72 years after the Miracle Mile, a young Aussie wants to rewrite history

Commonwealth Games

Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:16pm

Cameron Myers wants to silence the crowd.

The mile record was stuck at 4:01.4 for 9 years until Roger Bannister broke it in 1954. He ran it in 3:59.8. This happened at Oxford in May 1954. The record was broken again 45 days later.

Near the university where he studied medicine, Bannister ran with precision to achieve his goal of running the mile in under 4 minutes.

When a barrier is broken, it shows others they can do it too.

Australian John Landy ran the mile in 3:58 flat 45 days after Bannister.

This led to the Miracle Mile at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

Roger Bannister is in action against John Landy.

The sporting world watched the best middle distance runners compete in Vancouver.

Eight runners made it to the final, but all eyes were on Bannister and Landy. They were the best runners at that time.

The Australian took the lead after one lap and led for the next kilometre.

Roger Bannister breaks the tape in the one-mile final.

Having felt Bannister on his heels, Landy looked back and Bannister burst past to win.

Both runners finished under four minutes.

An exhausted Bannister after the race.

A 60-year break

Despite the glorious event, the mile was only run at three more Commonwealth Games before being replaced by the 1,500m.

New Australian record holder Cameron Myers says the mile can be prestigious again.

Myers thinks it can attract more people to the sport.

Americans still love the mile, so it can resonate with regular people.

Cameron Myers is confident in his mile.

At the time of its last Commonwealth outing, the mile was the main event.

It returns 60 years later, with Glasgow hoping for another historic night.

Abbey Caldwell says it's exciting that the mile is back in the Commonwealth Games.

Abbey Caldwell is part of Australia's strong middle-distance team.

Caldwell will run alongside Jessica Hull and Claudia Hollingsworth.

Caldwell believes they have a chance of a podium sweep.

There's pressure to achieve medals, but they have a strong team.

They have a chance to make history as Australians.

Jess Hull leads an elite pack of Australian middle distance runners.

The men will run for the first Commonwealth Games mile medals in six decades.

They have a chance to reverse the misery of Bannister's late pass in 1954.

Young Aussie wants to spoil the party

The mile record was broken 19 times in 44 years.

The record stood for 27 years until it was broken again.

Josh Kerr qualified for the final.

Just before the Glasgow Games, Josh Kerr ran 3:42.66.

Cameron Myers broke the Australian record, running 3:46.06.

Myers says Kerr will want to make a move, but he won't let him go.

The Miracle Mile was like a title fight.

Myers was five seconds faster than Kerr in their separate heats.

Myers led the whole way home with clinical efficiency.

Josh Kerr fired up the Glasgow crowd.

The Scotstoun Stadium crowd will be cheering for Kerr and Jake Wightman.

Myers wants to prove himself in an elite field.

Myers doesn't want to lose.

Myers will have a crack at Kerr and if he fails, so be it.

Everyone's cheering for the Scots, but Myers wants to spoil the party.

The mile start line sits 9.34 metres behind the start/finish line.

Myers will run alongside teammates Ollie Hoare and Adam Spencer.

The final night of the athletics program is the perfect time for a clash.

If the Aussies can ruin the party, they would have done what Landy couldn't 72 years ago.

Myers is aware of the opportunity in front of him.

Myers hopes to reverse the roles.

The ABC of SPORT

See more ABC coverage

Sport

LIVE

Topic:AFL Women’s

Topic:Commonwealth Games

Luyện nghe

Luyện nghe