Yared Nuguse’s Historic Run: A Night to Remember

Yared Nuguse’s Historic Run: A Night to Remember

If Yared Nuguse was going to take down any of the middle distance records, New York was always going to be the city he did. He had won here continuously, while also flirting with the world record and it was only a matter of time before mother nature answered. And she did at the Millrose Games this year. Nuguse ran 3:46.63 in the Wanamaker Mile, breaking the indoor world record. The time erased Yomif Kejelcha 3:47.01 mark, set in 2019, and earned Nuguse a $25,000 bonus. More importantly, it confirmed what many already believed, he is one of the best milers in the world.

It was a fitting moment for a runner who has come close so many times. Two years ago, he ran 3:47.31, an American record that put him second on the all-time list. Last summer, he finished third in the Olympic 1500m, just one-hundredth of a second behind silver medalist Josh Kerr. And outdoors, his 3:43.97 mile ranks fourth all-time, within a second of the world record. Nuguse is fast. But now, he is something more: a world record holder.

The plan was simple. Stay patient, follow the pacer, and be ready to push when the moment came. Nuguse executed it perfectly. His splits—57.38, 55.91, 56.95, 56.41—were metronomic. He never wavered. When the pacer stepped off, he took over. When the bell rang for the final lap, he found another gear. Hobbs Kessler was right there. The 21-year-old pushed Nuguse to the very end, crossing in 3:46.90. Cam Myers, just 18, shattered the U20 world record with 3:47.78. Behind them, five other runners broke 3:50. It was the deepest indoor mile in history. But it was Nuguse’s night. As he crossed the line, he raised his arms, his face a mix of exhaustion and joy. The moment had finally come.

Nuguse doesn’t fit the mold of a typical track star. He isn’t flashy. He doesn’t talk much about his goals. He doesn’t predict records. He just runs. His coach, Dathan Ritzenhein, has seen it up close. “He’s been this close on the outdoor record, this close on the indoor record, this close on the road mile record,” Ritzenhein said. “And now he finally got one. It’s pretty cool.”

Cool is a word often used to describe Nuguse. He is calm in big races, steady in training, and unfazed by pressure. When he broke the record, he didn’t pound his chest or scream into the crowd. He smiled, hugged his competitors, and jogged over to shake Ritzenhein’s hand. That’s just who he is. His approach to running is simple, focus on the fundamentals, stay consistent, and let the performances speak for themselves.

Records come with a price. For Nuguse, that price was his American record in the 3,000 meters. Just an hour before his mile, Grant Fisher shattered it, running 7:22.91 to set a world indoor record. Nuguse wasn’t upset. If anything, he saw the humor in it. “Guess it was a trade,” he said with a grin.

American distance running is in a golden era. At the Paris Olympics, the U.S. men won five medals in distance events. That momentum has carried into 2025. Fisher, Cole Hocker, Kessler, and Nuguse are pushing each other to new heights. The records won’t stop here.

This new wave of American distance runners has created an exciting rivalry, one that is pushing them to levels previously unseen. Competition fuels performance, and each record-breaking run raises the bar for the next. For Nuguse, his ability to execute in high-stakes races makes him stand out. He doesn’t just run fast—he runs smart. He knows when to wait and when to attack. That skill, combined with his raw talent, makes him a dangerous competitor in any race.

As much as he enjoys the individual accolades, Nuguse is also motivated by the bigger picture. He wants to be part of the resurgence of American middle-distance running. He knows the legacy of past greats and aims to add his name to that list. Breaking the indoor world record was a step, but he knows there’s more to achieve.

Nuguse’s next target is obvious: the outdoor mile world record. The legendary 3:43.13 set by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999 still stands. Nuguse is closer than almost anyone ever has been. Breaking it won’t be easy. Outdoor miles are rare, and conditions have to be just right. But if anyone can do it, Nuguse can.

His training is already being adjusted to optimize his chances. He and Ritzenhein have analyzed every detail, race selection, pacing strategies, altitude training. It’s all about maximizing the opportunity when it comes. Nuguse understands that history is within reach, and he is willing to put in the work to make it happen.