This year the world celebrated the sixteeth anniversary of the first four minute mile run by Roger Bannister at Oxford University on 6th May 1954 so it is opportune to look back and recall some of the fastest mile times set over the years at the famed Cork City Sports.
Since John Hartnett ran the first sub four minute in Cork on 5th July 1974 at the former grass track in the Mardyke (the current gaelic pitch) with a 3:56.3 clocking there have been 106 sub 4 minute miles run at the Cork City Sports up to and including 2013. No doubt that figure will be increase on 8th July when the 63rd Cork City Sports takes place at the C.I.T Stadium, Bishopstown.
The leading fifteen times include some of the world’s greatest middle distance runners of the nineteen eighties regarded as the golden era of track and field.
| 1. | Sydney Maree | USA | 3:49.42 | 13-Jul-82 |
| 2. | Steve Cram | GBR | 3:49.90 | 03-Jul-82 |
| 3. | John Walker | NZL | 3:50.01 | 13-Jul-82 |
| 4. | Graham Williamson | GBR | 3:50.64 | 13-Jul-82 |
| 5. | Steve Scott | USA | 3:50.99 | 13-Jul-83 |
| 6. | John Walker | NZL | 3:51.59 | 13-Jul-83 |
| 7. | Ray Flynn | IRL | 3:51.63 | 13-Jul-82 |
| 8. | Eamonn Coghlan | IRL | 3:52.11 | 23-Jun-81 |
| 9. | Wilson Waigwa | KEN | 3:52.41 | 13-Jun-82 |
| 10. | Frank O’Mara | IRL | 3:52.50 | 13-Jun-83 |
| 11. | Marcus O’Sullivan | IRL | 3:52.64 | 09-Jul-85 |
| 12. | Thomas Wessinghage | GER | 3:52.91 | 13-Jul-85 |
| 13. | Steve Ovett | GBR | 3:52.99 | 08-Jul-86 |
| 14. | John Walker | NZL | 3:53.20 | 09-Jul-85 |
| 15. | Jack Buckner | GBR | 3:53.44 | 13-Jul-82 |
