Mile run
The mile run (1,760 yards[1] or exactly 1,609.344 metres) is a middle-distance foot race.
Athletics Mile run | |
---|---|
![]() Gunder Hägg (right) defeats Arne Andersson with a world record for the mile of 4:06.2 min in Gothenburg in 1942. | |
World records | |
Men | ![]() |
Women | ![]() |
The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races. It survived track and field's switch to metric distances in the 1900s and retained its popularity, with the chase for the four-minute mile in the 1950s a high point for the race.
In spite of the roughly equivalent 1500 metres race, the mile run is present in all fields of athletics and it remains the only imperial distance for which the IAAF records an official world record. Although the mile does not feature at any major championship competition, the Wanamaker Mile, Dream Mile, and Bowerman Mile races are among the foremost annual middle-distance races indoors and outdoors, respectively.
The current mile world record holders are Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj with a time of 3:43.13 and Sifan Hassan of The Netherlands with the women's record of 4:12.33.
The record for the fastest mile ever run in any course is held by Craig Wheeler, who ran a downhill mile in 1993 in a time of 3:24.[2] Wheeler’s time is not an officially recognized record however due to the downhill grade of the course he ran.
History
The distance of the English mile gained its current definition of 1,760 yards through a statute of the Parliament of England in 1593.[3] Thus, the history of the mile run began in England and it initially found usage within the wagered running contests of the 18th and 19th century. Such contests would attract large numbers of spectators and gamblers – so many that the activity became a professional one for its more-established participants.[4]
The mile run was at the heart of the divide between professional and amateur sports in the late 19th century. Separate world record categories were kept for amateurs and professionals, with professional runners providing the faster times. High-profile contests between Britons William Cummings and Walter George brought much publicity to the sport, as did George's races against the American Lon Myers. The mile run was also one of the foremost events at the amateur AAA Championships.[4] The categories remained distinct but the respective rise in amateurism and decline of the professional sector saw the division become irrelevant in the 20th century.[5]
![](../I/m/Bannister_and_Landy.jpg)
The mile run continued to be a popular distance in spite of the metrication of track and field and athletics in general. It was the 1500 metres – sometimes referred to as the metric mile – which was featured on the Olympic athletics programme. The International Amateur Athletics Federation formed in 1912 and ratified the first officially recognised world record in the mile the following year (4:14.4 minutes run by John Paul Jones).[6] The fact that the mile run was the only imperial distance to retain its official world record status after 1970 reflects its continued popularity in the international (and principally metric) era.[7]
The top men's middle distance runners continued to compete in the mile run in the first half of the 1900s – Paavo Nurmi, Jack Lovelock and Sydney Wooderson were all world record holders over the distance.[6] In the 1940s, Swedish runners Gunder Hägg and Arne Andersson pushed times into a new territory, as they set three world records each during their rivalry over the decade.[8] The act of completing a sub-four-minute mile sparked further interest in the distance in the 1950s. Englishman Roger Bannister became the first person to achieve the feat in May 1954 and his effort, conducted with the help of Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, was a key moment in the rise of the use of pacemakers at the top level of the sport – an aspect which is now commonplace at non-championship middle and long-distance races.[9][10]
![](../I/m/Augustine_Choge_Kiprono.jpg)
The 1960s saw American Jim Ryun set world records near the 3:50-minute mark and his achievements popularised interval workout techniques.[8] From this period onwards, African runners began to emerge, breaking the largely white, Western dominance of the distance. Kenya's Kip Keino won the mile at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (which was among the last mile races to be held at a major multi-sport event).[11] Filbert Bayi of Tanzania became Africa's first world record holder over the distance in 1975, although New Zealander John Walker broke the record further a few months later to become the first man under 3:50 minutes for the event. The 1980s was highlighted by the rivalry between British runners Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, who improved the record five times between them, including two records at the Oslo Dream Mile race. Noureddine Morceli brought the mile record back into African hands in 1993 and Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj set the current record of 3:43.13, which has stood since 1999.[6]
Mile run contests remain a key feature of many annual track and field meetings, with long-running series such as the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, Dream Mile at the Bislett Games, the British Emsley Carr Mile, and the Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic being among the most prominent. Aside from track races, mile races are also occasionally contested in cross country running and mile runs on the road include the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City
Records
![](../I/m/Carlos_ga...jpg)
Outdoor
Area | Men's | Women's | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Time | Athlete | Time | Athlete | |
World | 3:43.13 | ![]() | 4:12.33 | ![]() |
Continental records | ||||
Africa | 3:43.13 | ![]() | 4:16.71 | ![]() |
Asia | 3:47.97 | ![]() | 4:17.75 | ![]() |
Europe | 3:46.32 | ![]() | 4:12.33 | ![]() |
North, Central America and Caribbean | 3:46.91 | ![]() | 4:16.71 | ![]() |
Oceania | 3:48.98 | ![]() | 4:21.40 | ![]() |
South America | 3:51.05 | ![]() | 4:30.05 | ![]() |
Indoor
Area | Men's | Women's | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Time | Athlete | Time | Athlete | |
World | 3:47.01 | ![]() | 4:13.31 | ![]() |
Continental records | ||||
Africa | 3:47.01 | ![]() | 4:13.31 | ![]() |
Asia | 3:57.05 | ![]() | 4:24.71 | ![]() |
Europe | 3:49.78 | ![]() | 4:17.14 | ![]() |
North, Central America and Caribbean | 3:49.89 | ![]() | 4:16.85 | ![]() |
Oceania | 3:51.46 | ![]() | 4:24.14 | ![]() |
South America | 3:56.26 | ![]() | 4:42.24 | ![]() |
All-time top 25
![](../I/m/SteveCram.jpg)
- i = indoor performance
- ht = hand timing
![](../I/m/Women's_Mile_at_the_Adidas_Boost_Boston_Games_in_2019.gif)
Men
- Correct as of March 2019.[12]
Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3:43.13 | Hicham El Guerrouj | ![]() |
7 July 1999 | Golden Gala | |
2 | 3:43.40 | Noah Ngeny | ![]() |
|||
3 | 3:44.39 | Noureddine Morceli | ![]() | 5 September 1993 | Rieti Meeting | |
4 | 3:46.32 | Steve Cram | ![]() | 27 July 1985 | Bislett Games | |
5 | 3:46.38 | Daniel Komen | ![]() |
26 August 1997 | ISTAF Berlin | |
6 | 3:46.70 | Vénuste Niyongabo | ![]() |
|||
7 | 3:46.76 | Saïd Aouita | ![]() | 2 July 1987 | Helsinki | |
8 | 3:46.91 | Alan Webb | ![]() | 21 July 2007 | Brasschaat | |
9 | 3:47.01i | Yomif Kejelcha | ![]() |
3 March 2019 | Boston | [13] |
10 | 3:47.28 | Bernard Lagat | ![]() |
29 June 2001 | Golden Gala | |
11 | 3:47.32 | Ayanleh Souleiman | ![]() |
31 May 2014 | Eugene | [14] |
12 | 3:47.33 | Sebastian Coe | ![]() | 28 August 1981 | Brussels | |
13 | 3:47.65 | Laban Rotich | ![]() |
4 July 1997 | Oslo | |
14 | 3:47.69 | Steve Scott | ![]() | 7 July 1982 | Oslo | |
15 | 3:47.79 | José Luis González | ![]() | 27 July 1985 | Oslo | |
16 | 3:47.88 | John Kibowen | ![]() |
4 July 1997 | Oslo | |
3:47.88 | Silas Kiplagat | ![]() |
31 May 2014 | Eugene | ||
18 | 3:47.94 | William Chirchir | ![]() |
28 July 2000 | Oslo | |
19 | 3:47.97 | Dahame Najem Bashir | ![]() | 29 July 2005 | Oslo | |
20 | 3:48.17 | Paul Korir | ![]() |
8 August 2003 | London | |
21 | 3:48.23 | Ali Saidi-Sief | ![]() | 13 July 2001 | Oslo | |
22 | 3:48.28 | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen | ![]() |
10 June 2007 | Eugene | |
23 | 3:48.38 | Andrés Manuel Díaz | ![]() |
29 June 2001 | Rome | |
24 | 3:48.40 | Steve Ovett | ![]() |
26 August 1981 | Koblenz | |
William Kemei | ![]() |
21 August 1992 | Berlin |
Notes
Below is a list of all other times superior to 3:48.00:
- Hicham El Guerrouj also ran 3:44.60 (1998), 3:44.90 (1997), 3:44.95 (2001),3:45.64 (1997), 3:45.96 (2000), 3:46.24 (2000), 3:47.10 (1999) and 3:47.91 (2000).
- Noah Ngeny also ran 3:47.67 (2000)
- Noureddine Morceli also ran 3:45.19 (1995), 3:46.78 (1993), 3:47.30 (1993), 3:47.78 (1993)
- Daniel Komen also ran 3:47.85 (1997)
- Saïd Aouita also ran 3:46.92 (1985)
Women
- Correct as of July 2019.[15]
![](../I/m/Sonia_osullivan_2000-2.jpg)
Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4:12.33 | Sifan Hassan | ![]() |
12 July 2019 | Monaco | [16] |
2 | 4:12.56 | Svetlana Masterkova | ![]() | 14 August 1996 | Zürich | |
3 | 4:13.31 i | Genzebe Dibaba | ![]() |
17 February 2016 | Stockholm | [17] |
4 | 4:15.61 | Paula Ivan | ![]() | 10 July 1989 | Nice | |
5 | 4:15.8 | Natalya Artyomova | ![]() | 5 August 1984 | Leningrad | |
6 | 4:16.14 | Gudaf Tsegay | ![]() |
22 July 2018 | London | [18] |
7 | 4:16.15 | Hellen Obiri | ![]() |
22 July 2018 | London | [18] |
8 | 4:16.71 | Mary Slaney | ![]() | 21 August 1985 | Zürich | |
4:16.71 | Faith Kipyegon | ![]() | 11 September 2015 | Brussels | [19] | |
10 | 4:16.85 i | Elle Purrier | ![]() |
8 February 2020 | New York City | [20] |
11 | 4:17.14 i | Doina Melinte | ![]() |
9 February 1990 | East Rutherford | |
12 | 4:17.25 | Sonia O'Sullivan | ![]() | 22 July 1994 | Oslo | |
13 | 4:17.26 i | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | ![]() |
8 February 2020 | New York City | [21] |
14 | 4:17.30 | Jenny Simpson | ![]() |
22 July 2018 | London | [18] |
15 | 4:17.33 | Maricica Puica | ![]() | 21 August 1985 | Zürich | |
16 | 4:17.57 | Zola Budd | ![]() | 21 August 1985 | Zürich | |
17 | 4:17.60 | Laura Weightman | ![]() |
12 July 2019 | Monaco | [22] |
18 | 4:17.75 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal | ![]() | 14 September 2007 | Brussels | |
19 | 4:17.87 | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford | ![]() |
12 July 2019 | Monaco | [23] |
20 | 4:17.88 i | Jemma Reekie | ![]() |
8 February 2020 | New York City | [24] |
21 | 4:18.03 | Laura Muir | ![]() |
9 July 2017 | London | [25] |
22 | 4:18.23 | Gelete Burka | ![]() | 7 September 2008 | Rieti Meeting | |
23 | 4:18.42 | Rababe Arafi | ![]() |
12 July 2019 | Monaco | [26] |
24 | 4:18.58 | Axumawit Embaye | ![]() |
12 July 2019 | Monaco | |
25 | 4:18.65 | Winnie Nanyondo | ![]() |
12 July 2019 | Monaco | [28] |
Notes
Below is a list of other times superior to 4:18.65:
- Genzebe Dibaba also ran 4:14.30 (2016), 4:16.05 (2017).
- Sifan Hassan also ran 4:14.71 (2018), 4:18.20 (2015).
- Hellen Obiri also ran 4:16.56 (2017).
- Natalya Artyomova also ran 4:17.00 (1991).
- Maricica Puica also ran 4:17.44 (1982), 4:18.25 (1986).
- Mary Slaney also ran 4:18.08 (1982).
- Doina Melinte also ran 4:18.13 (1990).
- Gudaf Tsegay also ran 4:18.31 (2019).
- Faith Kipyegon also ran 4:18.60 (2016).
All-time top 19, indoor
Men
- Correct as of March 2019.[29]
Women
- Correct as of February 2020.[32]
Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4:13.31 | Genzebe Dibaba | ![]() | 17 February 2016 | Globen Galan | |
2 | 4:16.85 | Elle Purrier | ![]() |
8 February 2020 | Millrose Games | [33] |
3 | 4:17.14 | Doina Melinte | ![]() | 9 February 1990 | Meadowlands Arena | |
4 | 4:17.26 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | ![]() |
8 February 2020 | Millrose Games | [34] |
5 | 4:17.88 | Jemma Reekie | ![]() |
8 February 2020 | Millrose Games | [35] |
6 | 4:18.75 | Laura Muir | ![]() |
16 February 2019 | Arena Birmingham | [36] |
7 | 4:18.99 | Paula Ivan | ![]() | 10 February 1989 | Meadowlands Arena | |
8 | 4:19.73 | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford | ![]() |
8 February 2020 | Millrose Games | [37] |
9 | 4:19.89 | Sifan Hassan | ![]() | 11 February 2017 | Millrose Games | |
10 | 4:20.5 | Mary Decker-Tabb | ![]() | 19 February 1982 | San Diego Sports Arena | |
11 | 4:21.79 | Regina Jacobs | ![]() | 8 January 2000 | New Balance Mile Challenge | |
12 | 4:22.66 | Shannon Rowbury | ![]() | 31 January 2015 | Wake Forest Invitational | |
13 | 4:22.86 | Colleen Quigley | ![]() |
9 February 2019 | Fort Washington Avenue Armory | [38] |
14 | 4:22.93 | Kate Grace | ![]() | 11 February 2017 | Millrose Games | |
15 | 4:23.00 | Carla Sacramento | ![]() | 24 February 2002 | Meeting Pas de Calais | |
16 | 4:23.19 | Gabriela Szabo | ![]() |
4 February 2001 | Sparkassen Cup | |
17 | 4:23.33 | Kutre Dulecha | ![]() |
4 February 2001 | Sparkassen Cup | |
18 | 4:23.49 | Olga Komyagina | ![]() |
27 January 2008 | Moscow | |
19 | 4:23.50 | Axumawit Embaye | ![]() |
21 February 2015 | Arena Birmingham |
Youth age records
Key: Incomplete information
Boys
Age | Time | Athlete | Nation | Birthdate | Date | Location | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 6:33.3 | Daniel Skandera | ![]() | 2 November 2007 | 23 July 2013 | Santa Rosa | |
6 | 5:44.4 | Daniel Skandera | ![]() | 2 November 2007 | 5 August 2014 | Santa Rosa | |
7 | 5:20.3 | Daniel Skandera | ![]() | 2 November 2007 | 9 June 2015 | Santa Rosa | |
8 | 5:12.1 | Daniel Skandera | ![]() | 2 November 2007 | 9 August 2016 | Santa Rosa | |
9 | 5:02.5 | Daniel Skandera | ![]() | 2 November 2007 | 27 June 2017 | Santa Rosa | |
10 | 4:46.6 | Daniel Skandera | ![]() | 2 November 2007 | 24 July 2018 | Santa Rosa | |
11 | 4:43.9 | Daniel Skandera | ![]() | 2 November 2007 | 1 November 2019 | Oakland | |
12 | 4:36.80 | Jeremy Kain | ![]() | 18 August 2004 | 13 July 2017 | Los Gatos | |
13 | 4:26.49 | James Burke | ![]() | 5 August 1997 | 21 May 2011 | Schenectady | |
14 | 4:19.01 i | Marcus Reilly | ![]() | 13 November 2005 | 28 December 2019 | Boston | |
15 | 4:08.8 | Jim Arriola | ![]() | 10 June 1958 | 22 April 1972 | Long Beach | |
16 | 3:56.29 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | ![]() | 19 September 2000 | 15 June 2017 | Oslo | [39] |
3:54.63 | Victor Torres | ![]() | 19 April 1989 | 14 June 2005 | New York | ||
17 | 3:50.90 | Hamza Driouch | ![]() | 16 November 1994 | 7 June 2012 | Oslo | [40] |
18 | 3:49.77 | Caleb Ndiku | ![]() | 9 October 1992 | 4 June 2011 | Eugene | [41] |
19 | 3:49.29 | William Biwott Tanui | ![]() | 5 March 1990 | 3 July 2009 | Oslo | [42] |
Girls
Age | Time | Athlete | Nation | Birthdate | Date | Location | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 6:36.0 | Celine Struijvé | ![]() | 10 November 2012 | 17 September 2019 | Epe | |
7 | 6:05.1 | Kristina Wilson | ![]() | 5 December 1963 | 5 June 1971 | ||
8 | 5:43.5 | Imogen Stewart | ![]() | 27 July 2005 | 10 December 2013 | Sydney | |
9 | 5:18.74 | Imogen Stewart | ![]() | 27 July 2005 | 17 January 2015 | Wollongong | |
10 | 5:04.19 | Imogen Stewart | ![]() | 27 July 2005 | 16 January 2016 | Wollongong | |
11 | 4:56.08 | Imogen Stewart | ![]() | 27 July 2005 | 4 March 2017 | Sydney | |
12 | 4:46.57 | Imogen Stewart | ![]() | 27 July 2005 | 13 January 2018 | Wollongong | |
13 | 4:44.73 | Imogen Stewart | ![]() | 27 July 2005 | 22 December 2018 | Sydney | |
14 | 4:40.1 i | Mary Decker | ![]() | 4 August 1958 | 16 March 1973 | Richmond | |
15 | 4:36.0 | Gunvor Hilde | ![]() | 13 November 1963 | 14 September 1979 | London | |
16 | 4:28.25i | Mary Cain | ![]() | 3 May 1996 | 16 February 2013 | New York | |
17 | 4:24.11i | Mary Cain | ![]() | 3 May 1996 | 24 January 2014 | Boston | |
18 | 4:24.10i | Kalkidan Gezahegne | ![]() | 8 May 1991 | 20 February 2010 | Birmingham | |
19 | 4:17.57 | Zola Budd | ![]() | 26 May 1966 | 21 August 1985 | Zurich |
Season's bests
Men
|
Women
|
- "i" indicates performance on 200m indoor track
See also
- 5 Mile - 5 mile run
References
- It has always been customary to give horizontal distances in yards and vertical distances in feet
- "Maniacs stand out a mile". The Independent. 20 July 1997. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- Mile (unit of measurement). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 12 June 2011.
- Bryant, John (2005). 3:59.4: The Quest to Break the 4 Minute Mile. Random House. ISBN 9780099469087.
- McMillan, Ken. "Classic weekend notebook: Running for a good cause". Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- 12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook Archived 29 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine (p. 546, 549–50). IAAF. Retrieved on 12 June 2011.
- World Outdoor Records. IAAF. Retrieved on 12 June 2011.
- Mile - Introduction. IAAF. Retrieved on 12 June 2011.
- 1954: Bannister breaks four-minute mile. BBC On This Day. Retrieved on 12 June 2011.
- Butcher, Pat (4 May 2004). Completely off pace. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2011-06-12.
- Commonwealth Games Medallists - Men. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 12 June 2011.
- "World Records". International Association of Athletics Federations. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- "Kejelcha breaks world indoor mile record with 3:47.01 in Boston". IAAF. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- "Bowerman Mile Results" (PDF). www.diamondleague-eugene.com. 31 May 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- "All-time women's best Mile run". alltime-athletics.com. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- Mike Rowbottom (12 July 2019). "Hassan breaks world mile record in Monaco with 4:12.33 - IAAF Diamond League". IAAF. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- Mike Rowbottom (17 February 2016). "Dibaba and Souleiman break world indoor records in Stockholm". IAAF. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- "Mile Run Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "Mile Run Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- Mike Rowbottom (12 July 2019). "Hassan breaks world mile record in Monaco with 4:12.33 - IAAF Diamond League". IAAF. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- Mike Rowbottom (12 July 2019). "Hassan breaks world mile record in Monaco with 4:12.33 - IAAF Diamond League". IAAF. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- "Mile Run Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- "Mile run Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- "Mile run Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- "Mile run Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- "All-time men's best Mile Run indoor". IAAF. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- "Mile Run Invitational Results". lancertiming.com. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- "Mile run Results". runnerspace.com. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/middle-long/one-mile/indoor/women/senior?regionType=world&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true&oversizedTrack=regular&firstDay=1899-12-30&lastDay=2020-02-09
- "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- John Mulkeen (16 February 2019). "Tefera breaks world indoor 1500m record in Birmingham". IAAF. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- Rich Sands (10 February 2019). "Millrose Games Women — American 800 Record For Ajee' Wilson". trackandfieldnews.com. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- "Dream Miles results" (PDF). 15 June 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- "2012 Bislett Games--Oslo Diamond League". Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- "2011 Prefontaine Classic Results". Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- "Search Mile History – Mile History". Retrieved 14 November 2016.
External links
- McMillan, Ken. "Classic weekend notebook: Running for a good cause". recordonline.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.