Australian Ollie Hoare is celebrating his 25th birthday by finishing first at the mile (1,609 km) in New York. His 3.50.83 min. at the Millrose Games is an Australian record (and also an Oceania record). Jessica Hull follows Hoare’s example by also setting an Australian indoor record with 4.24.06 min. The performance of New Zealander Nick Willis is also very special. He has now run the mile within 4 minutes for 20 years (!) in a row.
The indoor competition in New York is a classic. It’s the 114e time. The mile is one of the highlights every year and it is so this time. Hoare had his breakthrough in the middle distance last year. Second is Briton Josh Kerr (bronze in OS), who is overtaken by Hoare on the last lap. In the women’s race, Elle Purrier St. Pierre (USA) wins with 4.19.30 min. Her compatriot Josette Norris (4.20.81) is second and third is the German Konstanze Klosterhalfen (4.22.59). Hull is fourth with a national record. Nick Willis (NZ) takes ninth in 3.59.71 min. The 38-year-old athlete is now 20 years behind (since 2003) under four minutes. In 1954 it is the British Roger Bannister, who breaks this time barrier for the first time.
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