Mile News


The Gregoreks Join Exclusive Father / Son Sub-4 Club

February 19, 2015

To-date, only eight father / son combos have broken 4 minutes for the storied distance

By Bring Back the Mile

On February 14, 2015 at the venerable NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile, John "Johnny" Gregorek, Jr. (right) finished 10th in 3:57.47 for his first sub-4 minute Mile to join his father, a two-time U.S. Olympic team member in the steeplechase, in that benchmark club (more than 1,350 men and counting since May 1954). Moreover, the Gregoreks entered an even more rarefied group as only the 8th father / son sub-4 combo.

The first father / son combo to break 4 minutes was two-time Olympic champion and running legend Kip Keino and his son Martin Keino of Kenya who clocked 3:54.2 (1965) and 3:58.73 (1994), respectively, while Barry and Darren Brown were the first U.S. father / son combo sub-4, 3:58.8 (1973) and 3:59.99 (2008), respectively.

Below is a chronological order and summary of the 8 fathers and sons who have run under 4 minutes for the Mile.

#1 – first overall
AVE = 3:52.72 (Kip = 3:53.1 and Martin = 3:52.33) – #1 fastest PR average
3:54.16 Kip Keino (KEN) 08/30/65
3:58.73 Martin Keino (KEN) 06/04/94

#2 – first U.S.
AVE = 3:58.83 (Barry = 3:58.8 and Darren = 3:58.85) – #8
3:58.8   Barry Brown (USA) 05/13/73
3:59.99 Darren Brown (USA) 04/05/08

#3
AVE = 3:52.74 (Matt = 3:54.94 and Matthew = 3:50.53) – #2
3:59.2    Matt Centrowitz (USA) 05/24/75
3:57.92i Matthew Centrowitz (USA) 02/14/09

#4
AVE = 3:53.93 (David = 3:59.35 and Asbel = 3:48.50) – #3
3:59.35 David Kebenei (KEN), 07/17/82
3:48.50 Asbel Kiprop (KEN), 06/07/09

#5
AVE = 3:58.21 (Sam, Jr. = 3:56.7 and Sam, III = 3:59.72i) – #7
3:58.7   Sam Bair, Jr. (USA) 06/23/67
3:59.72i Sam Bair, III (USA) 02/13/10

#6
AVE = 3:54.55 (Eamonn = 3:49.78i and John = 3:59.32i) – #6
3:56.2    Eamonn Coghlan (IRL) 05/10/75
3:59.32i John Coghlan (IRL) 01/28/12

#7
AVE = 3:53.97 (Abdi = 3:49.40 and Ahmed = 3:58.54i) – #4
3:57.43  Abdi Bile (SOM) 07/21/84
3:59.04i Ahmed Bile (USA) 01/31/15

#8
AVE = 3:54.41 (John = 3:51.34 and John, Jr. = 3:57.47i) – #5
3:57.10  John Gregorek (USA) 05/30/81 (photo right)
3:57.47i John Gregorek, Jr. (USA) 02/14/15

i = indoors

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

Updated Father-Son Sub-4 Combo list HERE.

SOURCE: BringBacktheMile.com

Tags: wanamaker mile (70) , sam bair jr. (2) , sam bair iii (5) , matthew centrowitz (132) , matt centrowitz (14) , kip keino (8) , johnny gregorek (32) , john gregorek (5) , eamonn coghlan (30) , darren brown (4) , barry brown (2) , asbel kiprop (11) , abdi bile (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!