Mile News


Gary Martin runs sub-4 minute Mile at the Philadelphia Catholic League Championships

May 14, 2022

“I mean that was the big one, 4 minutes, that’s a big barrier for a high school Miler... I’m just going to try and enjoy the rest of my high school career.”

By Gustav Elvin The Philadelphia Inquirer

Archbishop Wood’s Gary Martin had come up just short of breaking the 4 minute Mile barrier at recent meets. On Saturday, at the Philadelphia Catholic League Championships, he did it.

Martin became the first Pennsylvania high schooler to ever run a sub-4 Mile, crossing the finish line with a time of 3:57.98 at the championships, which were held at Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield. He is just the 14th U.S. high schooler to ever run a Mile under 4 minutes, also recording the fastest Mile in a high school-only competition (old mark, Jim Ryun's legendary 3:58.3 at the 1965 Kansas State Meet).

Martin’s time is the fourth fastest outdoor time by a U.S. high schooler (#3 individual) and is the fastest outdoor high school time since 2001. Only two runners — Virginia high schooler Alan Webb (2001) and Jim Ryun (1965) from Wichita, Kan. — have run better outdoor high school times. Both Webb and Ryun were future Olympians and Mile record setters.

“It’s crazy, I don’t think it’s set in yet,” Martin told The Inquirer. “It started to set in during my cool-down run but it was a crazy feeling and I don’t think it’s fully set in yet. Just sitting back and realizing three years ago I had never run a Mile and the 800 [meters] was a long distance for me... but I never thought I would take it this far.”

The senior had narrowly missed out on eclipsing the 4 minute mark last time out, running a Penn Relays record shattering 4:01.04 on April 29.

On Saturday, Martin ran away from the competition, as he usually does, finishing an almost unfathomable 20 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Zachary Brill of La Salle College High School (4:17.89). Martin said he knew early in the race he had a chance at history.

Continue reading at: inquirer.com

The U.S. high school sub-4 history listing HERE.

Tags: my first mile (3) , high school record (19) , gary martin (5)

Facebook Comments

Return the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.

ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.

CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.

NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance,
to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.

Become a Mile Maniac member or a BBTM sponsor today! Join us, and go Mile!

Join Us

Thanks for joining the movement and being a Mile Maniac. We'll keep you up to-date with our Mile wires as well as exclusive contests and opportunities. Help us spread the word by sharing our site and joining us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!