St Mary’s Alumnus Breaks Men's Road Mile World Record

St Mary’s University, Twickenham (SMU) and Endurance Performance Centre (EPC) alumnus Elliot Giles had broken the world record for a men’s road mile after completing the New Balance KO Meile in Dusseldorf in a time of 3:51.3.

Elliot finished ahead of US middle-distance runner Yared Nuguse, who won Bronze in the Men's 1500m at the Paris 2024 Games.

The previous road mile record of 3:56.13 was set by Hobbs Kessler at the World Road Running Championships in 2023.

Elliot was an Olympic 800m semi-finalist at the Paris Games earlier this year, after stepping in for SMU associate Jake Wightman due to injury. He previously took the 800m British title in 2016 before running a personal best of 1:45.54 in the final of the European Championships, securing Bronze and a place at the Rio 2016 Olympics. In 2018, Elliot took home Bronze in the Men’s 800m at the 2018 Athletics World Cup in London.

Elliot previously broke the British record for the indoors 800m with a time of 1:43.63 at the World Indoor Tour in February 2021. The previous record by Seb Coe had stood since March 1983.

Speaking on this achievement EPC Performance Coach Craig Winrow said, “It’s great to see Elliot break the world record over the weekend and he is obviously still in great shape after competing at the Olympics. We wish him luck over the coming weeks as he competes in the Zurich Diamond League on the 5th September, and the Diamond League final in Brussels on the13th September.”

This summer has seen fourteen athletes from St Mary’s and the EPC selected to compete at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with four medals already won. Alumna Beth Potter took home two Bronze medals in the Women’s Triathlon and Mixed Triathlon Relay, while alumnus Aaron Grandidier won Gold with France in the Men’s Rugby Sevens. At the Paralympic Games Alumna Corrine Hall has won Bronze with Lora Fachie in the Women’s B 3000m Individual Pursuit.

Athletes, alumni, and students from SMU have won a Gold medal at every Games since Beijing 2008. In total the University has seen 51 athletes take part in the last four Olympic and Paralympic Games, with some representing multiple events, winning 17 medals for their nations prior to Paris 2024.