2007 - New US Record for First-Time Sub 4's

Other Running Related Topic

16 years ago 08/12/2007 11:23am EDT

This year has already brought more first-time sub 4's for US runners than any other year.

The US is currently up to 13 this year:

2007 (13)

284. Nick Symmonds *3:56.72i (1) Seattle, WA Jan 13

285. Garrett Heath *3:59.60i (2) Seattle, WA Feb. 10

286. Blake Boldon *3:59.18i (1) Ames, IA March 03

287. Joshua McDougal 3:57.46 (1) Lynchburg, VA March 31

288. Lopez Lomong 3:58.54 (1) Tempe, AZ Apr. 14

289. David Torrence 3:58.62 (1) Berkeley, CA Apr. 28

290. Michael Kerrigan 3:59.60 (2) Swathmore, PA May 14

291. Jeff See 3:58.70 (2) Nashville, TN June 02

292. Jake Watson 3:59.40 (3) Nashville, TN June 02

293. Ben Gregory 3:59.69 (4) Nashville, TN June 02

294. Sean Graham 3:58.4 (2) Beaverton, OR June 10

295. Ben True 3:59.99 (1) Cambridge, MA June 17

296. Seth Summerside 3:57.84 (4) Brasschaat, Belgium July 21

Prior to 2007, the record was 12 people, which was first achieved in 1973, then later in 1991, and finally last year in 2006.

1973 (12)

51. Tony Waldrop (NC)...........3:58.4.....(1)..Raleigh.......Apr 21

52. Reggie McAfee (NC)..........3:59.3.....(2)..Raleigh........Apr 21

53. Barry Brown (FlTC)..........*3:58.8....(2)..Gainesville.....May 13

54. Mark Feig (Or)..............3:59.5.....(3)..Eugene.........May 19

55. Tommy Fulton (TxSn).........*3:57.8....(1)..Arkadelphia.....May 25

56. Charlie McMullen (Mo).......3:59.7.....(1)..East Lansing....May 26

57. Rick Wohlhuter (UCTC).......3:58.8.....(1)..Wichita...........Jun 2

58. Dick Buerkle (NYAC).........3:58.0.....(1)..Gainesville.......Jun 4

59. Mark Schilling (SJSt).......*3:58.6....(6)..Baton Rouge.......Jun 9

60. Paul Geis (OTC).............*3:58.0....(4)..Eugene..........Jun 20

61. Jim Johnson (CNW)...........*3:58.8....(6)..Eugene.........Jun 20

62. Scott Daggatt (Or)..........3:59.6.....(7)..Eugene..........Jun 20

1991 (12)

172. Matt Taylor (Fox)..........*3:57.84i..(2)..Fayetteville.....Jan 25

173. Bill Burke (Prin)..........3:58.70i...(1)..New York.........Feb 1

174. Mark Deady (NITC)..........*3:58.65i..(1)..Boston...........Feb 16

175. Charles Marsala (NITC).....*3:58.73i..(2)..Boston...........Feb 16

176. Mike Michno (NBal).........*3:58.94i..(3)..Boston...........Feb 16

177. Bill Rathbun (BAA).........*3:59.94i..(4)..Boston...........Feb 16

178. Bob Kennedy (In)...........3:58.11i...(1)..Indianapolis......Mar 9

179. John Trautmann (Gtn).......3:58.52i...(4)..Indianapolis......Mar 9

180. Matt Giusto (Miz)..........3:59.18....(3)..Stanford.........Mar 30

181. Gerry Donakowski (NikN)....*3:59.1....(4)..Dedham............Jun 9

182. Terrance Herrington (NikA).3:55.61....(8)..Vill.-d'Ascq......Jul 1

183. Chr. Cushing-murray (SMTC).3:57.70....(10).Vill.-d'Ascq......Jul 1

2006 (12)

272. Sean O’Brien *3:59.05i (3) Seattle, WA Jan. 14

273. Elliot Blount *3:59.61i (4) Seattle, WA Jan. 14

274. Chris Lukezic 3:58.53i (10) Boston (Roxbury), MA Jan. 28

275. Ryan Kleimenhagen 3:59.00i (11) Boston (Roxbury), MA Jan. 28

276. Russell Brown 3:59.65i (3) Fayetteville, AR Feb. 10

277. Austin Abbott *3:59.47i (4) Seattle, WA Feb. 11

278. Stephen Pifer *3:59.55i (5) Seattle, WA Feb. 11

279. Michael McGrath *3:59.25i (1) Seattle, WA March 04

280. Christian Smith *3:59.60i (2) Ames, IA March 04

281. Jason Jabaut 3:59.07 (4) Beaverton, OR May 04

282. Matthew Tegenkamp 3:56.38 (1) Madison, WI May 06

283. Chris Solinsky 3:57.80 (2) Madison, WI May 06

The most amount of first-time sub 4's over a 2 year span used to be in 1973 + 1974 having a combined total of 23 people. Now, 2006 + 2007 have been the best 2 successive years with 25 people.

I got the majority of this info from Track&fieldnews.com, and have tried to continue the list from where they left off (#264). Just thought some of you might find it interesting!

16 years ago 08/12/2007 11:29am EDT

re: Commen Cense

thanks good work

I wonder what the lowest year is since 1970 is. I would have said around 1990

16 years ago 08/12/2007 11:29am EDT

re: Commen Cense

don't forget about the 1500 meter conversions

16 years ago 08/12/2007 11:52am EDT

re: oh yeah

oh yeah wrote:
thanks good work
I wonder what the lowest year is since 1970 is. I would have said around 1990

A year by year and decade by decade breakdown would look like:

57 (1)

60 (2)

61 (0)

62 (5)

63 (1)

64 (5)

65 (1)

66 (5)

67 (5)

68 (4)

69 (2)

60's Total = 30

70 (8)

71 (7)

72 (4)

73 (12)

74 (11)

75 (7)

76 (2)

77 (4)

78 (9)

79 (4)

70's Total = 68

80 (7)

81 (10)

82 (9)

83 (8)

84 (4)

85 (5)

86 (6)

87 (5)

88 (8)

89 (7)

80's Total = 69

90 (3)

91 (12)

92 (4)

93 (7)

94 (9)

95 (6)

96 (2)

97 (8)

98 (8)

99 (4)

90's Total = 63

00 (6)

01 (8)

02 (6)

03 (5)

04 (7)

05 (8)

06 (12)

07 (13)

00's Total so far = 65

16 years ago 08/12/2007 1:34pm EDT

re: Commen Cense

Without 1500m conversions these lists mean nothing. Many athletes these days will go under 3:40 many times but never sub-4 in the mile.

It's like saying this year had the most sub-2:20 1000m's ever.

If you did count the 3:40s, 2007 is probably well behind the pre-regional NCAA years where you needed to run under like 3:42 to get to nationals in outdoors. These days there are no incentives to run under 3:46, since all you need is to make regionals, then neither regionals nor nationals have many 3:40s with the rounds and tactical races.

It means nothing about the state of middle distance running in the US.

Also you missed Russell Brown from Stanford (indoor).

16 years ago 08/12/2007 1:53pm EDT

re: Conversion Kenneth

Conversion Kenneth wrote:
Without 1500m conversions these lists mean nothing. Many athletes these days will go under 3:40 many times but never sub-4 in the mile.
It's like saying this year had the most sub-2:20 1000m's ever.
If you did count the 3:40s, 2007 is probably well behind the pre-regional NCAA years where you needed to run under like 3:42 to get to nationals in outdoors. These days there are no incentives to run under 3:46, since all you need is to make regionals, then neither regionals nor nationals have many 3:40s with the rounds and tactical races.
It means nothing about the state of middle distance running in the US.
Also you missed Russell Brown from Stanford (indoor).

Why would these lists mean nothing? The mile is run less than it used to be and there's stil the most number of guys breaking 4.

No, I didn't miss Russell Brown either, look at the list for 2006, where he first broke 4.

16 years ago 08/12/2007 1:55pm EDT

re: Commen Cense

What happened to Christian Smith?

16 years ago 08/12/2007 2:18pm EDT

re: Several Times

Several Times wrote:
What happened to Christian Smith?

Do you mean where is he and what is he currently doing or where is he on the lists?

Not sure what's he been doing as far as races, thought I saw his name not long ago. As for the lists, he made it on the 2006 list.

16 years ago 08/12/2007 2:31pm EDT

re: Commen Cense

There were several freshmen of note that JUST missed the list (for most, using the 1500 conversion as well), such as Miller and AJ (would just make it using 1.08 on is 1500?).

16 years ago 08/13/2007 12:18pm EDT

re: Several Times

His appendix burst and he was sick with complications through the spring. He was able to put together a few weeks of training to step on the track at USA's in June but now I think he has started training for next year.

Reply Replying to

Username

Password

Leave the password field blank to post anonymously.

Post Preview

By posting you acknowledge that you have read and abide by our Terms and Conditions.

Remember me on this device.

2007 - New US Record for First-Time Sub 4's

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

You have been subscribed.