Two high-school boys break 4-minute mile in the same race
For the first time ever, two high-schoolers ran sub-4:00 in the same event
Connor Burns and Gary Martin made history last night at the Festival of Miles, in St. Louis, MO.
Connor Burns Joins Gary Martin Under 4 Minutes At @FestivalofMiles
— DyeStat (@DyeStat) June 3, 2022
? https://t.co/KnRC6ozWmJ pic.twitter.com/cYptF08Tzy
58 years ago, the legendary Jim Ryun became the first high school athlete to run a sub-4-minute-mile. Since then, 15 other high school athletes have made it into the sub-4:00 category, with a record-breaking three of them in the past year. Last night’s events were particularly spectacular.
The men’s mile was the first time two high-school athletes had ever run sub-4:00 in the same race. Earlier this year, Martin shot to notoriety as he ran the fastest high school mile since Ryun, at 3:57.98. He bested that time yesterday, clocking in at 3:57.89. Burns came in behind him with a 3:58.83, a huge personal best from his previous 4:02.26.
The race also had fans marvelling as Burns broke a further record, becoming the first high school junior to run a sub-4:00 mile since Ryun.
History in St. Louis!
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) June 3, 2022
For the first time in history, two high school boys have broken 4:00 in the mile in the same race at the HOKA Festival of Miles.
Gary Martin 3:57.89 (pb, #5 all-time)
Connor Burns 3:58.83 (pb, #7 all-time) pic.twitter.com/5DGvB9phVU
2022 has been a noteworthy year for high school milers, as Colin Sahlman from California ran 3:56.24 at the Prefontaine Classic last week. Sahlman placed 3rd all-time among American high schoolers.
The mile may have been won by Paul Ryan, Jack Antsey, and Caleb Webb, but the youthful fourth and fifth finishers stole the crowd’s heart.