Australia’s brightest middle distance runners will battle against each other at the University of Queensland tomorrow night (Friday 7 May) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first sub four-minute mile (1609m) in athletics.
The Milers Meet will be the first for the newly formed UQ Milers’ Club, whose patrons are Australian running legend Ron Clarke and British Olympic champion Steve Ovett.
2003 National 1500m champion Alistair Stevenson will be favourite for the event but will be challenged strongly by Sydney Olympian Michael Power who has flown from Victoria to compete.
$500 prize money is on the line with a further $500 if the winner goes under the four-minute mile. Both athletes have broken the four minute barrier once before, with Alistair Stevenson currently ranked number one in Australia over 1500m and Michael Power fifth.
The meet will also include A and B Grade races for men and women as well as a veterans’ race.
Australian mile record holder Simon Doyle and fellow Queenslander, and number two on the national all-time list, Mike Hillardt will be there to commemorate the event.
UQ Athletics head coach Pat Clohessy said the sub four-minute mile has long been an obsession among middle-distance runners.
“It was previously thought to be impossible and 50 years later it still is an exceptionally difficult standard that only 38 men in Australia have achieved,” Mr Clohessy said.
“I think the match up of Stevenson and Power should provide an ideal opportunity for them to run under the mark”.
Stevenson is chasing an Olympic qualifying time and will use the race as a good gauge of form before he heads overseas to compete.
The UQ Milers Meet will commence at the UQ Athletics Centre from 6.30pm with the feature race at 8pm.
Media: For more information, contact: Kelly Chapman (phone 07 3365 6041 or 0412 066 466).
