Yared Nuguse Breaks National Mile Record

EUGENE, Oreg. – Notre Dame alum Yared Nuguse was a decorated student-athlete in his five years with the Notre Dame cross country and track and field programs as the All-American runner continually broke records, won championships, and even qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics during his time in South Bend.

The All-American’s success didn’t stop after graduating in 2022, as his most recent accomplishment came on Saturday, September 22 in one of the most prestigious track miles. As the Diamond League season concluded this weekend at Hayward Field, Nuguse ran in the Bowerman Mile at the 2023 Prefontaine Classic and while he finished second, he would break another record, yet again. 

Running a time of 3:43.97, he crossed the finish just 24 hundredths behind Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, but still recorded the fastest time in American history. He beat the previous American record by nearly three full seconds, beating Alan Webb’s record time of 3:46.91 that was set in 2007. Nuguse was just shy of beating Hicham El Guerrouj’s world record time of 3:43.13.

“The entire Notre Dame track and field family could not be more proud of Yared’s success in his first year running professionally,” said Hatherly-Piane Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Matt Sparks. “He has had some impressive finishes at the World Championships and Diamond League competitions, but what really stands out is his American mile record. He not only beat the previous record by three seconds, but is less than a second away from the world record” 

Nuguse continues to raise the bar for distance running worldwide and has set a new goal for generations of American runners to strive for.