The question of how many US high school boys have beaten the women’s Mile world record of 4:07.64 has a concrete, data-driven answer — and the numbers vary dramatically by event. In the sprints, hundreds or thousands of boys surpass women’s world records every year. In the throws, only a handful have ever done it in recorded history.
The Numbers
| Women’s World Record | All-Time HS Boys Count | Annual Count (2024) | Annual Count (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:07.64 | 1,200* | 75 | 75 |
* = estimate. See methodology notes below.
Top Performances vs. Women’s World Record
The following US high school boys have run faster than the women’s Mile world record of 4:07.64:
| # | Athlete | Performance | School / State | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Webb | 3:53.43 | South Lakes (Reston), VA | 2001 |
| 2 | Jim Ryun | 3:55.3 | East (Wichita), KS | 1965 |
| 3 | Colin Sahlman | 3:56.24 | Newbury Park, CA | 2022 |
| 4 | Owen Powell | 3:56.66i | Mercer Island, WA | 2025 |
| 5 | Jim Ryun | 3:56.8 | East (Wichita), KS | 1965 |
| 6 | Jackson Spencer | 3:57.24 | Herriman, UT | 2026 |
| 7 | Josiah Tostenson | 3:57.47i | Crater (Central Point), OR | 2025 |
| 8 | Simeon Birnbaum | 3:57.53 | Stevens (Rapid City), SD | 2023 |
| 9 | Hobbs Kessler | 3:57.66i | Skyline (Ann Arbor), MI | 2021 |
| 10 | Drew Griffith | 3:57.72 | Butler, PA | 2024 |
* = estimated count extrapolated from annual top-25 depth over 30+ tracked seasons.
What the Numbers Mean
These counts measure how deep boys’ high school performance is relative to the single best women’s performance in history. The women’s Mile world record represents the peak of elite female athletics — a performance that most professional women will never match. The fact that large numbers of high school boys surpass it in some events reflects physiological differences in male development, not a commentary on the quality of the women’s mark.
In events like the Mile, the count reveals exactly how the performance gap translates to participation depth. A boy who barely surpasses the women’s world record is still an elite teenage athlete — competing at the very top of US high school competition.
T&F News annual top-25 lists for 2023 and 2024 confirm all 25 tracked performers clear 4:07.64 (25th place was 4:06.13 in 2023; top-20 in 2024 all under 4:04.10). Full national depth estimated at approximately 75 unique athletes per year based on Athletic.net results. All-time estimate of 1,200 over 30+ tracked seasons. Sub-4:00 milestone achieved by 35+ unique US HS boys per Wikipedia. Women's WR...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the women's world record in the Mile?
The women's world record in the Mile is 4:07.64, set at the elite international level.
How many US high school boys have beaten the women's Mile world record all-time?
Approximately 1,200* US high school boys have beaten the women's Mile world record of 4:07.64 in recorded history. This figure is an estimate based on annual list depth over 30+ seasons.
How many high school boys beat the women's Mile world record in 2024?
In 2024, approximately 75 US high school boys surpassed the women's Mile world record of 4:07.64.
Why do so many (or so few) boys beat the women's Mile world record?
The count depends on three factors: participation volume (sprints have far more athletes than distance events or throws), the margin of the women's world record, and equipment differences where applicable. The Mile falls in the high-volume category, reflecting the structure of competitive depth at the high school level.