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Quiz about The Four Minute Mile
Quiz about The Four Minute Mile

The Four Minute Mile Multiple Choice Quiz | 10 Questions

The first sub-four minute mile was run on 6th May 1954.

A multiple-choice quiz by Mugaboo. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
Mugaboo
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
178,810
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
488
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Question 1 of 10
1. Who ran the first official sub-four minute mile? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. Which of these four persons was the first to announce/claim to have run under 4 minutes for the mile, with a time of 3:45? Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. Who came second in that mile race at Iffley Road, Oxford on 6th May 1954? Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. Who broke the world mile record in 1999, and still held 5 years later, on the 50th anniversary of the first 4 minute mile? Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. Which time was run by the athlete who held the world mile record, on the 50th anniversary of the first 4 minute? Hint


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Question 6 of 10
6. Which American ran the fastest mile for the year 1972? Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. Who was the first man under 3:50 for the mile? Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. To the nearest meter, how many meters are there in a mile? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. Who became the first woman to run the mile in under 5 minutes, just 23 days after the first sub 4 minute mile? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. Who held the women's mile record on the 50th anniversary of the first 4 minute mile (men's)? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Who ran the first official sub-four minute mile?

Answer: R.G. Bannister

 On 6th May 1954, the 25 year old Roger Gilbert Bannister (of England) ran the mile in 3:59.4. He was paced by first Chris Brasher and then Chris Chataway. Australian John Landy ran the second sub 4 minute mile in 3.58.0. Wes Santee, from Kansas, although a contender for the first sub-four minute mile, never achieved it. Gunder Hagg (Sweden) had held the mile record previously (4:01.03, set 9 years earlier in July 1945).
2. Which of these four persons was the first to announce/claim to have run under 4 minutes for the mile, with a time of 3:45?

Answer: W.H. Green

 Green was a Confederate corporal who is supposed to have run 3:45 in 1865. Big Hawk Chief, was an Pawnee scout for the US Army and did it twice in 1876 and 1877 in Nebraska, his real name was Kootahwecootsoolelehoolashar, his 3:58 is certainly more believable than Green. Cunningham (USA) and Wood (Britain) both did it in training, as I'm sure a few others have. Glen Cunningham broke the world mile record in 1934 (4:06.8). Ken Wood ran it 29 days before Bannisters official record, he did break 4 minutes officially, when he came fourth (3:59.3) behind Derek Ibbotson's world breaking run in 1957 (3:57.2).
3. Who came second in that mile race at Iffley Road, Oxford on 6th May 1954?

Answer: Chris Chataway

 Chattaway ran 4:07.2, third was Tom Hulatt (4:16.0), fourth was Scotsman Alan Gordon and sixth was Brasher. American George Dole was the other man in the field.
4. Who broke the world mile record in 1999, and still held 5 years later, on the 50th anniversary of the first 4 minute mile?

Answer: Hicham El Guerrouj

 El Guerrouj of Morocco (3:43:13), Ngeny of Kenya (3:43.40), Morceli of Algeria (3:44.39) and Cram of England (3:46.32) were the first fastest milers on the time of the 50th anniversary.
5. Which time was run by the athlete who held the world mile record, on the 50th anniversary of the first 4 minute?

Answer: 3:43.12

 Hicham El Guerrouj broke the record in Rome on 7th July 1999, beating Noah Ngeny who ran 3:43.40, in what was a great race. 3rd was Rui Silva of Portugal in 3:50.91. Guerrouj ran 55.21 for his last lap, the leaders quarter mile splits were 55.07, 1:51.58 and 2:47.91.
6. Which American ran the fastest mile for the year 1972?

Answer: Jim Ryun

 Jim Ryun who ran 3:52.8 also held the world record at the time (3:51.1) set in 1967. Foster (Britain) ran 3:55.9 that year. Vasala (Finland) won the Olympic 1500m title that year. Jazy (France) had held the world mile record in 1965, a time that remained a European mile record until 1975.
7. Who was the first man under 3:50 for the mile?

Answer: John Walker

 John Walker (New Zealand) broke Filbert Bayi's (Tanzania) record in Goteborg in 1975 with 3:49.4. Steve Ovett (Britain) held the mile record twice, and Steve Scott set the American record at 3:47.69 in 1982 (and it was still standing 22 years later on the 50th anniversary). Walker later improved to 3:49.06 in 1982.
8. To the nearest meter, how many meters are there in a mile?

Answer: 1609

 There are 1760 yards in a mile, which is 1609 meters.
9. Who became the first woman to run the mile in under 5 minutes, just 23 days after the first sub 4 minute mile?

Answer: Diane Leather

 The Romanian Edith Treybal had set the record (5:00.3) on 1st November 1953 at Timisoara. This was beaten by Britain Diane Leather on 26th May 1954 at Birmingham (5:00.2), three days later she tried again this time running 4:59.6. Britain Anne Smith was the first offical record holder of the women's mile in 1967. Nina Pletnyova held the woman's 1500m record (4:37.0) at the time of Bannister's feat.
10. Who held the women's mile record on the 50th anniversary of the first 4 minute mile (men's)?

Answer: Svetlana Masterkova

 The Russian Masterkova ran 4:12.56 at Zurich in 1996 (she did 3:56.77 en-route at 1500m). Romanian Paula Ivan is still second on the all time list (4:15.61) got the record in 1989. Both Puica (Romania) and Slaney (USA) have held the record for the distance.
Source: Author Mugaboo

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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