Photo by: Kevin Morris
Kejelcha Breaks Indoor Mile World Record at BU’s TTC
March 3, 2019 | Men's Track & Field
BOSTON - Yomif Kejelcha of The Nike Oregon Project ran the mile in an incredible time of 3:47.01 at Boston University's Track & Tennis Center on Sunday, shattering the world record in the indoor mile that had stood for 22 years.
Competing in the Bruce Lehane Invitational Mile, Kejelcha broke the world record of 3:48.45 set by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco way back in 1997.
After finishing the race, Kejelcha waited for the official time to be posted on the scoreboard before celebrating on the track with fellow runners and coaches as the packed house at BU's Track and Tennis Center roared its approval.
The record-breaking performance was the culmination of weeks of anticipation for the Bruce Lehane Invitational once the 21-year-old Ethiopian announced his decision to compete in the event. Kejelcha had just missed the world record on Feb. 9 at the Millrose Games when he finished with a time of 3:48.46, just .01 off the all-time mark.
"This is the fastest track in the world," said Kejelcha's legendary coach and former Boston Marathon winner Alberto Salazar after the race. "This track is why we brought Kejelcha here to compete in Boston."
In addition to Kejelcha's performance, Johnny Gregorek just missed breaking the American indoor mile record by 0:00.09. Gregorek finished with a time of 3:49.98.
Sunday's Bruce Lehane Invitational was the first race in history to have two men break 3:50 for the mile and added to the general consensus in the track community that BU's home track is the fastest in the world.
Competing in the Bruce Lehane Invitational Mile, Kejelcha broke the world record of 3:48.45 set by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco way back in 1997.
After finishing the race, Kejelcha waited for the official time to be posted on the scoreboard before celebrating on the track with fellow runners and coaches as the packed house at BU's Track and Tennis Center roared its approval.
The record-breaking performance was the culmination of weeks of anticipation for the Bruce Lehane Invitational once the 21-year-old Ethiopian announced his decision to compete in the event. Kejelcha had just missed the world record on Feb. 9 at the Millrose Games when he finished with a time of 3:48.46, just .01 off the all-time mark.
"This is the fastest track in the world," said Kejelcha's legendary coach and former Boston Marathon winner Alberto Salazar after the race. "This track is why we brought Kejelcha here to compete in Boston."
In addition to Kejelcha's performance, Johnny Gregorek just missed breaking the American indoor mile record by 0:00.09. Gregorek finished with a time of 3:49.98.
Sunday's Bruce Lehane Invitational was the first race in history to have two men break 3:50 for the mile and added to the general consensus in the track community that BU's home track is the fastest in the world.
3:47.01 NEW INDOOR MILE WORLD RECORD!@OregonPJT
— RunnerSpace.com (@RunnerSpace_com) March 3, 2019
Full race: https://t.co/vhgLVVi1OR pic.twitter.com/do4bCgJJ5H
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