Stan Becton | NCAA.com | February 21, 2022 Here's how more college athletes have run under the once-impossible four minute mile than ever before Notre Dame's Yared Nuguse wins 1500 meter race in photo finish Share 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: No. of qualifying times under a 4-min mile Meet Host Weekend 9 Music City Challenge Vanderbilt Feb 12, 2022 8 David Hemery Valentine Invitational Boston University Feb 12, 2022 5 Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite Boston University Feb 5, 2022 5 Husky Classic Washington Feb 12, 2022 5 The Badgers Windy City Invite Wisconsin Feb 12, 2022 5 Arkansas Qualifier Arkansas Feb 19, 2022 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. No. qualifying times under a 4-min mile Weekend 33 Feb 12, 2022 17 Jan 30, 2022 12 Jan 22, 2022 10 Feb 5, 2022 5 Feb 19, 2022 5 Jan 15, 2022 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: No. of qualifying times under a 4-min mile Host Schools 17 Boston University 12 Washington 11 Vanderbilt 11 Arkansas 5 Wisconsin 4 Penn State 4 Notre Dame 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: No. of qualifying times under a 4-min mile Schools 4 Washington, Texas, Ole Miss, Northern Arizona, Georgetown 3 Virginia Tech, Villanova, Princeton, Oklahoma State 2 Wisconsin, Washington State, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Michigan, Drake, Arkansas 1 36 schools 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 Division I sub-4 minute mile runners No. of qualifying times under a 4-min mile Class 17 5th-year or graduate 6 True Senior 23 Junior 18 Sophomore 13 Freshman 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. Athlete Class College Time Event Date Beadlescomb, Morgan SR Michigan State 3:52.03 The Badgers Windy City Invite Feb 11, 2022 Garcia Romo, Mario JR Ole Miss 3:53.36 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Young, Nico FR Northern Arizona 3:54.07 Lumberjack Team Challenge Jan 21, 2022 Kipsang, Eliud FR Alabama 3:54.36 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Nuguse, Yared SR Notre Dame 3:54.46 Notre Dame Invitational Jan 22, 2022 Davis, Jonathan SR Illinois 3:54.59 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Dorenkamp, Evan SO Penn State 3:55.02 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Fay, Brian JR Washington 3:55.14 UW Invite 2022 Jan 28, 2022 Young, James SR Ole Miss 3:55.20 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Lumb, Kieran SR Washington 3:55.53 2022 UW Preview Jan 15, 2022 Payamps, Matthew SO Georgetown 3:55.53 2022 Boston University Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite Feb 5, 2022 Johnsen, Colton SR Washington State 3:55.74 2022 UW Preview Jan 15, 2022 Dahl, Nick SR Duke 3:55.89 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Nur, Abdihamid SO Northern Arizona 3:55.94 UW Invite 2022 Jan 28, 2022 Carrozza, Crayton SO Texas 3:55.95 Camel City Invitational Feb 4, 2022 Basten, Isaac SO Drake 3:56.10 Arkansas Qualifier Feb 18, 2022 Osterstock, Nate SR Southern Utah 3:56.16 Lumberjack Team Challenge Jan 21, 2022 Bove, Davis SO LSU 3:56.38 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Dolan, Sean FR Villanova 3:56.39 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Waskom, Joe SO Washington 3:56.43 Arkansas Qualifier Feb 18, 2022 Maier, Alex SO Oklahoma State 3:56.44 2022 Husky Classic Feb 11, 2022 Houser, Luke SO Washington 3:56.57 2022 Husky Classic Feb 11, 2022 Fogg, Adam SR Drake 3:56.60 Cyclone Open Jan 22, 2022 Hacker, Olin SR Wisconsin 3:56.66 Larry Wieczorek Invitational Jan 21, 2022 Ibrahim, Abdirizak SO New Mexico 3:56.69 New Mexico Team Open Jan 29, 2022 Lopez Segura, Antonio SR Virginia Tech 3:56.79 2022 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Ellis, Sam SR Princeton 3:56.87 2022 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Hamilton, Duncan SO Montana State 3:56.89 Bobcat Challenge Jan 13, 2022 Stallings, Zach JR Washington State 3:57.00 2022 Husky Classic Feb 11, 2022 Miller, Duncan JR Princeton 3:57.04 2022 UW Preview Jan 15, 2022 Gomez, Cruz SO Texas 3:57.09 2022 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Spencer, Adam FR Wisconsin 3:57.29 The Badgers Windy City Invite Feb 11, 2022 O'Donovan, Charlie JR Villanova 3:57.46 Sykes & Sabock Invitational Jan 29, 2022 Gilman, Sam JR Air Force 3:57.52 Air Force Invitational Jan 20, 2022 Abdalla, Yaseen FR Texas 3:57.53 2022 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Bracken, Shane JR Ole Miss 3:57.57 Music City Challenge Feb 11, 2022 Herrera, Eduardo SR Colorado 3:57.60 Colorado Invitational Jan 28, 2022 Jacobs, Dylan JR Notre Dame 3:57.67 Notre Dame Invitational Jan 22, 2022 Schreml, Elias FR Arkansas 3:57.85 Razorback Invitational Jan 28, 2022 Sellaro, Ray JR Penn 3:57.89 Sykes & Sabock Invitational Jan 29, 2022 Stokes, Parker SO Georgetown 3:58.02 2022 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Magnusson, Baldvin JR Eastern Michigan 3:58.08 Meyo Invitational Feb 4, 2022 Salisbury, Jack SR Georgetown 3:58.17 2022 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Vanoppen, Thomas JR Wake Forest 3:58.21 Camel City Invitational Feb 4, 2022 Bedard, Simon SR Butler 3:58.34 Meyo Invitational Feb 4, 2022 Gilmore, Camden SO Georgetown 3:58.36 2022 Boston University Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite Feb 5, 2022 Foster, Nick JR Michigan 3:58.49 The Badgers Windy City Invite Feb 11, 2022 Warnick, Tracen SR Weber State 3:58.52 2022 Husky Classic Feb 11, 2022 Schoppe, Ryan FR Oklahoma State 3:58.71 Arkansas Invitational Jan 14, 2022 Prodanov, Martin JR Missouri 3:58.72 Tyson Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Fischer, Camren SO Princeton 3:58.73 Arkansas Qualifier Feb 18, 2022 Van Der Els, Eric SR Connecticut 3:58.76 2022 Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic (Sunday) Jan 30, 2022 Schaffer, Dan SR Binghamton 3:58.84 Penn State National Open Jan 21, 2022 Ewing, Joe FR Harvard 3:58.87 2022 Boston University Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite Feb 5, 2022 Priddey, Isaiah JR Oklahoma State 3:58.93 Arkansas Qualifier Feb 18, 2022 Becker, Robert JR Stony Brook 3:58.98 2022 Boston University Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite Feb 5, 2022 Bosley, Drew FR Northern Arizona 3:58.99 Lumberjack Team Challenge Jan 21, 2022 Cook, Elliott FR Oregon 3:59.02 Razorback Invitational Jan 28, 2022 Quax, Theo SO Northern Arizona 3:59.13 2022 Husky Classic Feb 11, 2022 Strangio, Matt FR Portland 3:59.19 UW Invite 2022 Jan 28, 2022 Anthony, Seb SR Virginia Tech 3:59.26 2022 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Miranda, Robert JR Yale 3:59.27 2022 Boston University Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite Feb 5, 2022 Kibet, Andrew SO Arkansas 3:59.38 Razorback Invitational Jan 28, 2022 Akers, Isaac JR Tulsa 3:59.39 The Badgers Windy City Invite Feb 11, 2022 Shields, Jonathan SR Boise State 3:59.39 UW Invite 2022 Jan 28, 2022 Henderson, Nathan JR Syracuse 3:59.43 2022 Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic (Sunday) Jan 30, 2022 Elkins, Dereck JR Ole Miss 3:59.46 Vanderbilt Invitational Jan 21, 2022 Raimond, Oli SO Michigan 3:59.47 The Badgers Windy City Invite Feb 11, 2022 Fleming, Ben JR Virginia Tech 3:59.47 2022 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Ponder, Cameron JR Furman 3:59.48 114th Millrose Games Jan 29, 2022 Nelsen, David SR Navy 3:59.52 2022 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Murphy, Liam FR Villanova 3:59.63 Sykes & Sabock Invitational Jan 29, 2022 Veatch, Ben SR Indiana 3:59.73 2022 Gladstein Invitational Jan 21, 2022 Jaziri, Ahmed JR Eastern Kentucky 3:59.87 Camel City Invitational Feb 4, 2022 Malebana, Dais SR Nebraska 3:59.88 Tyson Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Tewalt, Luke FR Wake Forest 3:59.94 2022 Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational Feb 11, 2022 Hebert, Brendan JR Texas 3:59.96 2022 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational Feb 11, 2022 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. Athlete Class College Time Event Date Ahl, Aaron JR Simon Fraser 3:57.95 2022 Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic (Sunday) Jan 30, 2022 Strader, Mason SO Pittsburg Stte 3:58.47 Arkansas Qualifier Feb 18, 2022 Noble, Christian SR Lee (Tenn.) 3:59.70 Vanderbilt Invitational Jan 21, 2022 Elson, Callum FR American International 3:59.71 2022 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational Feb 11, 2022 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. Athlete Class College Time Event Date Ryan, Aidan JR Williams 3:59.92 2022 Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic (Sunday) Jan 30, 2022 🏃Track and Field🏃 🗓️ : 2022 outdoor season start date | 2022 outdoor championship information | 2022 meets to watch B/R: Follow college track and field on Bleacher Report 🏆: 2022 indoor championship recap | Programs with the most titles | Men's history | Women's history | Bowerman history 🚨: The comeback to end all comebacks | How one centimeter won the title | Devon Allen's breakthrough 🤯 : Men's 5000M | Women's 60M Hurdles | Women's 60M | Women's Triple Jump 🏟️ Hayward Field: Top moments 🔥 2021 men's olympians: Karel Tiga | JuVaughn Harrison | Cole Hocker 🔥 2021 women's olympians: Camryn Rogers | Ruth Usoro | Athing Mu | Tara Davis | Tyra Gittens 👀 : How the NCAA championships work | Wind and scoring explained | The difference between indoor and outdoor | How the first USTFCCCA rankings predict the women's champion These are the best uniforms in track and field, according to you We asked you what teams you thought had the best uniforms in track and field. 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