By Harry Poole, BBC Sport journalist

Great Britain's Josh Kerr will attempt to break the long-standing men's outdoor Mile world record at the London Diamond League meeting this summer.

Hicham El Guerrouj's current mark of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds has stood since 1999.

Kerr, who won his third world title by storming to indoor 3000m gold in Poland last week, has a personal best of 3:45.34 over the Mile distance - a British record which places him sixth on the all-time list.

"It's been a huge goal of my career. It's one of the oldest world records on the track and I think it's one of the most important ones," Kerr told BBC Sport.

"It has stood the test of time and needs a huge amount of respect. With the training numbers that we're putting up, I think this year is such a great opportunity to have a real crack at it while not giving up other opportunities.

"It's something that I feel confident to talk about going after. It's a really exciting time."

The London meet, one of 15 stops in this season's Diamond League schedule, takes place on Saturday, July 18.

Kerr reclaimed the indoor 3000m title he won in Glasgow two years ago to complete his post-injury return to global success.

That came six months after the 28-year-old's world 1500m title defence in Tokyo was ruined when he tore a calf muscle during the final.

Back to full health and with no outdoor World Championship to target in 2026, the Olympic 1500m medalist has decided to chase the mark of Morocco's El Guerrouj over a Mile, the iconic distance at which he will seek Commonwealth gold on home soil two weeks later.

"This sport needs moments. I think that setting my goals and being very clear on that is a huge part of giving this record the respect that it deserves," Kerr said.

"To do it in front of a British crowd would just make it extremely special. It's going to be a tough one but I truly think that I'm capable of going after these times."

Continue reading at: bbc.com

Mile world record progression HERE.

World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that Ireland's 1956 Olympic 1500m champion Ron Delany died on Wednesday, March 11 at the age of 91.

Delany is best remembered for winning the 1956 Olympic 1500m title in Melbourne with a devastating kick finish, setting an Olympic record of 3:41.2, aged just 21-years-old at the time. He remains the last Irish athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics.

Born in Arklow, County Wicklow, on March 6, 1935, Delany moved to Dublin as a child and developed into one of the most talented middle-distance runners of his generation. He studied at Villanova University in the United States under renowned coach Jumbo Elliott and enjoyed remarkable success on the collegiate circuit, winning multiple NCAA titles and establishing himself as a dominant middle-distance runner, particularly indoors where he set Mile world record three times (1958-59).

In 1956, he joined the exclusive group of athletes to break the 4 minute barrier for the Mile, Ireland’s first sub-4, running 3:59.0 earlier that year before going on to achieve Olympic glory in Melbourne. His victory sparked enormous interest in athletics in Ireland and elevated him to national hero status.

Delany continued to compete internationally in the years that followed, claiming bronze in the 1500m at the 1958 European Championships in Stockholm and representing Ireland again at the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960.

After retiring from competitive athletics in 1962, Delany enjoyed a successful career in business and sports administration while remaining a passionate ambassador for athletics. He later established a sports marketing and consultancy company and was active for many years within the Irish Olympians Association, continuing to inspire generations of athletes.

Delany’s achievements have long been recognized and celebrated both in Ireland and internationally.

In 2006, he was granted the Freedom of the City of Dublin, while facilities, streets and community landmarks in Ireland have been named in his honor in recognition of his enduring legacy.

“It is incredibly sad to learn of the passing of Ron Delany, whose Olympic 1500m victory in Melbourne – remaining Ireland’s last Olympic gold in athletics – made him a colossus of Irish athletics,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “Ron inspired generations of Irish athletes through his successes in U.S. collegiate track & field. His athletics career burned incredibly brightly but relatively briefly before he transplanted his uncompromising drive and will on the track to a successful career in business and as an inspiring leader in Irish sport over several decades. I cherished his support, friendship and the moments we shared together, not least at the World Athletics Heritage Mile Night in 2019 when we brought together the band of brothers whose feats in the Mile distance resonated across the sporting world.”

One of Delany’s prize possessions – a silver bowl for winning the 1959 Philadelphia Inquirer Mile – forms part of the World Athletics Heritage Collection.

Delany died in Dublin following a short illness, just days after celebrating his 91st birthday.

By David Woods, Special to IndyStar

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Nothing ever will compare to the Olympic Games, but Cole Hocker was feeling vibes similar to those from Stade de France.

The JDL Track was bulging with fans beyond listed capacity of 3,000 Saturday night. The ASICS Sound Invite featured lights, sound, camera.

Hocker supplied the action.

“Obviously, it’s a fraction of the people in Paris, but in a much tighter area. It was deafening,” he said. “Every lap felt like it was the last lap of the race. Eight hundred meters into it, I had to rein it in. It’s easy to get excited amid all the chaos.”

Hocker made a bid for an indoor world record and settled for an American record, running the Mile in 3:45.94, #2 all-time indoors and #2 absolute U.S. Mile time.

The 24-year-old Indianapolis native was surrounded afterward by fans wanting autographs and photos. And if anyone wondered whether this banked, 200 meter oval is indeed a fast track, he stated:

“Take it from me. The track feels amazing.”

Hocker was so close to the pacemaker that he was clipping his heels. The finish was so fast – 27.34 for last 200 meters, 54.82 for 400, 1:51.70 for 800 – that there was evidence Hocker did not expend everything.

The Cathedral High graduate broke the U.S. record of 3:46.63 set by Notre Dame grad Yared Nuguse at New York’s Millrose Games famed Wanamaker Mile in February 2025. Hocker’s 1500 meter time en route, 3:30.80, also broke Nuguse’s record of 3:31.74.

Continue reading at: indystar.com

Full race video below.

From Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa – Registration for the 17th Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield opens today, Tuesday, Feb. 10, kicking off a two-day flash sale of just $10. The event returns to downtown Des Moines on Tuesday evening, April 21, 2026, bringing together professional competitors, Masters athletes and community runners of all ages. This year marks the 10th consecutive year the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark will host the USATF 1 Mile Championships and the first year for the USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships, giving fans a full evening of pro and Masters competition.

This year's excitement includes the return of last year's champions, Krissy Gear and Vince Ciattei, who will defend their national road titles. Gear electrified downtown Des Moines in 2025 by shattering the American road Mile record with a 4:23.98 performance, while Ciattei claimed his third USATF 1 Mile crown and defended his 2025 title, both victories coming against world class fields.

The event also welcomes Justin Fiske as part of the USATF Masters 1 Mile, where he'll aim to break the Masters U.S. Record in the 40–44 age group. In addition to Justin, many of America's top Masters athletes will descend on Des Moines this April, with the potential for new records on 'World Record Way.'

"In 2026, the Grand Blue Mile will showcase the full spectrum of competitive running," said Blake Boldon, Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "We are thrilled to welcome back our champions and see Masters athletes target national titles and historic records, all on a fast downtown course that brings the community together in fitness and celebration."

While the elite competition takes center stage, the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark, a Bring Back the Mile Featured Event, remains a family‑friendly event for all abilities. Recreational runners, youth participants and families can celebrate fitness together, making the evening a true community experience.

Registration for the 2026 Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark is open today, Feb. 10, with the $10 flash sale available Feb. 10–11. Don't miss the chance to be part of the excitement - register and learn more at GrandBlueMile.com.

About the Grand Blue Mile
The Grand Blue Mile, a Drake Relays event presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is an annual spring Mile run / walk designed to encourage fitness, wellness and personal achievement. Established in 2010, the event includes recreational, competitive and invitational races featuring elite and Masters athletes from across the nation.

EUGENE, Ore. - The world’s most prestigious Mile race will feature the best of who’s now and who’s next in the men’s Mile as the next generation tries to keep pace with Olympic and World Championship medalists. Since being dedicated to Bill Bowerman in 2000, the Bowerman Mile has seen 298 sub-4 minute performances. In the last 25 years, seven of the world’s ten fastest Mile times have come from the Pre Classic’s Bowerman Mile race at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

The 2025 Bowerman Mile saw 13 men dip under 3:50 in a race that produced two national records and six personal records. One of those PRs was from Cole Hocker (Indianapolis, Indiana), the headliner of the 2026 Bowerman Mile. Known for his fearless racing style and championship-closing speed, Cole is the reigning Olympic 1500m gold medalist from Paris and won his first World Championship title in the 5000m last year in Tokyo. As a student-athlete for the University of Oregon, Hocker won four NCAA titles. His PR in the Mile at last year’s Pre Classic was clocked at 3:47.43.

Two teenage speedsters will try to chase down Hocker and enter their own names into the Prefontaine Classic record books. Cameron Myers (Australia) will return to Hayward Field seeking to improve on a sixth-place finish in last year’s Bowerman Mile. At the age of just 19, Cam became the youngest-ever winner of the Wanamaker Mile race at last month’s Millrose Games in New York. His career best in the Mile is 3:47.48, which is a world U20 record. Myers' second and third fastest career performances in the Mile have come in Bowerman Mile races (2024 - 3:50.15 & 2025 - 3:47.50).

Joining Hocker and Myers on the starting line will be Sam Ruthe (New Zealand), who last year broke the coverted 4 minute mark in the Mile at the tender age of 15. Last month in Boston, Sam ran a 3:48.88 in his first-ever indoor race to produce a world U18 record. That mark also made Ruthe the youngest to break 3:50 in the Mile, which was previously notched in by Niel Laros (Netherlands) at the 2023 Prefontaine Classic. Laros is the reigning Bowerman Mile champion, and his 3:45.94 mark last year is a Netherlands national record.

The Bowerman Mile will take place on Saturday, July 4th, as part of the two-day event serving as the ninth stop on the 2026 Wanda Diamond League schedule.

Tickets, VIP Experience packages and Accommodations packages will go on sale on Wednesday, February 25 at 10:00am Pacific here.

NEW YORK - At the 118th Millrose Games on Sunday, February 1, with impressive closing speed, Cam Myers and Nikki Hiltz won their first Wanamaker Mile titles, clocking world leading times of 3:47.57 and 4:19.64, respectively.

In the men's race, on the final lap, the Australian Myers, at 19 the second youngest Wanamaker champion (1969 winner Marty Liquori, 19 too, but 95 days younger), pulled away from two Americans, three-time defending champion Yared Nuguse and Hobbs Kessler, who crossed the line in 3:48.31 and 3:48.68. American Nico Young finished strongly in fourth (3:48.72, personal record, #9 individual all-time indoors).

“In a race like this, I can do that,” Myers told LetsRun.com of his move from 300 meters out. “But you get to a championship and it’s difficult to do that. So I think even though this might be my best strategy [right now], I’ve still got to work on the other side. I can’t just be a one-trick pony.”

Hiltz battled Jessica Hull over the last lap, before blasting away from the Paris Olympic silver medalist for the win, 4:19.64 to 4:20.11. Hiltz’s time was an indoor PR to become only the third American woman sub-4:20 indoors. Klaudia Kazimierska captured third with a Polish record of 4:21.36.

“I just wanted to challenge myself and try something new,” Hiltz said. “I know I can close really fast and outkick someone at the end, but I wanted to see if I could hold someone off.”

Overall, a record 10 women went sub-4:25 indoors.

Full men's race video below.

By Jonathan Gault, LetsRun.com

BOSTON — As he prepared to run the first indoor race of his life on Saturday afternoon, January 31, Sam Ruthe sat down with his father, Ben, and ran through some possible outcomes. One week earlier, the Ruthes had been in Whanganui, on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, for the Cooks International Classic, where, on a pleasant summer evening, Sam had finished second in the Mile behind his training mate Sam Tanner. Ruthe’s time was 3:53.83, a world U18 best and the fastest Mile ever run by a 16-year-old.

That was the most recent data point available in forecasting Ruthe’s potential in the Mile at Saturday’s Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic, but Ruthe is at a point in his career where he is improving so rapidly that analyzing recent performances is not altogether helpful. In the last three months, Ruthe has lowered his 800m personal best from 1:50.57 to 1:49.59 to 1:46.81 to 1:45.86, while his 3:53 was an improvement of more than four seconds on his previous best Mile.

Then there was the travel to consider. After driving five hours on Sunday back to their home in Tauranga, a coastal city in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, the Ruthes had spent 50 hours traveling from the Kiwi summer into one of the harshest New England winters in several years, with Monday’s winter storm forcing them to make an unplanned 24-hour stopover in San Francisco on their way east.

Ruthe had managed a light workout of 6 x 200 meters at Harvard University’s indoor track on Thursday and a 30-minute shakeout around a parking garage on Friday to avoid the 23 inches of snow piled up around Boston’s streets. Still, his legs felt a bit heavy come race day.

On the other hand, Ruthe was about to run his first race at Boston University, the fastest indoor track in the world, against a field featuring the sort of depth and quality that is not available to him in domestic races in New Zealand.

Sam told Ben he thought running 3:56 would be a bad day. He felt that matching his time from Whanganui, 3:53, would be okay. Then they discussed a “blow your mind” number — a time that would require a great run but might be possible on a truly special day. Sam settled on 3:48.

World, consider your minds blown.

With frigid, 12-degree Fahrenheit temperatures outside, Ruthe cruised around BU’s launching pad of a track to run 3:48.88 and win the Mile at the Terrier Classic on Saturday. The time crushed Ruthe’s own age-16 and world U18 best, made him the youngest man ever under 3:50 — by more than a full year — and broke the legendary John Walker‘s 44-year-old absolute New Zealand record of 3:49.08, set outdoors in Oslo and shattered Nick Willis' national indoor record of 3:51.06 for 2016.

“I was coming into this race expecting to run sub-3:55,” Ruthe said. “I wasn’t even really expecting a PB. When I crossed the line and saw 3:48, I was a bit surprised myself.”

But that is all he was — a bit surprised. Ruthe’s 16-year-old face did not carry the sort of awestruck expression that usually accompanies a breakthrough of this magnitude. As he approached the finish line, he extended his right arm, clad in a blue and white Nike compression sleeve, and pointed to the stands, before raising the arm into the air, a single digit extended upward.

Ruthe was not collapsed on the track in exhaustion. He was not even bent over, trying to catch his breath. Ruthe made the rounds, shaking hands and posing for a couple of pictures. Within 60 seconds of crossing the finish line, he was conducting a post-race interview with FloTrack.

If you had not seen the previous eight laps, you would be hard-pressed to believe this was a human who had just run a Mile in 3:48. Let alone a 16-year-old.

Continue reading at: letsrun.com

Full race video with post-race interview below

WHANGANUI - New Zealand teen phemon Sam Ruthe became the fastest 16-year-old to ever run the Mile, achieving the feat at the Cooks Gardens Classic on Saturday night.

The Tauranga teenager clocked 3 minutes, 53.83 seconds, shattering the previous single age world record mark of 3:55.44 held by Australian Cam Myers (2023).

Ruthe was narrowly beaten to the finish line by two-time Olympian and training partner Sam Tanner, who helped push the youngster on, as he has done in other races on the domestic scene.

"It feels incredible. That was my goal coming into this race. I was trying to beat Tanner as well, but as soon as the gun started, I just wanted to run as fast as possible," Ruthe told TVNZ.

"To lead out some of this race was something I felt I just had to do. I'll hopefully get my time down faster."

Tanner, 25, defended his national men's senior Mile title, surging past Ruthe in the home straight to win in 3:53.36, just off the stadium record.

Both will leave for the United States next week, with Ruthe eyeing four indoor Mile races on successive weekends, in a campaign he believes will be important for his development.

Ruthe is now #7 on the list of all-time New Zealand Milers, having overtaken the legendary Sir Peter Snell.

From Millrose Games

The 118th Millrose Games, the world’s most historic indoor track & field event, will take place on Sunday, February 1 at the Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory. As always, the meet will conclude with the running of the NYRR Men’s Wanamaker Mile, one of the most legendary events in the entire sport. This race will once again be headlined by Yared Nuguse, the Paris Olympic 1500m bronze medalist who has won the last three editions of this venerable race. He will face off with a pair of familiar foes in young stars Hobbs Kessler and Cameron Myers, who placed second and third this past year.

Bernard Lagat won six consecutive Wanamaker Miles from 2005-10. The legend won this race a record eight times in total, one of the many highlights of his incredible career.

In addition to winning this event three years in a row, Nuguse, 26, has also run the three fastest times in NYRR Wanamaker Mile history. His 2025 mark of 3:46.63 set the indoor Mile world record, and another record-breaking performance could well be on the table.

“I’m very excited to be back at Millrose,” said Nuguse. “I always run a great race there and I’m looking forward to having another great performance. With any luck I’ll continue my winning streak!”

Winning four in a row will be no small feat against a field of this caliber.

Kessler, 22, took fifth place in the 1500m at the 2024 Olympics, and is a two-time national champion, as well as a World Indoor bronze medalist and the world champion in the Road Mile. Kessler has been a force to be reckoned with since bursting onto the scene with a high school record-setting performance in the Mile back in 2021.

At just 19 years of age, Myers is the World Junior Record holder in the indoor Mile, setting the Australian senior record as well with his run at the 2025 Millrose Games. Also an Australian national champion, Myers became the second-youngest athlete in history to break 4 minutes in the Mile.

Numerous other Olympians and highly accomplished athletes are lining up to challenge the trio of Nuguse, Kessler and Myers, with the full field to be announced at a later date.

“Last year was a race for the ages with Yared setting a world record and leading an indoor record eight men under 3:50 for the Mile at our amazing venue,” said Millrose Games Meet Director Ray Flynn. “I'm certain that the NYRR Wanamaker Mile at the 118th Millrose Games will be another epic race!”

New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City, producing 60 annual adult and youth races, including the TCS New York City Marathon, has proudly sponsored the NYRR Wanamaker Mile since 2014.

“The NYRR Wanamaker Mile remains one of the most anticipated races of the year, and New York Road Runners is proud to have supported this prestigious event for more than a decade as part of our vision to transform lives through the power of running,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners. “We’re excited to welcome Yared Nuguse – who set the world record in this very race last year – back to New York City following his triumphant NYRR racing debut at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile in September, and we look forward to an unforgettable day of world class competition and camaraderie as these professional athletes inspire the next generation of runners.”

The 118th Millrose Games is a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meet. Other athletes announced include Grant Fisher and Cole Hocker in the Burgess Family Foundation Men’s 2 Mile, Elle St. Pierre, Jess Hull and Nikki Hiltz in the NYRR Women’s Wanamaker Mile, and Joe Kovacs in the Men’s Shot Put.

More details about the meet, as well as information about buying tickets, can be found at https://www.millrosegames.org/ More .than 90% of the seats to the Millrose Games have already been sold.

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., 11 races had more than 1,000 finishers (second most ever, tie with 2023).
► 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
Just 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.

Soph Sheppard shines at New Balance Nationals Outdoor – June 21
At the New Balance Nationals Outdoor in Philadelphia, sophomore Paige Sheppard from Scotch Plains, NJ won the girls Mile in a swift 4:33.67, #6 U.S. prep individual, #3 U.S. girls-only and a New Jersey state record. Five other girls also went sub-4:40: Sadie Engelhardt (4:34.46), Abigail Hennessy (4:34.69, MA state record), Claire Stegall (4:36.89, TN state record), Hanne Thomsen (4:39.24) and Mallory Weller (4:39.32).

Junior Carter Smith from Lewistown, PA won the boys Mile in a PR 4:01.20, followed by Canadian Robin Lefebvre (4:02.07).

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 18 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.