High Schooler Runs 4-Minute Indoor Mile

Alan Webb of South Lakes High in Reston, Va., became the first American prep runner to break four minutes for the indoor mile, with a time of 3:59.86 at the New Balance Games on Saturday.

In smashing the scholastic indoor mark of 4:02.7 set by Thom Hunt in 1976, Webb was only the fourth U.S. high school runner to break four minutes. The other three--Jim Ryun, who did it five times; Tim Danielson; and Marty Liquori--all accomplished the feat outdoors.

The last American high school miler to break the elusive four-minute barrier was Liquori in 1967. Danielson did it in 1966 and Ryun ran his first sub-four mile in 1964.

“I’m so happy,” Webb said. “I couldn’t believe it. It’s unbelievable. Amazing. Wow!”

Webb, 18, was timed in 3:43.27 for 1,500 meters, also breaking the scholastic indoor mark of 3:46.6 set by Hunt in his big race 25 years ago.

Webb finished third in an elite invitational field. Leonard Mucheru of Kenya won in 3:57.90 and Matt Holthaus was runner-up in 3:59.74 at the lightning-quick Armory Track & Field Center.

“I knew once I crossed the finish line, I had done it,” Webb said.

When Ryun, the former world record-holder in the mile and the 1968 Olympic silver medalist at 1,500 meters--the metric mile--ran the first sub-four minute mile by a high schooler 37 years ago, he finished eighth at an invitational meet in 3:59 at San Diego. Ryun set the current scholastic record of 3:55.3 in 1965, just after his senior year at Wichita (Kan.) East High.

Two years ago, Webb broke Ryun’s sophomore record of 4:07.8 set in 1963, running 4:06.94 outdoors.