High schooler runs sub-4 minute mile, breaks record that had stood since 1965

Gary Martin, a senior at Archbishop Wood Excessive Faculty Warminster, Penn., broke a prestigious observe and field file at the Pennsylvania Catholic League Championship on Monday by running a mile in beneath four minutes. Martin's run broke a document that had stood for almost 60 years.

Martin ran a mile in 3:57:98 with out the aid of a pacer, breaking a report that had been set by Jim Ryun in 1965.

Ryun turned the first high schooler to run a mile in below four minutes in 1964, then broke his personal document five times before graduating. Ryun's time of file was 3:58.3, a mark which Martin broke by less than a second.

Martin is now the 14th American highschool athlete to interrupt four minutes, and his time now ranks third all-time in outdoor runs. It must be noted, though, that Ryun was the one athlete to take action in excessive school-only competitors, with out the usage of a pacer.

Martin's run was a major milestone he prepares to attend the University of Virginia upon commencement. Speaking about his long-term objectives, Martin hopes to turn out to be an Olympic athlete.

"I would like to think that it is not loopy for me to say that it is a dream now," Martin told CBS News. "Clearly, I'm nonetheless a long methods away and have some work to do, but I'm confident in my means. I have the dream, now I simply have to put the work in and chase it."

Primarily based on his beating Ryun's mark, Martin's goals may very properly be in attain. After his file run in the Nineteen Sixties, Ryun went on to compete in three Olympic finals, successful silver in 1500m during the 1968 Mexico Metropolis Olympics.