Here's how more college athletes have run under the once-impossible four minute mile than ever before

In the 2021-22 NCAA Indoor Track and Field season, a remarkable 82 student-athletes have run the mile in less than four minutes. To put that in perspective, one must first understand the history of the mile as an event in track and field.

Running under a four-minute mile used to be an impossible task. It wasn't until Roger Bannister broke the four-minute barrier in 1954 that it was even thought of as a possibility. 

This year, the impossible has become routine.

Seventy-seven Division I runners, four Division II runners and one Division III runner have run a sub-four mile through Feb. 19, 2022.

"What is the reason?," wonders everyone in their best Cardi B voice.

Using data from qualifying times from the Track & Field Results Reporting System, we’ll take a look at five questions that could provide the reason for such impressive performances in the mile this season.

Could it be the meets?

Maybe everyone is running a fast mile because they're all together in the same meet. It would make sense for athletes to run faster because they are keeping pace with one another right?

That could be the case.

Yet, among athletes that have run under a four-minute mile, their fastest qualifying times have come from 28 different meets. Here's a breakdown of some of the said meets:

Ten meets that have a sub-four-minute qualifying time had just one runner do so. That leaves 18 meets with multiple qualifying times under one minute. 

While the meets could be the reason why so many athletes have run under a four-minute mile, it's happened at far too many meets for it to be the only reason.

Could it have been a weekend?

Maybe everyone is running so fast because all of the runners hit their peak during one weekend. The 33 runners who ran their fastest time during the weekend of February 12 provide strong evidence for this argument.

Seven of the 10 fastest qualifying times at the DI level occurred on Valentine's Day weekend. Could the runners in the mile have been hitting top speeds to avoid Cupid's arrow?

RECORD: See the highlights from a record-breaking indoor track & field weekend

Possibly.

But more likely, the reason for runners finding immense success that weekend comes from the build-up of the season. It was just one week before some conference championships after all. The natural progression of the season should see runners get faster, especially in distance events.

So, one weekend can't be the sole reason behind the number of fast miles this season.

Could it be the tracks?

Maybe the reason behind the fast miles is that more events are happening on "faster" tracks. Could the surface be behind it all?

Of the 82 athletes that have run under four minutes in the mile, 62.1 percent of their fastest times have come from four tracks. Take a look at some of the leaders below:

The table shows 64 out of 82 qualifying times. While 78 percent of each athlete's fastest time has come from seven tracks, that number does not cover every track an athlete has run below a mile at.

Many athletes have run sub-four in the mile on multiple occasions. While according to runners, a good track can provide an extra boost, it can't MAKE a runner faster.

These runners are fast in the mile regardless of track and most can speed around in the mile, regardless of surface.

While theorizing about some tracks being faster than others for the mile is fun to do, it's not the reason times are so low this year.

Could it be the schools?

Maybe the runners with sub-four-minute mile times are the result of powerhouse programs. If they all train together, that should help with their times, right?

Yes, if all of the sub-four runners were from four or five schools, it would be impressive. Yet, that's not the case.

Runners from 52 different schools have run below the four-minute mark in the mile. Forty-seven schools come from Division I, four schools come from Division II and one school comes from Division III.

A deeper dive shows just 16 schools have multiple sub-four runners. See below:

Among the group, no school stands out as a "powerhouse", with parity amongst the mile runners. That's not to dismiss programs with a history of producing great runners in the mile, but when looking at this unique year, multiple programs have runners with the sub-four feat.

A direct correlation between school and running below four minutes in the mile can't be drawn this season.

Could it be the experience?

Maybe the fast times are because the NCAA granted all athletes an extra "COVID-year" of eligibility after the pandemic took away so many athlete's seasons. It's a move that has led to many athletes returning for one more year. 

Could more experienced athletes be the reason behind it all?

Let's look at a breakdown by class

In the table above, redshirted athletes are included in the junior, sophomore and freshman classes.

Seventeen DI runners with a sub-four-minute mile have been in school for five or more years. That's 22 percent of all DI athletes in the group. 

While that number is significant, it is less than the number of sophomores and juniors — athletes who would be in school currently regardless of COVID waivers — under a four-minute mile.

Athletes running under the four-minute mark in the mile are pretty balanced when it comes to class. The 13 freshmen under the mark might point to athletes being faster coming out of high school, rather than experience in college making runners faster.

At the Division II level, one runner from every class has run under the four-minute mile threshold. The lone Division III runner is a junior.

Across levels, no sign points to fifth-year seniors as the reason why athletes are running faster; there's variation across classes and athletes.

What is the reason?

After breaking down the many factors that could be the reason why 82 collegiate athletes have run a four-minute mile, what is the reason for such an impressive season in the event?

There's no correct answer.

It's a little bit of everything. What we are witnessing this season is greatness from the athletes running sub-four-minute miles.

A once-impossible feat is now more common than ever and that is a marvel in itself.

Every athlete under a four-minute mile

Division I

Here is the qualifying time of every Division I men’s indoor track and field athlete that has run under the four-minute mark in the mile during the 2021-22 season as of Feb. 19.

Division II

Here is the qualifying time of every Division II men’s indoor track and field athlete that has run under the four-minute mark in the mile during the 2021-22 season as of Feb. 19.

Division III

Here is the qualifying time of every Division III men’s indoor track and field athlete that has run under the four-minute mark in the mile during the 2021-22 season as of Feb. 19.

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