A Full History of the Sub-4 High School Mile

The 4-minute mile is one of the most sought after goals for a middle-distance runner. While it's an exclusive, prolific club to join, those in their high school years would seek to break this barrier during their adolescence, and here's the stories of how all of them did it.
To clarify, "high school" in this case specifically refers/implies US times, as in other countries, high school is mainly referred to as "secondary school."
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Link to runnerspace takedown vid mentioned at the beginning: • runnerspace took down ...

[@RunnerBoi]

Yes, this is a reupload. You can find the full/original version of the video on my Patreon: www.patreon.com/RunnerBoi New full-length documentary next weekend. Stay tuned.

[@SpiritTheGhoul.]

Fuck runners space

[@jeff09_]

Glad to have it back!

[@coolkid8608]

Why use Ai for scripting/ voice ?

[@joshuaolayanju9658]

@@coolkid8608I don’t think it’s AI

[@twhis9843]

Don’t forget most of these times like Ryun, Danielson and Liquori were run on gravel or dirt tracks. The difference between these surfaces and synthetic is big. The first time I ran on a “artificial” track I felt like I was on a trampoline. Lots of rebound, no holes or uneven spots. And think of Bob Hayes running like he did on Tokyo’s mud puddle in the 64 Olympics. I appreciate todays talent but the old timers were amazingly fast for the conditions.

[@unsungzero787]

It’s almost a whole different sport huh?

[@cooldragon4882]

I’m glad I watched this before it was taken down

[@Notnotcam]

WE ARE SO BACK

[@user-oq6pq6jw7w]

Calm down chief

[@sethsaathoff9758]

Fancy seeing you here

[@Notnotcam]

@@sethsaathoff9758 😈

[@lukebarreto2597]

birnbaum is unbelievable. if you've never seen him run in person, you have to

[@TrashDino357]

im accross the country for him i cant really do that

[@lukecarroll19]

​@@TrashDino357 😐😐😐

[@nc8186]

If i see him irl im giving him a good ole tug

[@Bianca_735]

i dont live in south dakota... :(

[@Hunkonly6678]

He’s fast but idk why but he gives me asshole vibes idk why maybe because hes white 😂

[@jackdias9263]

sub-4 miler: *exists* Oregon: now we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way, the choice is yours

[@redrojo22911]

Coach fleece Johnson

[@phillylifer]

I was a second tier miler in the eighties. The first tier were fighting hard to get under 4:10. When someone get under 4:05 it was world shattering. The sub-4s if the sixties seemed like mythology to us

[@wesleytwiggs7687]

Never quit making these. Fight the power.

[@matttrybus925]

I know Burns is technically the second junior to break 4 but you could count Lukas Verzbicas as he graduated in 3 years

[@redravenrages6321]

Alan Webb looked 37 when he was in high school XD! I love it.

[@trevormay101]

This video introduced me to this channel and I’ve stayed ever since! Im so glad it’s reuploaded

[@HedgeFundAnalyst]

Alan Webb's professional coach was my HS Girls middle distance coach. He would run with us in practice (2004-2006). We would do our open 400's and he would pace a 1600. Our times were similar...

[@OfficalNovaRBLX]

Its back 😩

[@nc8186]

Epic rap battles of history: runnerspace vs. runnerboi

[@Lauren-kd4cv]

Glad to see this video back and 100% looking forward to the next one!

[@SKTom0]

Fuck Runnerspace we back baby.

[@chetchance2335]

Thank you for your service! your positive attitude is infectious!

[@TheKingVaris]

I loved the mile progression video when I saw this I knew it was going to be good!

[@LAE-7]

Hate that this got taken down.

[@stampscapes]

Fantastic documentary!

[@basehead617]

I remember getting super into high school track stats around the year 2000/2001 and I was always shocked that only Ryun, Danielson and Liquori had broken sub 4 and that it had been decades since someone did. Watching Webb do it again was exhilarating and seeing the talent since then and how many times it's been done, it's almost yawn-worthy when someone does it now.. what a shift!

[@pennypackmtb2542]

I ran mid 70s to the 80s when there were just three guys with sub 4. My HS Freshman year I ran a 4:12 mile during a cross country race. I had the dream, but a nagging toe injury caught up to me. Sophomore year I missed, because of surgery and I just never was able to get into that gear again. I still love running.

[@evanorourke5685]

Sorry to hear that but 4;12 is absolutely insane, i am nowhere near that you should be very proud of that.

[@InfinityCuberRS3M]

the whole take down thing was bs, but the video is still good even with the censorings

[@x-blade4724]

What got censored?

[@magnito5982]

​​@@x-blade4724 Some of the race footage, like at 53:45

[@InfinityCuberRS3M]

@@x-blade4724 the original video got copyright claimed so he had to blur some of the racing segments so the companies wouldnt be mad

[@okonh0wp]

Interesting that at 9:00 mark, you can see Sam Bair one spot ahead of Liquori. His son was on a race against a couple other guys to be the first guy to break the 4 minute mile who's dad had done it. It was a very frustrating ride as he got 4:00 his sophomore year of college and it took him 3 years after that to get it down an extra second. Fun fact: The guy who got second behind Alan Webb in his first state title went on to run at the Pan American games and is the current mayor of Minneapolis. I used to run in the same region as Webb and ran with a couple of his teammates in college. Stand-up guy.

[@AgentCrimson]

Alan Webb's first sub-4 race was so high quality

[@cookiegorganhiemer3918]

Let’s go the video is back

[@phillylifer]

Great video.

[@davespaze4957]

I remember seeing this video on ur channel and was thinking it was another youtuber because I couldn’t find it again

[@jeskoumm]

Amazing....the fastest babies in the world....high school career complete. Its daunting when those babies begin transitioning into the adult space, by 8 kilos of initial weight gain, as it reveals the difficulty of keeping pace or resounding as talent in adult records. More importantly, good job to the high schooler narrator, I'm sure Seth Rogen is proud and may be determined to write a movie about track and field.

[@michaelraemisch1605]

Jim Ryun: a CINDER track!!!

[@realalbertan]

Honourable mention for Michigan XC / Distance Head Coach Kevin Sullivan (🇨🇦) running 3:42 (1500) at OFFSAA in grade 12. 5th at the 2000 Olympics in 1500m.

[@Tr1Dylan]

Time to update

[@Flapjacks1327]

Damn watching this video makes me wanna go after another mile

[@CaptainBenjamins]

*Jim Ryun runs the first sub 4mile* Commentator: he had run the last mile in 55 seconds which is great

[@bruno78965]

oh yeah baby

[@estebans4870]

Was expecting to see German Fernandez! I forgot he didn’t break it until after High school:(

[@phillylifer]

Oh so kessler was competitive rock climber. That is interesting!

[@soheibdissa9991]

I'll be part of this list, one day.

[@mjhrpgiv]

Gary Martin's run at PCL all alone the entire race was by far the most impressive mile run since Ryan. Period. What's disappointing about it is that the film footage isn't much better than the 1960's footage! Someone on their iPhone in their parked car is the best they could do?

[@mjhrpgiv]

PS - Martin also a super nice dude. He's genuinely thrilled for Conner Burns breaking 4:00. He also ran as the rabbit for Aaron Sahlman in another race.

[@patricktflowers11317]

YES!!

[@phillylifer]

How does one get let go from a college team? I didnt think their were roster spots for track and cross country?

[@Reddogj123]

This is pre-2022 since Gary Martin from PA is not on the last.

[@Bob-ev3wn]

How dare Ross Krempley insult you via email!!!!!!!!!!

[@ryankrause618]

all my homies hate runnerspace and flotrack

[@kombatwombat3594]

what about cameron myers???

[@update6126]

I want my name on this list so badly

[@brando3465]

LFG

[@Fireman-cz5lf]

German Fernandez was so close to

[@thatonenerdfromyourclass]

RunnerBoi listens to brakence??? 49:19 background music

[@YuckiDude]

W

[@xianruwang]

Did Steve break 4?

[@Andre-Nader]

After that other 3 hour documentary on making sure to cite sources… feels like you should spend another 6 months attributing all the videos properly.

[@bombfog1]

You need to take a look at strong and weak verbs because you have a problem with strong verbs. In this video, you said “clinged” instead of “clung” as the past tense of “cling.”

[@chip464]

holy shit nobody cares

[@bombfog1]

@@chip464 And that is precisely why you’ll never be successful. Yeah, who cares if we can’t communicate well with one another. Your loser attitude will forever keep you down.

[@carlossolrac5359]

2:37 injurè

[@Surberus1066]

I had the pleasure of getting whooped by Webb on several occasions.

[@jasiahrainer1366]

Where is Leo young

[@Hunkonly6678]

He never broke 4 in the mile

[@CitrusMike]

what even got it taken down???