CONGRATULATIONS to west runner John Howorth for breaking the four minutes mile for the first time.
The 21-year-old Team Bath AC athlete, who is coached by James Thie, ran 3mins 59.59secs to finish fourth in a very competitive all-British field at an open meeting held at Birmingham University.
Howorth led through the ball in 3mins 02/3secs and his injection of pace over the final 500 metres ensured that the first six runners home all dipped inside the landmark time, including Devon’s Will Battershill who was second in 3:59.42.
“Running under four minutes for the mile just feels like a lifetime achievement,” said Howorth.
It appears that Howorth may be the first runner from Wiltshire – certainly in the modern ear – to break four minutes for the mile.
Bristol & West’s former international 1500m man David Bishop, who boasted a PB of 3:37.51 for 1500m only managed 4:05 for the mile.
Mile: 1 Kyle Langford (SBH) 3:59.14; 2 Will Battershill (EVH) 3:59.42 (PB); 3 Andrew Smith (Leeds) 3:59.46 (PB); 4 John Howorth (TB) 3:59.59 (PB); 5 James Heneghan (Card) 3:59.78 (PB); 6 Thomas Keen (Cam) 3:59.86.