Ollie Hoare smashes Australian indoor mile record in 96-year first

Australian Olympic runner Ollie Hoare has toppled the national and Oceania indoor mile records in a stunning 96-year first.

Australian middle-distance runner Ollie Hoare has toppled the national and Oceania indoor mile records, achieving the feat at the Millrose Games in New York over the weekend.

The 25-year-old registered a time of 3:50.83 in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile, taking the Australian men’s record off Charlie Hunter.

It was the 11th-fastest indoor mile in history.

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Olympic bronze medallist Josh Kerr from Britain finished second in the Wanamaker Mile, with America’s Colby Alexander placing third.

Hoare, who broke the national record on his birthday, also became the first Australian to win the men’s Wanamaker Mile in its 96-year history.

“I have been wanting to win this prestigious event ever since I came to college in the US,” said Hoare, a former University of Wisconsin athlete.

“To be able to get an Aussie on that trophy was a cool thing to accomplish.

“Going into the race I was extremely confident I could run fast.

“I wanted to get on the pace and be relaxed; I‘ve been killing it in training so I wanted to bring that back in Millrose.

“For me it was a great race. It was a nice birthday present.”

Oliver Hoare competing at the Tokyo Olympics last year. Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

Hoare has now established himself as a major contender for the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships, while the New South Welshman will also be hunting medals at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Last year, Hoare placed 11th in the men’s 1500m final at the Tokyo Olympics, with countryman Stewart McSweyn collecting seventh.

It was the first two Australians had competed in the Olympic final since John Landy and Merv Lincoln at the 1956 Melbourne Games.

Wanamaker Mile winner Ollie Hoare was not about to let go of his trophy after winning the #MillroseGames’ signature race. He set an Australian indoor record (3:50.83), one of three winners for @djritzenhein’s @on_running squad today at the @ArmoryNYC. 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/VgQoqLKs4M

— Rich Sands (@Sands) January 29, 2022

Elsewhere, Australia’s Jessica Hull clocked a time of 4:24.06 in the Women’s Wanamaker Mile to also claim the national and Oceania indoor mile records.

Hull placed fourth in the event, with America’s Elle Purrier St Pierre crossing the finish line first.

“I’ve got a couple of years of experience now and I’ve shown myself I can make championship finals,” she said.

“This year I want to make the jump to being a contender in global finals and towards the front of some of the big meets on the calendar. I’m preparing to take the next step.

Hull now owns six Australian records.