Mile run facts for kids
Quick facts for kids AthleticsMile run |
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Matt Centrowitz and Nick Willis racing for first place in the 2015 Wanamaker Mile. Centrowitz ended up beating Willis by 0.11 seconds, in a time of 3:51.35.
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| World records | |
| Men |  Josh Kerr (GBR) 3:42.66 (2026) |
| Women |  Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 4:07.64 (2023) |
| Short track world records | |
| Men |  Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:45.14 (2025) |
| Women |  Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 4:13.31 (2016) |
| World junior (U20) records | |
| Men |  Cameron Myers (AUS) 3:47.48 (2025) |
| Women | Birke Haylom (ETH) 4:17.13 (2023) |
The mile run is a famous running race that covers a distance of 1,760 yards. This is the same as 5,280 feet, or exactly 1,609.344 metres. It is known as a middle-distance event in athletics.
This race has a long and exciting history, especially in England. It became very popular for betting races many years ago. Even when most track and field events switched to metric distances in the 1900s, the mile run kept its special place. A big moment for the race was in the 1950s when runners tried to achieve the amazing four-minute mile.
Today, the mile run is still a key event in athletics. While the 1500 metres race is used in big events like the World Championships and Olympic Games, the mile run is unique. Since 1976, it is the only imperial distance that World Athletics officially recognizes for world records.
| Athletics Road Mile |
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2018 Women's Fifth Avenue Mile
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| World records | |
| Men | Elliot Giles (GBR) 3:51.3 (2024) |
| Women | Diribe Welteji (ETH) 4:20.98 (2023) |
The current world record holder for men in the mile run is Josh Kerr from Great Britain. He set an incredible time of 3:42.66 in 2026. For women, the world record is held by Faith Kipyegon from Kenya, with a time of 4:07.64, set in 2023.
Even though the mile is only a bit longer than the 1500 metres race, many runners find it much harder. Former world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj said the mile needs both physical and mental strength to run well.
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What is the Mile Run?
The mile run is a classic middle-distance race. It's a bit longer than a kilometer and a half. Runners need speed, endurance, and smart race strategy to do well.
A Race with History
The mile run started in England a long time ago. In the 18th and 19th centuries, people would bet on these races. This made running a professional sport for many athletes. By 1790, mile races were already being run in under five minutes.
In the late 1800s, the mile run was at the center of sports. There were separate records for professional and amateur runners. Famous rivalries, like those between Britons William Cummings and Walter George, made the sport very popular.
Many tracks in the United States and other countries used to be 440 yards long, which is a quarter of a mile. So, a mile race was exactly four laps. Even after many countries switched to metric measurements, the mile race remained popular. The 1500 metres race, sometimes called the "metric mile," became part of the Olympic athletics programme. However, the mile run kept its official world record status, showing how special it is.
The Famous Four-Minute Mile
In the 1950s, a big goal for runners was to complete a mile in under four minutes. This challenge captured the world's attention. On May 6, 1954, an English runner named Roger Bannister became the first person to achieve this amazing feat. He did it with the help of teammates who set the pace for him. This event was a huge moment in sports history.
After Bannister, other great runners continued to push the limits. American Jim Ryun set new records in the 1960s. He was the first high school student to run a mile in under four minutes. Later, African runners like Kenya's Kip Keino and Tanzania's Filbert Bayi started to dominate the distance. In 1975, John Walker from New Zealand became the first man to run under 3:50 minutes.
The 1980s saw exciting rivalries, especially between British runners Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett. They broke the world record five times between them. In 1993, Noureddine Morceli brought the record back to Africa. Then, Hicham El Guerrouj from Morocco set a world record of 3:43.13 in 1999, which stood for many years until Josh Kerr broke it in 2026.
Mile Run Today
Mile run races are still a big part of many track and field events. You can see them in school competitions, college meets, and professional races. Some of the most famous annual mile races include the Wanamaker Mile, Dream Mile, Emsley Carr Mile, and Bowerman Mile.
In the United States, the 1600 meters race is often run instead of the mile in high school competitions. Besides track races, mile runs are also held on roads, like the popular Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City.
In February 2025, it was announced that the mile run was being revived at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. It replaced the 1500 metres race, honoring the long tradition of the mile in Commonwealth nations.
Amazing Records in the Mile Run
Runners around the world continue to set incredible times in the mile run. These records show how fast and strong athletes can be.
World Records for Men and Women
Here are the current world records for the mile run:
- Men's Outdoor World Record: Josh Kerr (Great Britain) with 3:42.66 (set in 2026).
- Women's Outdoor World Record: Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) with 4:07.64 (set in 2023).
- Men's Indoor World Record: Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) with 3:45.14 (set in 2025).
- Women's Indoor World Record: Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia) with 4:13.31 (set in 2016).
- Men's Road Mile World Record: Elliot Giles (Great Britain) with 3:51.3 (set in 2024).
- Women's Road Mile World Record: Diribe Welteji (Ethiopia) with 4:20.98 (set in 2023).
Young Runners Setting Records
It's inspiring to see young athletes achieve great times in the mile run. Here are some of the fastest times recorded for different age groups:
Boys' Youth Records
| Age | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6:33.3 | Daniel Skandera |  United States |
23 July 2013 |
| 6 | 5:44.4 | Daniel Skandera | United States |
5 August 2014 |
| 7 | 5:20.3 | Daniel Skandera | United States |
9 June 2015 |
| 8 | 5:12.1 | Daniel Skandera | United States |
9 August 2016 |
| 9 | 5:02.5 | Daniel Skandera | United States |
27 June 2017 |
| 10 | 4:46.6 | Daniel Skandera | United States |
24 July 2018 |
| 11 | 4:36.04 | Archie Sideridis | Australia |
9 February 2023 |
| 12 | 4:35.66 | Quenton Lanese | United States |
20 May 2023 |
| 13 | 4:22.33 | Jackson Miller | United States |
1 June 2023 |
| 14 | 4:11.20 | Angus Wilkinson | Great Britain |
26 August 2023 |
| 15 | 3:58.35 | Sam Ruthe |  New Zealand |
19 March 2025 |
| 16 | 3:48.88 i | Sam Ruthe | New Zealand |
31 January 2026 |
| 17 | 3:50.15 | Cameron Myers | Australia |
25 May 2024 |
| 18 | 3:47.48 i | Cameron Myers | Australia |
8 February 2025 |
| 19 | 3:48.06 | Reynold Cheruiyot | Kenya |
16 September 2023 |
Girls' Youth Records
| Age | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date |
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| 6 | 6:36.0 | Celine Struijvé |  Netherlands |
17 September 2019 |
| 7 | 6:05.1 | Kristina Wilson | United States |
5 June 1971 |
| 8 | 5:43.5 | Imogen Stewart | Australia |
10 December 2013 |
| 9 | 5:18.74 | Imogen Stewart | Australia |
17 January 2015 |
| 10 | 5:04.19 | Imogen Stewart | Australia |
16 January 2016 |
| 11 | 4:56.08 | Imogen Stewart | Australia |
4 March 2017 |
| 12 | 4:46.57 | Imogen Stewart | Australia |
13 January 2018 |
| 13 | 4:44.73 | Imogen Stewart | Australia |
22 December 2018 |
| 14 | 4:40.1 i | Mary Decker | United States |
16 March 1973 |
| 15 | 4:35.16 | Sadie Engelhardt | United States |
9 April 2022 |
| 16 | 4:28.25 i | Mary Cain | United States |
16 February 2013 |
| 17 | 4:24.11 i | Mary Cain | United States |
24 January 2014 |
| 18 | 4:23.50 | Jane Hedengren | United States |
5 June 2025 |
| 19 | 4:17.57 | Zola Budd | Great Britain |
21 August 1985 |
See Also
