High schooler runs sub-4 minute mile, breaking record that had stood since 1965-
Gary Martin accomplished the feat at the Pennsylvania Catholic League Championship.
The following written content by Steven Taranto
Gary Martin, a senior at Archbishop Wood High School Warminster, Penn., broke a prestigious track and field record at the Pennsylvania Catholic League Championship on Monday by running a mile in under four minutes. Martin’s run broke a record that had stood for nearly 60 years.
Martin ran a mile in 3:57:98 without the aid of a pacer, breaking a record that had been set by Jim Ryun in 1965.
Ryun became the first high schooler to run a mile in under four minutes in 1964, then broke his own record five times before graduating. Ryun’s time of record was 3:58.3, a mark which Martin broke by less than a second.
Martin is now the 14th American high school athlete to break four minutes, and his time now ranks third all-time in outdoor runs. It should be noted, though, that Ryun was the only athlete to do so in high school-only competition, without the use of a pacer.
Martin’s run was a major milestone he prepares to attend the University of Virginia upon graduation. Speaking about his long-term goals, Martin hopes to become an Olympic athlete.
“I’d like to think that it’s not crazy for me to say that it’s a dream now,” Martin told CBS News. “Obviously, I’m still a long ways away and have some work to do, but I’m confident in my ability. I have the dream, now I just have to put the work in and chase it.” Read more from CBS.
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