Wirral AC's Joe Wigfield achieved the first-ever sub-four-minute time in the Vitality Westminster Mile on Saturday 21 September 2024. Wigfield stormed to a historic victory in 3:59 in the inaugural British Milers’ Club Bannister Mile – 70 years after Sir Roger Bannister first beat four minutes for a mile.

Wigfield is only the 21st man ever to achieve the feat on the road and this new PB is 30 seconds faster than his previous best of 4:29 set in the Viking Mile at Birkenhead in 2017. The Bannister Mile was the final showpiece race on the course around St James's Park, following events for all ages and abilities from 9:30am to 2:30pm.

After sprinting clear of James Young (Morpeth Harriers) and Jacob Cann (Newham & Essex Beagles AC), who both recorded 4:01, the new course record holder said: “As soon as I got round the corner, I heard the commentator say, ‘It could be on’, so I was like I’m just going to have to go. It is good history, the four-minute mile, and everyone wants to try and break that to be part of the club, so it is really good to be able to go and do that on the road. There is a little difference between track and road, so I am really happy.”

The first woman was Katie Snowden (Herne Hill Harriers) in 4:23, a course record, with the women being paced at sub-4:30. Snowden dominated her race and won by 25 seconds from Lilly Hawkins (Southampton AC, 4:48). Hannah Kinane (Swansea Harriers, 4:56) and Kirstie Booth (4:57) also went below five minutes.

A delighted Snowden said: “I really enjoyed it! I haven’t done a road mile since New York last year and haven’t done this one since I think 2017, so I wanted to run quicker than I did back then and sub-4:30."

Wigfield and Snowden (pictured above) took home £1,000 prize money, with the second and third-placed finishers winning £500 and £250 respectively. The BMC Bannister Mile wrapped up a fantastic day of miling in central London, with more than 4,000 running the Vitality Westminster Miles for all ages and abilities, including families, adults and veterans, juniors, and wheelchair users.

Several age-group British records were set in earlier races. The most impressive mark was the 5:21 achieved by W60 Clare Elms (Kent AC) – an unofficial world best, taking an amazing 12 seconds off her UK over-60 women's record. W45 Kirstie Booth (Taunton AC, 4:57) beat the previous UK over-45 record of 5:00 held by ... Clare Elms!

M55 Mark Symes (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC, 4:45) and M85 Doug Milsom (Hillingdon AC, 9:18) also set new national men's age-group records.

Previous results and news are available at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy of Vitality Westminster Mile