Mile News


Dreaming Big: Joel Gomez Sees Himself Running Sub-4 Mile in High School

December 12, 2018

“I think every kid that races the Mile dreams of wanting to break 4 minutes. For Joel, he has already overcome so much – he understands that it won’t just happen and knows he is going to have to work for it.”

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego

In sixth grade, Joel Gomez passed a test allowing him to skip 7th grade math. Now a 15-year-old sophomore at Canyon Crest Academy, he’s taking calculus.

But his biggest math challenge involves running — averaging under 60 seconds a quarter-mile lap four times in a row.

Joel can see himself becoming a sub-4-minute Miler before graduation — a feat accomplished by only 10 American preps — including one in San Diego (Tim Danielson’s 3:59.4 in 1966, the second overall).

“I’ve … been saying that since I was a freshman,” Joel says. “That was my goal. Coach [Andrew] Corman thought I was a little crazy because he hadn’t seen me run yet. … I think he’s taking it a bit more seriously now.”

So is U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee. That governing body recently named Joel a Track & Field High School All-American for his 1500 meter run of 4:15.86 at the Desert Challenge Games last June in Tempe, Arizona.

That’s roughly 4:34 mile pace — as a 14-year-old freshman.

Even more remarkable: Joel is legally blind.

“My mission in life is to inspire others, so that they too can overcome their challenges,” he said in a TedX talk in his home of Encinitas. He’s an ambassador for San Diego-based Vision of Children Foundation.

Born with a rare genetic disorder called blue cone monochromacy (BCM for short), Joel likens it to the blindness one briefly experiences walking out of a dark theater into bright sunshine. Except his affliction is constant, even in moderate light.

Continue reading at: timesofsandiego.com

Original song “Runnin’ Blind” video by Joel Gomez below.

Tags: sub-4 (19) , joel gomez (1)

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!