American Indoor Record Progression - Men
400 m
44.57 Kerron Clement 12 Mar 2005 Fayetteville, AR 44.63 Michael Johnson 04 Mar 1995 Atlanta, GA 44.97A Michael Johnson 01 Feb 1995 Reno, NV 45.02 Danny Everett 02 Feb 1992 Stuttgart, GER
600 yd
1:07.53 w Mark Everett 07 Feb 1992 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden
1:07.6 w Martin McGrady 27 Feb 1970 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden
1:08.5 w Martin McGrady 14 Feb 1970 Louisville, KY Mason-Dixon Games Freedom Hall
1:08.7 tw Lee Evans 13 Feb 1970 Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Indoor Games (11th) Los Angeles Forum
1:08.7 w Martin McGrady 13 Feb 1970 Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Indoor Games (11th) Los Angeles Forum
1:09.0 w Martin McGrady 12 Feb 1966 Louisville, KY Mason-Dixon Games Freedom Hall
1:09.4 Jack Yerman 23 Feb 1963 New York, NY National AAU Indoor Championships Madison Square Garden
1:09.5 tw Tom Courtney 02 Feb 1957 Boston, MA Boston AA Games Boston Garden
1:09.5 w Mal Whitfield 28 Feb 1953 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
1:10.2 tw Mal Whitfield 31 Jan 1953 Boston, MA Boston AA Games (64th) Boston Garden
1:10.2 tw Hugh Short 06 Feb 1943 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden
1:10.2 w John Borican 08 Mar 1941 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
1:10.8 w James Herbert 09 Mar 1940 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
1:11.1 tw James Herbert 26 Mar 1938 Chicago, IL Chicago Indoor Relays International Amphitheater
1:11.1 w James Herbert 12 Mar 1938 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
1:11.3 w Charles Hornbostel 02 Feb 1935 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden
1:11.6 w Alan Helffrich 17 Mar 1925 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
1:12.8 w Jake Driscoll 14 Apr 1923 Buffalo, NY 174th Regiment Games 174th Regiment Armory
1:13.4 w Tom Halpin 02 Mar 1914 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden
At this point, things get a little confusing. I see the two most likely sequences of records as follows:
Sequence 1 - if 1:13.6 by Mel Sheppard in 1907 DOES count as a record
1:13.6 Mel Sheppard 30 Mar 1907 Brooklyn, NY 13th Regiment Games 13th Regiment Armory
1:14.0 John Baxter Taylor 09 Feb 1907 New York, NY Pastime AC Meet Madison Square Garden
1:14.0 Eli B. Parsons 03 Mar 1906 New York, NY Fordham University Games 22nd Regiment Armory
1:16.4 Gabriel G. Hollander 25 Mar 1897 New York, NY 22nd Regiment Games 22nd Regiment Armory
1:17.8 Gabriel G. Hollander 22nd Regiment Armory
Sequence 2 - if 1:13.6 by Mel Sheppard in 1907 does NOT count as a record
1:13.8 James "Ted" Meredith 11 Apr 1913 Brooklyn, NY Loughlin Lyceum Games 13th Regiment Armory
1:14.0 Abel Kiviat 27 Dec 1911 New York, NY AAU Championships Madison Square Garden
1:14.0 Harry Gissing 01 Nov 1910 New York, NY AAU meet Madison Square Garden
1:14.0 John Baxter Taylor 09 Feb 1907 New York, NY Pastime AC Meet Madison Square Garden
1:14.0 Eli B. Parsons 03 Mar 1906 New York, NY Fordham University Games 22nd Regiment Armory
1:16.4 Gabriel G. Hollander 25 Mar 1897 New York, NY 22nd Regiment Games 22nd Regiment Armory
1:17.8 Gabriel G. Hollander 22nd Regiment Armory
Details on the ambiguities
1:13.4 Tom Halpin 02 Mar 1914 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden
NY Times: "[...] eventually winning [...] in the world's record time of 1:13 2-5,
which displaces 1:13 4-5 made by Ted Meredith."
Brooklyn Eagle: "[...] who took the 600-yard run in the fast time of 1:13 2-5,
which is two-fifths of a second faster than 'Ted' Meredith's former mark."
** Both articles indicate Meredith with 1:13.8, not Sheppard with 1:13.6, had the
previous record. **
1:13.8 Ted Meredith 11 Apr 1913 Brooklyn, NY Loughlin Lyceum Games 13th Regiment Armory
NY Times: "Ted Meredith [...] created a new indoor record [...] which supplants
the former record of 1 minute 14 seconds held jointly by Abe Kiviat and Harry
Gissing."
Chicago Tribune: "James E. Meredith [...] established a new American indoor
record [...] clipping one-fifth of a second off the record held by Abel Kiviat
and Harry Gissing."
** Both articles point to 1:14 as being the previous American record.**
1:14.0 Abel Kiviat 27 Dec 1911 New York, NY AAU Championships Madison Square Garden
NY Times: "Abel Kiviat [...] equaled the 600-yard record of 1:14"
** This still fits with the shared record of 1:14 by Gissing and Kiviat.**
1:14.0 Harry Gissing 01 Nov 1910 New York, NY AAU meet Madison Square Garden
NY Times: "Gissing led him home by two yards, with Kiviat three yards further
back, in 1:14, just two-fifths slower than Sheppard's record of 1:13 3-5"
** Here there is a reference to the earlier 1:13.6 by Sheppard, so the two
1:14 times would NOT go down as records. **
1:14.6 Mel Sheppard 05 Oct 1909 New York, NY AAU meet Madison Square Garden
Chicago Tribune: "Sheppard's time was 1:14 3-5, one fifth of a second better
than the national indoor record he established previously."
** I really don't understand how this could be the reocrd.**
1:14.8 Mel Sheppard 01 Dec 1908 New York, NY AAU meet Madison Square Garden
** This would be the Sheppard "record" prior to the 1:14.6 time. **
1:13.6 Mel Sheppard 30 Mar 1907 Brooklyn, NY 13th Regiment Games 13th Regiment Armory
NY Times: "... In the fastest time ever recorded on the indoor track." "... In
1:13 3-5, which is two-fifths of a second faster than the world's record of
1:14, held jointly by Eli B. Parsons [...] and J.B. Taylor [...]" "The time was
announced by the referee as a world's record."
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: "There were officials who were loath to allow Sheppard the
world's record because he failed to win, but the new figures, timed by competent
clockers, stands nevertheless." "The best previous time for the 600 yard race
was 1:14, held jointly by Taylor [...] and Parsons [...]"
** This was a handicap race (hence Sheppard not winning), so maybe this record
was disallowed at some point. Relatedly, maybe the concern about him not winning
the race ultimately prevented the time from going down as a record. **
1:14.0 John Baxter Taylor 09 Feb 1007 New York, NY Pastime AC Meet Madison Square Garden
NY Times: "Taylor equaled the indoor record." "The time was 1:14, which equalled
Parson's performance in the Twenty-second Regiment Armory about a year ago."
Chicago Tribune: "The time was 1:14." "The time equaled the indoor record for
the distance made by Parsons last year."
1:14.0 Eli B. Parsons 03 Mar 1906 New York, NY Fordham University Games 22nd Regiment Armory
NY Times: "His time was the fastest indoors, being 1:14."
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: "E.B. Parsons [...] hung up new figures in a 600 yard
A.A.W.[sic] championship race [...]" "The former record was 1 minute 16 2-5
seconds, made by Gabe Hollender [sic][...]"
Washington Post: "Parsons' time, 1:14, beats the old American record of 1:16 2-5."
1:16.4 Gabriel G. Hollander 25 Mar 1897 New York, NY 22nd Regiment Games 22nd Regiment Armory
NY Times: "A new American indoor 600-yard sprinting record was established last
night by G.G. Hollander." "The distance was made in 1 minute 16 2-5 seconds.
The previous record is 1 minute 17 4-5 second."
Estherville Daily News: "Gabriel G. Hollander broke the world's indoor record for
600 yards..." "The race was a handicap and Hollander [...] was on the scratch."
"He passed all of the handicap men before the last bell was rung." "The three
watches made the time 1:16 2-5, which broke the armory and world's indoor
records."
The Sun (): "He won the 600-yard run in 1 2-5 seconds better time than the armory
record held by himself, and the performance was also claimed to be a world's
record under the conditions, but the information on this point is somewhat
vague."
1:17.8 Gabriel G. Hollander at the 22nd Regiment Armory (?)
Named 600-yard races
--------------------
NY Knights of Columbus Games Casey 600
Millrose Games Sheppard 600 600 m
1:13.77 Donovan Brazier 24 Feb 2019 Staten Island, NY USATF Indoor Championships Ocean Breeze Athletic Facility 1:14.91 Casimir Loxsom 28 Jan 2017 University Park, PA Penn State National Invitational 1:15.33 Casimir Loxsom 01 Mar 2015 Boston, MA USA Indoor T&F Championships Reggie Lewis Center 1:15.58 Casimir Loxsom 24 Jan 2015 Albuquerque, NM Lobo Collegiate Invite Albuquerque Convention Center 1:15.61 Erik Sowinski 16 Feb 2013 New York, NY Millrose Games The Armory 1:15.70 Duane Solomon 26 Jan 2013 Glasgow, GBR 1:15.80 Chip Jenkins 01 Feb 1987 Sherbrooke, CAN Sherbrooke International meet 1:16.18 Marcus Sanders 09 Feb 1986 Sherbrooke, CAN Sherbrooke International meet 1:16.7 w Lee Evans 03 Mar 1973 Pocatello, ID ... 1:20.3 w Jimmy Herbert 26 Feb 1938 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 1:21.0 w Eddie O'Brien 22 Feb 1936 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 1:21.4 w Milton Sandler 25 Feb 1933 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden Oversized track 1:15.42 Casimir Loxsom 23 Feb 2013 Geneva, OH SPIRE Institute [300 m track]
800 m
1:44.21 Donovan Brazier 13 Feb 2021 Staten Island, NY New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex
1:44.22 Donovan Brazier 08 Feb 2020 New York, NY Millrose Games The Armory
1:44.41 Donovan Brazier 09 Feb 2019 New York, NY Millrose Games The Armory
1:45.00 Johnny Gray 08 Mar 1992 Sindelfingen, GER
1:45.08 Johnny Gray 02 Feb 1992 Stuttgart, GER
1:45.64 Johnny Gray 27 Feb 1990 Seville, ESP
1:45.85 Ocky Clark 08 Mar 1989 Pireaus, GRC International Indoor Athletics Meeting
1:46.07 Ocky Clark 1989 Seville, ESP
1:46.1 + Johnny Gray 17 Jan 1986 Los Angeles, CA Sunkist Invitational Los Angeles Sports Arena
1:47.4 w Ted Nelson 07 Apr 1965 Berlin, GER USA-West Germany meet Deutschland Halle
1:49.7 +w Arnold Sowell 09 Feb 1957 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden
1:50.0 +w John Borican 25 Mar 1942 New York, NY Navy Relief Society benefit Bronx Coliseum
1:47.0 +xw John Woodruff 14 Mar 1940 Hanover, NH Dartmouth Invitational Davis Field House [Dartmouth][6 2/3 lap]
1:49.2 +xw John Borican 15 Mar 1939 Hanover, NH Dartmouth track [6 2/3/ lap]
1:51.4 yw Lloyd Hahn 03 Mar 1928 New York, NY IC4A Championships 102nd Engineer's Armory
1:54.0 w Alan Helffrich 21 Feb 1925 Washington DC Georgetown University meet Convention Hall
1:54.8 w Schuyler Enck 16 Feb 1924 Brooklyn, NY Wilco AA Games 13th Regiment Armory
Notes
1:47.0 +x John Woodruff - disallowed because of oversize track (6 2/3 laps)[or no border
the whole way around?]
1:49.2 +x John Borican - disallowed because of oversize track (6 2/3 laps)[or no border
the whole way around?]
1:51.4 y Lloyd Hahn - this was an 880 yd time, but since the time was lower than the previous
800 m record, it was recorded as an 800 m record, too
Half mile
1:46.8 w Johnny Gray 17 Jan 1986 Los Angeles, CA Sunkist Invitational Los Angeles Sports Arena
1:46.9 w Johnny Gray 15 Feb 1985 San Diego, CA Michelob Invitational San Diego Sports Arena
1:47.97 w Randy Wilson 13 Feb 1982 Boston, MA Boston University track (?)
...
1:48.1 w Mark Belger 13 Jan 1978 College Park, MD National Invitational Cole Field House
1:48.5 w Tom von Ruden 08 Jan 1971 College Park, MD CYO National Invitation meet Cole Field House
1:48.9 w Dave Patrick 10 Mar 1967 Detroit, MI NCAA Indoor Championships Cobo Hall
1:48.3 x Jim Ryun 23 Feb 1967 Lawrence, KS Kansas-Oklahoma State dual meet Allen Fieldhouse
1:49.0 w Tom von Ruden 18 Feb 1967 Louisville, KY Mason-Dixon Games Freedom Hall
1:49.3 x Pete Farrell 28 Jan 1967 South Bend, IN Notre Dame-Miami(Ohio) meet Notre Dame Fieldhouse
1:49.8 w Tom Farrell 11 Feb 1965 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet (97th) Madison Square Garden
1:50.2 John Dunkelberg 16 Feb 1963 Louisville, KY Mason-Dixon Games Freedom Hall
1:50.3 w Arnold Sowell 09 Feb 1957 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden
1:50.5 w John Borican 25 Mar 1942 New York, NY Navy Relief Society benefit Bronx Coliseum
1:51.4 tw John Borican 21 Feb 1942 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
1:47.7 x John Woodruff 14 Mar 1940 Hanover, NH Dartmouth Invitational Davis Field House [Dartmouth]
1:49.8 x John Borican 15 Mar 1939 Hanover, NH Dartmouth track
1:51.4 w Lloyd Hahn 03 Mar 1928 New York, NY IC4A Championships 102nd Engineer's Armory
1:53.8 x Lloyd Hahn 08 Jan 1928 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games 106th Regiment Armory
1:54.6 * Eli B. Parsons 19 Mar 1904 Buffalo, NY 74th Regiment meet
Notes
1:48.3 x Jim Ryun - disallowed because of dirt track (?)
1:49.3 x Pete Farrell - disallowed because of dirt track (?)
1:47.7 x John Woodruff - disallowed because of oversize track (6 2/3 laps)[or no border
the whole way around?]
1:49.8 x John Borican - disallowed because of oversize track (6 2/3 laps)[or no border
the whole way around?]
1:53.8 x Lloyd Hahn - disallowed because of unbordered track
1:54.6 * Eli B. Parsons - time run during relay race 1000 yd
2:04.39 w Johnny Gray 23 Feb 1986 San Diego, CA Michelob Invitational San Diego Sports Arene 2:04.7 w Don Paige 05 Feb 1982 Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Times Indoor Games Los Angeles Forum 2:04.9 w Don Paige 06 Feb 1981 New York, NNY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden 2:05.1 w Mark Winznried 12 Feb 1972 Louisville, KY Mason-Dixon Games Freedom Hall 2:07.1 w Tom Von Ruden 30 Jan 1970 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden 2:07.9 w Ernie Cunliffe 28 Jan 1961 Boston, MA Boston AA Games (72nd) Boston Garden 2:08.2 tw Arnold Sowell 19 Feb 1955 New York, NY National AAU meet Madison Square Garden 2:08.2 w Don Gehrmann 16 Feb 1952 New York, NY National AAU Championships (64th) Madison Square Garden 2:08.8 w John Borican 11 Mar 1939 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden 2:10.1 w Cunningham, Glenn 16 Mar 1935 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden 2:12.0 w Harold Cutbill 18 Mar 1922 Buffalo, NY 174th Regiment Games 174th Regiment Armory 2:13.4 tw Harold Cutbill 11 Feb 1922 Buffalo. NY AAU Championships 174th Regiment Armory 2:13.4 w Joie Ray 28 Apr 1919 New York, NY 5th Company, Batter E games 13th Regiment Armory 2:14.0 tw Joie Ray 16 Mar 1918 New York, NY National AAU Championships 22nd Regiment Armory 2:14.0 w John Overton 17 Mar 1917 New York, NY National AAU Championships 22nd Regiment Armory 2:15.4 t John Overton 18 Mar 1916 New York, NY National AAU Championships 22nd Regiment Armory 2:15.4 w Abel Kiviat 02 Mar 1914 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 2:15.8 w Abel Kiviat 06 Mar 1913 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden Named races ----------- Millrose Games Mike Devaney 1000
1000 m
2:16.16 Shane Streich 12 Feb 2022 Louisville, KY American Track League Louisville Norton Health Care Sports & Learning Ctr 2:16.27 Bryce Hoppel 13 Feb 2021 Staten Island, NY New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex 2:16.76 David Torrence 02 Mar 2014 Boston, MA Boston University Last Chance Meet 2:17.86[.85] David Krummenacker 27 Jan 2002 Boston, MA Boston Indoor Games Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center 2:18.19 Ocky Clark 12 Feb 1989 Stuttgart, GER Stuttgart international track meet 2:18.88 Don Paige 11 Feb 1984 East Rutherford, NJ Vitalis U.S. Olympic Invitational Meadowlands Arena 2:19.50 Tom Byers 06 Feb 1982 Louisville, KY Mason-Dixon Games Freedom Hall 2:19.79 Adam Dixon 22 Feb 1981 Boston, MA, USA 2:20.3 Don Paige 20 Jan 1979 New York, NY Olympic Invitational Madison Square Garden 2:20.4 w Tom von Ruden 19 Feb 1971 New York, NY U.S. Olympic Invitational Madison Square Garden 2:21.0 w Tom von Ruden 20 Feb 1970 New York, NY U.S. Olympic Invitational (2nd) Madison Square Garden ... 2:24.3 w John Borican 28 Feb 1942 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 2:26.4 w Lloyd Hahn 26 Mar 1927 New York, NY United Swedish Charities meet Madison Square Garden 2:29.6 w Joie Ray 24 Feb 1925 New York, NY AAU meet Madison Square Garden Notes 2:29.6 Joie Ray - Chicago Tribune, Feb 25, 1925, p17, indicates no previous 1000 m record was listed.
1500 m
3:33.22 + Yared Nuguse 11 Feb 2023 New York, NY Millrose Games The Armory
3:33.34 + Bernard Lagat 11 Feb 2005 Fayetteville, AR Tyson Invitational Randal Tyson Track Center 3:36.1 + Bernard Lagat 04 Feb 2005 New York, NY Millrose Games (98th) Madison Square Garden 3:38.12 Jeff Atkinson 05 Mar 1989 Budapest, Hungary World Indoor Championships (2nd) Budapest Sportcsarnok 3:37.3 +x Sydney Maree 09 Feb 1985 East Rutherford, NJ Vitalis U.S Olympic Invitational Meadowlands Arena 3:37.6 x Paul Cummings 06 Jan 1979 Long Beach, CA Muhammad Ali Invitational Long Beach Arena 3:39.8[.4] Paul Cummings 07 Jan 1978 Long Beach, CA Muhammad Ali Invitational Long Beach Arena 3:40.2 ? 3:41.6 + Tom O'Hara 06 Mar 1964 Chicago, IL Chicago Daily News Relays Chicago Stadium 3:43.3 + Tom O'Hara 27 Feb 1964 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden 3:43.2 +x Jim Beatty 10 Feb 1962 Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Times Indoor Games Los Angeles Sports Arena 3:48.3 +w Wes Santee 05 Feb 1955 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden 3:48.4 w Glenn Cunningham 26 Feb 1938 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 3:49.9 w Gene Venzke 22 Feb 1936 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 3:50.5 w Glenn Cunningham 23 Feb 1935 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 3:52.2 tw William Bonthron 24 Feb 1934 New York, NY National AAU games Madison Square Garden 3:52.2 w Glenn Cunningham 24 Feb 1934 New York, NY National AAU games Madison Square Garden 3:53.4 w Gene Venzke 27 Feb 1932 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden 3.55.8 w Lloyd Hahn 21 Feb 1925 Washington, DC Georgetown University meet Convention Hall 3.57.0 w Joie Ray 30 Mar 1920 New York, NY John Wanamaker Commercial Inst. games 22nd Regiment Armory Notes 3:37.3 +x Sydney Maree - I don't know why this was disallowed 3:37.6 x Paul Cummings - according to Reading Eagle, 18 Jan 1979, p28, this was disallowed because the Long Beach Arena did not have a raised inner border 3:40.2 ? An article discussing Cummings's 3:39.8 record says he beat the old record by 0.4 seconds - I haven't found a 3:40.2, though 3:43.2 +x Jim Beatty - a newspaper article noted that Beatty did not submit this time for official record recognition 3:52.2 William Bonthron - Bonthron finished 2nd to Cunningham in this race, but both were awarded the same time 3:57.0 Joie Ray - this was the first indoor 1500 m under four minutes by any runner
Mile
3:47.38 Yared Nuguse 11 Feb 2023 New York, NY Millrose Games The Armory
3:49.89 Bernard Lagat 11 Feb 2005 Fayetteville, AR Tyson Invitational Randal Tyson Track Center
3:51.8 Steve Scott 20 Feb 1981 San Diego, CA Jack-in-the-Box Invitational San Diego Sports Arena
3:53.0 Steve Scott 15 Feb 1980 Los Angeles. CA Los Angeles Invitational (21st) Los Angeles Sports Arena
3:54.1 Steve Scott 16 Feb 1979 San Diego, CA San Diego Invitational (13th) San Diego Sports Arena
3:54.9 w Dick Buerkle 13 Jan 1978 College Park, MD National Invitational Indoor Track Meet U. Maryland Field House
3:55.0 w Tony Waldrop 17 Feb 1974 San Diego, CA San Diego Indoor Games San Diego Sports Arena
3:56.4 tw Jim Ryun 19 Feb 1971 San Diego, CA San Diego Indoor Games San Diego Sports Arena
3:56.4 w Thomas O'Hara 06 Mar 1964 Chicago, IL Chicago Daily News Relays Chicago Stadium
3:56.6 w Thomas O'Hara 13 Feb 1964 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
3:58.6 w Jim Beatty 15 Feb 1963 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
3:58.9 w Jim Beatty 10 Feb 1962 Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Times Indoor Games Los Angeles Sports Arena
4:03.6 Jim Grelle 11 Mar 1961 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Journal Games Milwaukee Arena
4:03.8 t Dyrol Burleson 03 Mar 1961 Portland, OR Far West Indoor Classic Memorial Coliseum
4:03.8 t Phil Coleman 06 Feb 1960 Boston, MA Boston AA Games Boston Garden
4:03.8 w Wesley Santee 29 Jan 1955 Boston, MA Boston AA Games Boston Garden
4:04.9 w Wesley Santee 15 Feb 1954 East Lansing, MI Kansas, Michigan State, Illinois meet Michigan State field house
4:05.3 w Gilbert Dodds 31 Jan 1948 New York, NY Millrose Games (41st) Madison Square Garden
4:06.4 w Gilbert Dodds 18 Mar 1944 Chicago, IL Chicago Relays Chicago Stadium
4:07.3 w Gilbert Dodds 11 Mar 1944 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
4:07.4 tw Walter Mehl 15 Feb 1941 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
4:07.4 tw Leslie MacMitchell 15 Feb 1941 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
4:07.4 tw Charles Fenske 17 Feb 1940 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
4:07.4 tw Charles Fenske 03 Feb 1940 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden
4:07.4 w Glenn Cunningham 12 Mar 1938 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
4:08.4 w Glenn Cunningham 17 Mar 1934 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
4:10.0 w Gene Venzke 17 Feb 1932 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
4:11.2 w Gene Venzke 06 Feb 1932 New York, NY Millrose Games (25th) Madison Square Garden
4:12.0 tw Joie Ray 17 Mar 1925 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games Madison Square Garden
4:13.4 w Lloyd Hahn 14 Feb 1925 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
4:13.8 Joie Ray 03 Feb 1925 New York, NY Western Union Games Madison Square Garden
4:14.6 w Joie Ray 12 Apr 1919 Chicago, IL Central AAU Sr. & Jr. Championships Chicago Coliseum
4:16.0 w John Overton 10 Mar 1917 Philadelphia, PA Meadowbrook AC games Exposition Building
4:18.2 w Abel Kiviat 15 Feb 1913 New York, NY Columbia University Indoor Games 71st Regiment Armory
4:18.8 w Oscar Hedlund 12 Feb 1913 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden
4:19.8 tw Oscar Hedlund 22 Feb 1912 Troy, NY Troy Armory
4:19.8 w Herbert Trube 13 Feb 1909 New York, NY Columbia Indoor Carnival Madison Square Garden
Prior to Trube's record, it's a little less straightforward:
4:19.8 w Herbert Trube
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: "Harry Trube [...] took the world's indoor record for the mile
when he won the Martinique Cup race in 4:19 4-5." "The best previous time was 4:22,
made by Frank Nebrich in 1905, and Will Sheppard in 1904."
** I have not been able to find the Nebrich time, but given the wrong first name for
Sheppard and the wrong year for his 4:22 time, I don't put too much stock in the
accuracy of the article. **
4:22.0 w Melvin Sheppard 17 Feb 1906 New York, NY 14th Regiment AA games 14th Regiment Armory
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: "The world's record for the mile was broken by 'Niel' [sic]
Sheppard [...] when he covered the distance in 4 minutes 22 seconds. The old
mark was 4 minutes 23 4-5 seconds, held by the new figure maker."
** The only 4:23.8 I can find in this general time period, though, is the one that
came a month and a half later (see below). **
4:25.2 Melvin Sheppard 26 Jan 1906 New York, NY Columbia University meet Madison Square Garden
NY Times: "... Sheppard's time being 4:25 1-5. The old indoor record was 4:26
made about eight years ago in the Thirteenth Regiment Armory by A. J. Walsh."
4:26.0 Andrew J. Walsh 30 Nov 1895 Brooklyn, NY 13th Regiment Poly Prep games 13th Regiment Armory
I have seen the following sequence prior to Trube's time:
4:23.0 Tad White 1908 New York
4:24.0 Frank Nebrich 1907 New York
4:24.0 James Lightbody 13 Mar 1907 Chicago, IL Central AAU Championships 7th Regiment Armory
4:25.2 Melvin Sheppard 26 Jan 1906 New York, NY Columbia University meet Madison Square Garden
4:28.0 W.E. Shutt 1904 Ann Arbor
4:30.4 Nelson Kellogg 28 Mar 1903 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan-Cornell dual meet
4:37.2 B.B. Smith 1898
I've run across reports of the following time. This may have been exluded from the
list above because Sheppard came in second in a handicap race.
4:23.8 Melvin Sheppard 30 Mar 1906 New York, NY Commerce High School AA meet 22nd Regiment Armory
Oversized track
4:04.4 Glenn Cunningham 03 Mar 1938 Hanover, NH Dartmouth Invitational Dartmouth track [6 2/3 laps]
Notes
3:58.9 Jim Beatty - Jim Beatty was the first person to run an indoor sub-4 minute mile
4:19.8 Oscar Hedlund - 06 Mar 1912 NY Times article indicates this race was actually 12 yards longer than a mile
From The Evening Sun (Hanover, PA), 16 Feb 1954, p10:
" So now there are three separate indoor mile records:
1. Cunningham, 4:04.4, 6 1/2-lap board track.
2. Santee, 4:04.9, eight-lap dirt track.
3. Gil Doods, 4:05.3, 11-lap board track."
Named indoor miles
------------------
NYAC meet Baxter Mile
Western Union AA meet Bishop Mile
NY Knights of Columbus meet Columbia Mile
Boston AA meet Hunter Mile
Millrose Games Wanamaker Mil 2000 m
4:54.74 Bernard Lagat 15 Feb 2014 New York, NY Millrose Games The Armory
4:58.6 w Steve Scott 07 Feb 1981 Louisville, KY Mason-Dixon Games Freedom Hall
5:09.4 Steve Prefontaine
5:16.8 +w Jim Beatty 08 Mar 1963 Chicago, IL Chicago Daily News Relays
Notes
5:09.4 Steve Prefontaine - this time was mentioned in articles reporting Steve Scott's
4:58.6, but I couldn't find it in other sources. Given that it doesn't appear
in Sigmon's list below, I have my doubts about this record.
The following list was adapted from a list appearing on the Track and Field News forums in
April, 2008. The list was compiled by Alan Sigmon.
4:58.6 Steve Scott 07 Feb 1981 Louisville, KY Mason-Discon Games Freedom Hall
5:07.7' + Steve Prefontaine 26 Jan 1974 Portland, OR
5:14.1' + Steve Prefontaine 20 Jan 1973 Los Angeles, CA Sunkist Invitational
5:14.7 Pat McNeal 18 Apr 1964 Wembley
5:16.8 + Jim Beatty 08 Mar 1963 Chicago, IL Chicago Relays Chicago Stadium
5:28.1' James Connolly 12 Feb 1925 Buffalo, NY
5:31.7' Joie Ray 13 Feb 1922 New York, NY 71st Regiment Games 71st Regiment Armory
5:38.0 e Joie Ray 01 Feb 1922 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden
5:42.0 + Joie Ray 23 Jan 1918 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden
5:49 e + George Bonhag 04 Mar 1911 New York, NY Dominican Lyceum Games 7th Regiment Armory
' = 1.25 mile time converted (x 0.9942)
e = estimated time
+ = en route to longer distance 3000 m
7:28.24[.23] Yared Nuguse 27 Jan 2023 Boston, MA BU John Thomas Terrier Classic BU Track & Tennis Center
7:30.16 Galen Rupp 21 Feb 2013 Stockholm, SWE XL Galan Stockholm Globe Arena 7:32.43 Bernard Lagat 17 Feb 2007 Birmingham, GBR Norwich Union Grand Prix National Indoor Arena 7:39.23 Tim Broe 27 Jan 2002 Boston, MA Boston Indoor Games Reggie Lewis Center 7:39.94 Steve Scott 10 Feb 1989 East Rutherford, NJ Meadowlands Invitational Meadowlands 7:41.57 Brian Abshire 13 Feb 1988 East Rutherford, NJ U.S. Olympic Invitational Meadowlands 7:44.9 + Doug Padilla 15 Feb 1985 San Diego, CA Michelob Invitational San Diego Sports Arena 7:44.9 + Doug Padilla 18 Feb 1983 San Diego, CA Michelob Invitational San Diego Sports Arena 7:45.2 Steve Scott 05 Jan 1980 Long Beach, CA Muhammad Ali Invitational (3rd) Long Beach Sports Arena 7:50.0 + Steve Prefontaine 17 Feb 1974 San Diego, CA San Diego Indoor Games San Diego Sports Arena 7:56.6[.4] Billy Mills 07 Apr 1965 Berlin, GER USA-West Germany meet Deutschland Halle 8:17.7 +w Horace Ashenfelter 06 Feb 1954 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden 8:27.4 Archie San Romani 08 Jan 1938 Brooklyn, NY Knights of Columbus Games 13th Regiment Armory 8:31.2 +w Joie Ray 10 Feb 1923 Brooklyn, NY Wilco Athletic Club Games 13th Regiment Armory 8:31.4[.6]w Joie Ray 18 Feb 1922 Brooklyn, NY Wilco Athletic Association Games 13th Regiment Armory 8:35.0 w George Bonhag 16 Dec 1911 New York, NY 13th Regiment AA Games 13th Regiment Armory 8:52.4[.8]w George Bonhag 04 Mar 1911 New York, NY Dominican Lyceum Games 7th Regiment Armory
2 mile
8:03.62 Grant Fisher 11 Feb 2024 New York, NY Millrose Games 8:07.41 Galen Rupp 25 Jan 2014 Boston, MA BU John Thomas Terrier Invitational 8:09.49 Bernard Lagat 16 Feb 2013 New York, NY Millrose Games The Armory 8:09.72 Galen Rupp 11 Feb 2012 Fayetteville, AR USATF Classic 8:10.07 Bernard Lagat 12 Feb 2011 New York, NY Millrose Collegiate Invitational The Armory 8:15.02 Doug Padilla 16 Feb 1990 Inglewood, CA Los Angeles Times Indoor Games Forum 8:15.3 Doug Padilla 15 Feb 1985 San Diego, CA Michelob Invitational San Diego Sports Arena 8:16.5 Doug Padilla 18 Feb 1983 San Diego, CA Michelob Invitational San Diego Sports Arena 8:16.8 Doug Padilla 19 Feb 1982 San Diego, CA Jack-in-the-Box Invitational San Diego Sports Arena 8:20.4 Steve Prefontaine 17 Feb 1974 San Diego, CA San Diego Indoor Games San Diego Sports Arena 8:22.1[.2] Steve Prefontaine 26 Jan 1974 Portland, OR Oregon Invitational 8:24.6 Steve Prefontaine 27 Jan 1973 Portland, OR Oregon Invitational 8:26.2 Frank Shorter 19 Feb 1971 San Diego, CA San Diego Indoor Games San Diego Sports Arena 8:27.2 tw George Young 22 Feb 1969 San Diego, CA San Diego Indoor Games San Diego Sports Arena 8:30.7 w Jim Beatty 08 Mar 1963 Chicago, IL Chicago Daily News Relays Chicago Stadium 8:45.8 Charlie Clark 15 Feb 1963 San Francisco, CA Golden Gate Invitational Cow Palace 8:46.0 Charlie Clark 01 Feb 1963 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden 8:47.2[.1] Max Truex 09 Mar 1959 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Journal Games Milwaukee Arena 8:49.9 w Bill Dellinger 07 Feb 1959 Boston, MA Boston AA Games (70th) Boston Garden 8:50.5 w Horace Ashenfelter 13 Feb 1954 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden 8:50.7 w Fred Wilt 23 Feb 1952 New York, NY IC4A Games Madison Square Garden 8:51.0 w Greg Rice 26 Mar 1943 Cleveland, OH Knights of Columbus Games Cleveland Arena 8:51.1 w Greg Rice 22 Mar 1941 Chicago, IL Chicago Relays International Ampitheater 8:53.4 w Greg Rice 15 Feb 1941 New York, NY New York Athletic Club meet Madison Square Garden 8:56.2 w Greg Rice 09 Mar 1940 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games (21st) Madison Square Garden 8:58.0 w Donald Lash 13 Feb 1937 Boston, MA Boston AA meet (48th) Boston Garden 9:08.4 w Joie Ray 10 Feb 1923 Brooklyn, NY Wilco Athletic Club Games 13th Regiment Armory 9:11.4 w Joie Ray 13 Feb 1917 New York, NY New York Athletic Club indoor meet Madison Square Garden 9:14.2 w George Bonhag 26 Feb 1910 Buffalo, NY 74th Regiment Athletic Meet 9:27.8 w George Bonhag 13 Feb 1909 New York, NY Columbia Indoor Carnival Madison Square Garden 9:28.4[.6] w Michael Driscoll 30 Nov 1908 New York, NY AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 9:39.2 w George Bonhag 09 Nov 1906 New York, NY AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 9:40.8 w Alex Grant 16 Feb 1901 Boston, MA Boston AA Games Mechanics Hall 10:02.6[.8]w Alex Grant 03 Feb 1900 Boston, MA Boston AA Games Mechanics Hall 10:04.8 w Alex Grant 18 Feb 1899 Boston, MA Boston AA Games
3 mile
12:57.15 Doug Padilla 22 Feb 1985 New York, NY USA/Mobile Indoor T&F Champs. Madison Square Garden 12:58.0 Dick Buerkle 28 Feb 1981 New York, NY USA/Mobile Indoor T&F Champs. Madison Square Garden 13:06.7 Bruce Bickford 29 Feb 1980 New York, NY National Indoor T&F Champs 13:07.2 w Tracy Smith 23 Feb 1973 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 13:09.8 w George Young 01 Mar 1969 Philadelphia, PA National AAU Championships Spectrum 13:15 [.2] w Tracy Smith 01 Mar 1968 Toronto, Ontario Toronto Telegraph Maple Leaf Games 13:16.2 w Tracy Smith 04 Mar 1967 Oakland, CA National AAU Championships Oakland Arena 13:25.4 Billy Mills 19 Feb 1965 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 13:31.4 Robert Schul 11 Jan 1964 Boston, MA Knights of Columbus Games Boston Garden 13:37[36.9]w William Dellinger 21 Feb 1959 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 13:45.7 w Greg Rice 28 Feb 1942 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 13:51.0 w Greg Rice 22 Feb 1941 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 13:52.3 w Greg Rice 31 Mar 1940 New York, NY Finnish Relief Fund meet Madison Square Garden 13:55.9 w Greg Rice 24 Feb 1940 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 14:05.0 + Don Lash 25 Feb 1939 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 14:14.8 + Don Lash 26 Feb 1938 New York, NY AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 14:16.0[.2] Joie Ray 28 Feb 1923 New York, NY Knights of Columbus Games 22nd Regiment Armory ... 14:29[.4] w George Bonhag 29 Jan 1910 Buffalo, NY 74th Regiment meet 74th Regiment Armory 14:34.8 w George Bonhag 06 Mar 1909 New York, NY Spanish-American War Veteran Games 22nd Regiment Armory 14:43.6[.0]w George Bonhag 09 Feb 1907 Buffalo, NY 74th Regiment meet 74th Regiment Armory
5000 m
12:51.61 Woody Kincaid 27 Jan 2023 Boston, MA BU John Thomas Terrier Classic BU Track & Tennis Center
12:53.73 Grant Fisher 12 Feb 2022 Boston, MA BU Valentine Invitational 13:01.26 Galen Rupp 16 Jan 2014 Boston, MA Boston University Multi-Team meet 13:07.00 Lopez Lomong 01 Mar 2013 New York, NY Columbia Final Qualifier meet The Armory 13:07.15 Bernard Lagat 11 Feb 2012 New York, NY Millrose Games The Armory 13:11.44 Galen Rupp 19 Feb 2011 Birmingham, GBR Aviva Grand Prix National Indoor Arena 13:11.50 Bernard Lagat 06 Feb 2010 Boston, MA Reebok Indoor Games Reggie Lewis Center 13:18.12 Galen Rupp 13 Feb 2009 Fayeteville, AR Tyson Invitational Randal Tyson Track Center 13:20.55 Doug Padilla 12 Feb 1982 New York, NY Millrose Games (75th) Madison Square Garden 13:21.2 Alberto Salazar 06 Feb 1981 New York, NY Millrose Games Madison Square Garden 13:40.6 Greg Meyer 25(?)Jan 1981 Cambridge, MA New England AAU meet Harvard track 13:40.9 Glenn Herold 08 Feb 1975 Louisville, KY Mason-Dixon Games Freedom Hall 13:56.4[.8] Jim Johnson 02 Mar 1974 Moscow, RUS USA-USSR meet 14:30.9 Don Lash 25 Feb 1939 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 14:39.0 Don Lash 26 Feb 1938 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 14:45.8 Norman Bright 27 Feb 1937 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden 14:54.6 w Joie Ray 07 Mar 1923 New York, NY Western Union Games 22nd Regiment Armory 15:05.8 w George Bonhag 25 Jan 1912 New York, NY National AAU Championships Madison Square Garden Notes 13:56.4[.8] Jim Johnson -- articles that appeared right after the meet in 1974 indicated a time of 13:56.4, but several newspapers reported in 1975 of Glenn Herold breaking Jim Johnson's record of 13:56.8
4 x 800 m relay
7:11.30 w HOKA NJNY TC (J. McAsey, K. Merber, C. Giesting, J. Garn) 25 Feb 2018 Boston, MA BU Last Chance Meet 7:13.11 w R. Jones, D. Torrence, D. Solomon, E. Sowinski 08 Feb 2014 Boston, MA New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 7:13.94 w J. Woody, K. Paranya, R. Kenah, D. Krummenacker 06 Feb 2000 Boston, MA New Balance Invitational
Distance medley relay
9:18.81 J. Waskom, D. Gaik, N. Green, L. Houser 16 Feb 2024 Fayetteville, AR Arkansas Qualifier 9:19.93 M. Centrowitz, M. Berry, E. Sowinski, P. Casey 31 Jan 2015 New York, NY Armory Track Invitational
4 x 1 mile relay
16:03.68 D. Ribich, H. Wynne, B. Kidder, I. Yorks 26 Jan 2019 New York, NY Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge