yared Nuguse was unable to reclaim the indoor Mile world record, but nonetheless, he ran an impressive 3:47.22 for the unchallenged victory.
Hedengren shatters U.S. girls absolute Mile record at NIN – March 16
At the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City, senior Jane Hedengren from Provo, UT, soloed to win the girls Mile in 4:26.14, shattering the absolute U.S. high school girls record as well as the HS girls-only. Previous absolute record was 4:27.97 by Sadie Engelhardt set 5 weeks earlier also at The Armory. NOTE: In 2014, Mary Cain ran 4:24.11 indoors, but as a pro athlete. In addition, Hedengren became only the third sub-4:30 U.S. girl. #AGT
The three days earlier, Hedengren also smashed the U.S. Junior and high school 5000m record (15:13.26). #AGT
Ruthe, at 15, youngest to record sub-4 – March 19
At the ACA Mile Night in Auckland on a wet track, Sam Ruthe, at age 15, 341 days, became the youngest ever to record a sub-4 minute Mile, clocking 3:58.35. Two-time Olympian and fellow Kiwi Sam Tanner, who won the race in 3:58.29, led his training mate to the historic performance.
Previous youngest sub-4 was indoor Mile world record holder and superstar Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, who was 16 years, 250 days, when he ran 3:58.07 at the Prefontaine Classic on May 27, 2017.
FUN FACT: Ruthe (left) also set New Zealand U19 & U20 records previously held by Tanner.
Latham first Georgia prep sub-4 – March 28
On his home track at Marist School in Atlanta, senior Tommy Latham won the especially set up Mile event, clocking 3:59.79 to become the first Georgia high schooler sub-4, the 27th U.S. prep overall and the 22nd since the 2012 launch of Bring Back the Mile. Latham was also the 10th American to accomplish the feat in a high school-only competition.
Gear, Ciattei crush records at Grand Blue Mile – April 22
At the 16th Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines, Krissy Gear and Vince Ciattei won the greatest USA Road Mile Championships ever, producing thrilling record breaking performances in 4:23.98 and 3:54.55, respectively. Gear's time made her the 4th-fastest woman ever in the event and she shattered the U.S. road record of 4:27.97 that was set by Nikki Hiltz at the 2023 Grand Blue Mile. National runner-up and Iowa native Karissa Schweizer ran 4:24.40 and fast-closing Gracie Morris was third (4:24.73). The first five women bettered Hiltz's national record and previous world record.
Ciattei defend his title, breaking his event record of 3:56.97 from last year as well as setting the U.S. All-Comers and USA Championship records. Newcomer Sam Ellis earned the runner-up spot in 3:54.95, while Craig Engels took third in 3:55.09. Overall, the top 8 men went under the previous event record and 11 of them went sub-4 minutes.
ADDENDUM: Four days, later, Krissy Gear won the Drake Relays Mile to set a personal record and shattered the 50-year meet record of legend Francie Larrieu (4:40.2)
Hansen, Coombs HS-only sub-4 same race – May 24
At the RunningLane Track Championships in Huntsville, AL, high school seniors, TJ Hansen (Michigan) and Corbin Coombs (New Mexico) battled to the line to record their first sub-4s, 3:59.02 and 3:59.23, respectively. The pair are the #28 and #29 U.S. prepsters in the Sub-4 Club, #23 and #24 since the 2012 BBTM launch and #4 and #5 high school-only race. In addition, Hansen set an Alabama soil record in the Mile.
Hedengren hits another Mile high – June 5
In St. Louis at the HOKA Festival of Miles, Jane Hedengren (right) continued her torrid, historic season, soloing to win the girls race in scintillating 4:23.50, setting state (Missouri and Utah), U.S. high school (absolute), U.S. Junior and world single age (18) records. Her incredible performance is as impressive as Jim Ryun's 3:58.3 on cinders at the 1965 Kansas State meet. Hanne Thomsen (California) finished second in 4:35.63, 9th fastest U.S. girl ever in the Mile, indoor or outdoor. 
The boys race came down to the wire, producing two sub-4s, with Iowa state champion Quentin Nauman closing in 54.7 to edge Oregon's Josiah Tostenson, who split 55.8 for his final 440 yards. Nauman, who completed an historic triple (800-1600-3200) at the Iowa state meet two weeks earlier, broke Connor Burns' junior class national record with his 3:58.65 (#30 U.S. prep sub-4, and #25 since the launch of Bring Back the Mile). Tostenson clocked an outdoor PR of 3:59.00.
NOTE: Both high school races were paced by a non-HS runner, and three days later, at the Brooks PR Invite meet in Seattle, Hedengren blasted the 2 Mile in 9:17.75, another national record and #8 American female all-time.
In the Open race, Craig Engels and Christina Aragon were the winners in 3:56.28 and 4:29.38, respectively. Ten men went sub-4.
Prakel, Dayley champions again at Yakima Mile – June 7
At the Yakima Mile, Sam Prakel and Kayley DeLay again won their respective races in 3:53 and 4:24. Prakel produced his third title, also 2021-22, and DeLay defended her crown.
Fast, deep Dream Mile at Oslo Bislett Games – June 12
A record tying 11 men in the same race went sub-3:50 in the Dream Mile at the Oslo Bislett Games in Norway. Isaac Nader of Portugal set a national record to hold off the Australian phenom Cameron Myers, who just turned 19, 3:48.25 to 3:48.87, and 9 other men sub-3:50. Later, Nader won the World 1500m title in Tokyo.
Four other outdoor national records were set by Robert Farken (GER), 3:49.12, Samuel Pihlström (SWE), 3:49.70, Federico Riva (ITA), 3:49.72 and Ruben Verheyden (BEL), 3:50.67. In addition, American Vince Ciattei broke 3:50 for the first time to finish 8th (3:49.37), also becoming the 8th fastest American outdoors, and 10 of the 13 finishers set personal records.
Laros outleans Nuguse at Bowerman Mile – July 5
In a photo finish at the Bowerman Mile, part of the 50th Prefontaine Classic, Niels Laros of The Netherlands charged down the home stretch like a runaway train to nip frontrunner Yared Nuguse at the finish line, 3:45.94 to 3:45.95. Laros, just 20, set a national record. France’s Azeddine Habz, who ran with Nuguse until the final 300, took third in 3:46.65, also a national record. Reigning Olympic champion Cole Hocker finished fourth in 3:47.43, a personal record, and Aussie Cameron Myers, 19, ran 3:47.50 for sixth place, setting a World Junior record. NOTE: Hocker later won the World 5000m title in Tokyo.
A record 13 men went sub-3:50 (previous record 11, tied by two races). In addition, places 4-15 clocked the fastest times for place in arguably the greatest men’s Mile ever.
In the International Mile run earlier, recent North Carolina grad Ethan Strand won in 3:48.46, leading two other men under 3:50, Vince Ciattei (3:49.68) and Gary Martin (3:49.73). In 11th place was Owen Powell from Washington, who ended his high school career with his third sub-4 of the year, running 3:58.12.
The Bowerman Mile is traditionally the last event at the Prefontaine Classic, but this year, the women’s 1500 meters closed the golden edition headlined by 1500 and Mile world record holder Faith Kipyegon, and the finale did not disappoint. The three-time Olympic champion clicked off three consecutive 61-point 400s and cruised unchallenged to a world record time of 3:48.68, bettering her previous mark of 3:49.04. Overall, 11 women went sub-3:50.
Women’s Mile a scorcher at London Diamond League meet – July 19
At the sold-out, 60,000 strong, London Diamond League meet, under ideal racing conditions, the women’s Mile was a burner with #2 all-time performance (Gudaf Tsegay (ETH), 4:11.88, also meet record), #5 all-time outdoors (Jessica Hull (AUS), 4:13.68, second), 2 area records (Hull and Sinclair Johnson, 4:16.32, also U.S. record), 7 national records, 13 personal records, and overall, a record 11 under 4:20 and a track record sub-4:30 (16) plus best times for place #2 and #9-16; in short, the deepest and greatest women’s Mile ever. Wow!
Robinson, Morris win fast Sir Walter Miler – August 8
At the Sir Walter Miler in Raleigh, NC, Ky Robinson of Australia led a group of 11 men under 4 minutes, his winning time of 3:50.80 set a North Carolina state record. Countryman Olli Hoare was right behind in 3:50.96, also besting the previous mark of 3:51.89 by Waleed Suliman at the 2024 race.
In the women’s race, Gracie Morris won from the gun in 4:23.74, a personal record. Rachel McArthur followed closely in second, 4:23.98, with Angel Piccirillo taking third in 4:25.13. Sadie Engelhardt finished 7th, running a California high school state record of 4:27.13 to close her impressive HS career as the second fastest U.S. girl prep outdoors. NOTE: Engelhardt ran a record 17 sub-4:40 Mile times, the most by any high schooler. Overall, a record 9 U.S. women ran sub-4:30 in the same race.
Kidder, Morris top Guardian Mile – August 9
In Cleveland at the 7th Guardian Mile over the iconic Memorial Bridge, Brandon Kidder and Gracie Morris beat strong fields, crossing the finish line unchallenged in 3:58 and 4:31, respectively.
Nuguse, Morris win wet, fast New Balance 5th Avenue Mile – September 7
At the 44th New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, under wet conditions, Olympic bronze medalist and U.S. Mile record holder Yared Nuguse and rising star Gracie Morris (left) won their respective races in 3:47.7 and 4:15.5, both the third fastest time in the iconic race’s history.
In an American sweep, the respective second and third place finishers were: Parker Wolfe (3:48.1) & Drew Hunter (3:48.1) and Kayley DayLay (4:17.4) & defending champion Karissa Schweizer (4:17.6).
Overall, 23 men broke sub-4 (record, road or track), 10 men sub-3:50 (road record) and 19 women sub-4:30 (record, road or track). The world’s largest road Mile also had more than 8,400 finishers.
Faith’s fast, season ending Mile – October 10
In New York City, Faith Kipyegon won the ATHLOS Mile in 4:17.78, running the fastest outdoor track women’s time on U.S. soil and the fastest in the month of October. Early race leader, Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia finished second in 4:19.75. For the win, Kipyegon earned $60,000, the largest non-record payout in the Mile.
Johnson supreme at Kalakaua Merrie Mile – December 13
As part of the Honolulu Marathon weekend, Sinclaire Johnson won the Kalakaua Merrie Mile in 4:21.66, setting U.S. and U.S. All-Comers road records, running the #2 woman’s road time and earning $10,000. In the 31-second women’s head start handicap race, defending champion Nikki Hiltz was second in 4:24.81 and Josh Hoey, third and first man, crossing the finish line in 3:55.15.
