Boston College Track and Field’s Steven Jackson lowered his own school record in the mile with a time of 3:54.70 at the John Thomas Terrier Classic last Saturday, placing thirteenth overall among some of the best talent in the country. The four-minute mark has long been the gold standard for collegiate distance runners and represents a significant milestone in athletics.
In 2023, Jackson became the first Boston College athlete to break four minutes in the mile. Jackson’s record is a significant accomplishment for a men’s collegiate track and field program that does not offer athletic scholarships. Recruiting top high school distance runners is a challenge for BC, as they compete for recruits with strong programs in the ACC, such as Stanford University and the University of North Carolina. However, Jackson’s strong performance amongst some of the best runners in the country will undoubtedly help attract top athletes.
For a long time, the four-minute mile was thought to be physically impossible. Many believed the human body simply was not capable of sustaining the speed or endurance required to run a mile in under four minutes. It was also thought to be psychologically impossible. In 1954, Roger Bannister, a British medical student, made history by running a mile in 3:59.40. This momentous achievement shattered the psychological barrier and proved that the four-minute mile was indeed possible.
Jackson is among a plethora of middle-distance collegiate runners who have recently broken the four minute mark. According to the NCAA, 82 student-athletes achieved this milestone in 2022. The quality of talent in American collegiate distance running is at an all time high. Breaking the four minute barrier has become much more common over the past several years. Last Saturday at the John Thomas Terrier Classic, twenty-nine athletes, including Jackson, ran under four minutes in the mile.
Jackson looks to continue another strong season for the Eagles. Last year, he advanced all the way to the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, where he placed 14th overall in the men’s mile. BC Track and Field continues a record-breaking season by hosting the Showdown at the Heights meet at the TRACK at New Balance on February 7th and 8th.
Update: Steven Jackson lowered his own school record to 3:52.71 on February 7th at the Showdown at the Heights meet. As of February 19th, Jackson is the 7th fastest collegiate miler in the country.
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