Hold onto your hats, track fans! Ethan Strand, a senior hailing from Vestavia, Alabama, just etched his name into collegiate track and field history. This month, at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic, Strand blazed across the indoor mile in a blistering 3:48.32. Not only did he snag the collegiate record, but his time also stands as the third-fastest indoor mile ever recorded.
Strand sliced a whopping two seconds off the previous collegiate best of 3:50.39, set by Oregon's Cooper Teare back in 2021. In a sport where records often fall by mere fractions of a second, this kind of demolition is practically unheard of.
The race saw Strand hanging back in the pack initially, biding his time before making his move around the 1000-meter mark. He surged into third place with two laps to go, then unleashed a final-lap kick, overtaking two runners and crossing the finish line with arms raised in triumph.
"I didn't quite know what today was going to hold," Strand told reporters post-race. "I wanted to come in and open up the season and get qualified in case I want to run the mile at nationals. So, to come out here and run [the record] right now is pretty cool.”
Only two runners in history have clocked faster indoor mile times: Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha (3:47.01) and American Yared Nuguse (3:46.63).
This isn't Strand's first record-breaking rodeo. Back in December, he also shattered the collegiate record in the 3000-meter (7:30.15). And let's not forget his teammate, Parker Wolfe, who ran the second-fastest 3000-meter time in collegiate history at the same event. Head Coach Chris Miltenberg is understandably excited: "Every day, I think I’m looking at the next two great American distance runners," he told reporters after Saturday’s race.
For his incredible performance, Strand earned the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Men’s National Athlete of the Week honors.
Looking ahead, the team will be splitting up this weekend to compete at the Tiger Paw Invitational, the Eagle Invite, and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. Stay tuned for more electrifying performances!
