'Phenomenal': Pennsylvania high schooler breaks 4-minute-mile mark, fastest since 2001

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Gary Martin became the first Pennsylvania high schooler to ever run a sub-four-minute mile, crossing the finish line at the Philadelphia Catholic League championships in 3:57.98.

In doing so, the senior became the 14th U.S. high schooler to ever run a mile under four minutes. Martin's time is also the fastest outdoor high school time since 2001. Only two runners – Virginian Alan Webb in 2001 and Kansas' Jim Ryun in 1965 – have run better outdoor high school times. Webb and Ryun were future Olympians.

"It hasn't all sunk in yet," Martin said. "It's a great feeling. I'm still trying to comprehend on what I did."

When he first stepped up to the line on Saturday, the Archbishop Wood High School senior said he was feeling pretty good. He told his coach, Paul Streleckis, he thought he could beat the four-minute mile, but he didn't want to let his fellow runners know his intentions – in hopes that the race could be "as normal as possible." 

"Gary started out very strong," said Dan Beck, deputy editor of Runner's World and Bicycling Magazine. "He has a lot of inner energy that has to come out, and it does (once the starter's gun sounds). He gets into a rhythm, and he's difficult to stay with, let alone beat."

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Martin ran the first two laps at the same time: 58 seconds.

"I was just running at my own pace, trying to keep up the pace," Martin said. "Once I got the first two laps in under 60 (seconds), I knew that I had a chance to break it. I could feel it. My legs felt a little heavier, but I just kept on running."

"I thought he looked good," Streleckis said. "When he got around the 800-meter mark, I thought he looked great. His time was just phenomenal."

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Martin said the third lap is usually the toughest lap. He was determined to beat it.

"I kept thinking that if I could keep my pace up, I could do it," Martin said. "I came through 1,000 (meters) at 2:27. At the end of three I was at 2:58. I felt good. I felt strong. I was ready to make my run at it."

From there, it was only Martin. He crossed the finish line in 3:57.98.

"Everything was working for him," said former Temple University track and field coach James Snyder. "He felt at ease as he ran around the track. You can just look at the time and can see that. There was a time where all of the hard work and sacrifices he made paid off. I know he felt good about what he did."

In addition to running the fastest outdoor high school mile time since 2001, Martin is the second high school runner this year to break the four-minute mark. On Feb. 22, Colin Sahlman of Newbury Park, California, ran an indoors time of 3:58:81, just shy of Martin's time, at a meet in New York City.

Now that he has broken the mark, Martin is thinking of doing it again.

"The beauty of running is that everyone can work hard and be good at it. For me, its a combination of talent and hard work and how far and fast of a mile I can run."

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Martin has been breaking records all year, beginning in cross-country and throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Last week Martin broke the Pennsylvania state record in the 3,200-meter run, posting a 8:41.57 mark.

Martin also took first in the 800-meter in a Philadelphia Catholic League meet-record time of 1:51.29. The University of Virginia signee will have more chances to smash records at races to come.