Canberra schoolboy Cameron Myers has become the second-youngest person after the great Jakob Ingebrigtsen to break the four-minute mile.
And Myers’ time at the Maurie Plant Classic in Melbourne on Thursday was quicker than that run by the reigning Olympic 1500m champion.
Myers, aged 16 years and 259 days, clocked an astonishing time of three minutes 55.44 seconds at Lakeside Stadium, finishing third behind Australia’s Commonwealth Games 1500m champion Olli Hoare.
He stripped a massive 12 seconds off his personal best, upstaging US sprint superstar Fred Kerley in the process.
Norwegian superstar Ingebrigtsen was only nine days younger when he first broke the magical four-minute barrier, clocking 3:58.07 in May 2017.
“He did it nine days earlier than I did it today,” said Myers, who is doing Year 11 at Ginninderra College in Canberra.
“Obviously it would have been cool to do it in early February but it didn’t fit in with my timetable.
“It’s a really big confidence booster but I’ve got to stay humble and keep working hard.”
Hoare crossed the line first in 3:52.34 and New Zealander Sam Tanner was second in 3:53.83.
“At 3:55 (Myers) is probably running at 16 years of age better than most people in college in the US,” said Hoare.
“It’s amazing talent for Australia moving forward and I’m excited for him.
“”That’s why we have these meets, why we have the hype, why we have people come back, to give our youth an opportunity to run fast and compete well with some of the best.
“He was able to get that opportunity and he seized it.”
Reigning 100m world champion and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Kerley was the biggest star on show at Lakeside Stadium and he duly delivered with a dominant win in the men’s 200m.
The American raised his right hand in triumph 20 metres from the line and coasted to victory in 20.32 seconds.
“That would have been easy to to have broken 20 but the W (win) is all that matters,” said Kerley.
“The crowd loved it, so it’s all good.”
Australian Rohan Browning hung tough to finish second in 20.71 and then backed up 90 minutes later to win his pet event, the 100m, in 10.26.
Jessica Hull just held off the challenge of her world cross country relay bronze medal teammate Abbey Caldwell to win the 1500m in 4:07.11.
Naa Anang won the women’s 100m in 11.20 and fellow Australian Ella Connolly saluted in the 200m in 23.28.
Kenya’s Under-20 world cross country champion Ishmail Kipkurui upstaged Australian Stewart McSweyn in the 3000m.
Kipkurui surged away in the final lap to win in 7:41.38. with McSweyn second in 7:44.36.
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