On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister, a medical student and amateur athlete accomplished what many once believed was impossible; he ran a mile in under four minutes. I would like to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Roger Bannister’s historic race by honoring the fourteen individuals from Illinois who have ran a sub 4-minute mile.

On behalf of the people of Illinois, I salute the determination of Roger Bannister, and all the runners from Illinois that have smashed the 4-minute mile barrier. These 14 runners from Illinois have joined an elite group of only 258 people from America that have achieved this feat. Illinois sub 4-minute milers are comprised of Olympians, NCAA Champions, current and former record holders, and legends of the running community. I salute their great accomplishment, and their contribution to the sport of track & field.

You don’t need to run a 4-minute mile to enjoy the benefits of running and the joy of track and field. All Illinois citizens can get involved either through local running organizations, the Junior Olympics, the Senior Olympics, or Special Olympics. Please explore this website to find more information about some of Illinois’ best runners, and to find links to other important running websites.

Sincerely,

Pat Quinn
Lieutenant Governor