The 10 Best Mile Moments of 2014

Published by Bring Back the Mile on December 17, 2014

Wow, what a year for the Mile as the storied distance had another noteworthy year of milestone anniversaries, exciting races, fast performances, records, new events, more prize money, major national media coverage and more. In 2014, the inaugural Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour was launched, featuring six top U.S. Mile races across the country, and with two Tour wins and consistent racing, Jack Bolas and Heather Kampf earned the grand prix titles. Earlier in the year, HOKA ONE ONE became an official sponsor of Bring Back the Mile and later signed 2012 Olympic 1500m silver medalist Leo Manzano. In addition, fellow U.S. Olympian and 2011 world champion Jenny Simpson had a banner season, highlighted by the Diamond League 1500m (metric Mile) crown.

On the event side, Mile prize money increased by 26% from $226,490 in 2013 to $285,010 in 2014; the previous year, there was 63% growth from $138,750 in 2012 vs. $226,490 in 2013. In addition, this year, there were at least 26 inaugural Miles (18 – U.S. and 8 – outside the U.S.).

Here are the 10 best Mile moments in 2014 chronological order:

#Cainsanity continues – January 24
In Boston at the John Thomas Terrier Invitational, teen phenom Mary Cain crushed her U.S. Junior indoor Mile record by 4-plus seconds, clocking a historic 4:24.11 and just missing the Junior indoor world record by a scant .01 seconds. Cain also won the race and produced the fastest women’s track Mile time of the year. In addition, Cain (2013-14) and Jim Ryun (1965-66) are the only teenagers to have topped the U.S. Mile list for the year more than once.