福利小视频

The frigid January air bit through layers of warmth as Reece Sharman-Newell took his place at the starting line in Boulder. The British-born CSU 福利小视频 standout had faced countless challenges in his decorated running career, but last Saturday’s conditions—temperatures in the teens and Boulder's notorious 5,328-foot elevation—presented a unique test.

For decades, Colorado's thin air has both attracted and humbled the world's elite runners. While the state has produced countless Olympians and world-class athletes, one achievement had remained frustratingly out of reach: no one had ever run a sub-four-minute mile in an official race on Colorado soil.

The science behind this elusive barrier is complex but clear. While sprinters can benefit from the reduced air resistance at altitude, any race lasting longer than two minutes faces a significant aerobic handicap. The reduced oxygen delivery to muscles creates a physiological ceiling that has proven particularly challenging in the mile—a distance that demands both speed and sustained aerobic power.

For Sharman-Newell, this historic achievement is the culmination of years of development, including a transition from shorter distances. “The 800 is brutal. That's the only way I can describe it,” he reflected after the race. “It's long enough to make a mistake, but it's too short to come back from one.” This insight into the tactical differences between events highlights his evolution as a distance runner, with the mile proving to be his sweet spot for making history.

As the race unfolded, Sharman-Newell found himself in a three-way battle with unattached runner Yasin Sado and Colorado University's Isaiah Givens. The trio pushed each other through the punishing thin air, each step bringing them closer to the seemingly impossible. When Sharman-Newell crossed the finish line in 3:59.37—converted to an even more impressive 3:53.54 at altitude—he had done more than win a race. He had become the first person to officially break the four-minute mile in Colorado.

“When it came to the kick, I refused to lose and took the W in a pretty nice time,” Sharman-Newell said, his characteristically British understatement belying the magnitude of his achievement.

The eight-time All-American is quick to credit his support system for this breakthrough performance however. “I definitely wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. I'm the guy that has relied a lot on my surroundings and I'm in a great environment,”  he acknowledges, pointing to the strong foundation built during cross-country season and the backing of his teammates and coaches.

The achievement carries extra weight for Sharman-Newell, who has his sights set on even bigger goals. Having narrowly missed making the British Olympic team in 2024, he remains undaunted. “My family has really rallied together and supported me, especially with my attempt at making the Olympics. It was great to see everyone out and really pushing for me to make it,” he shares.

And true to his competitive nature, Sharman-Newell isn't content to rest on this historic accomplishment. When asked about his collection of awards, he responds with characteristic determination. “I've got plenty of plaques but I don't like the color. From now on, I only want the golds and whatever I enter, I will not be satisfied with anything less than the gold.”

For a small school, the historic run validates CSU 福利小视频's rising prominence in distance running and adds another chapter to Sharman-Newell's remarkable journey from the UK to the American West. For a Division II athlete to achieve what countless Division I and professional runners couldn't speaks volumes about both his talent and the program's development.

As the running world celebrates this milestone, Sharman-Newell's name will forever be linked to one of Colorado running's watershed moments—the day someone finally conquered the mile-high four-minute barrier.