American distance runners dominated the road running mile discipline in 2025, claiming eight of the top spots across both genders in World Athletics’ annual road running review published Tuesday, December 23.
Sinclaire Johnson Tops Women’s List
Sinclaire Johnson led the way on the women’s side, shattering the North American record with a blistering 4:21.66 at the Kalakaua Merrie Mile in Honolulu on December 13. The ever-improving 27-year-old improved her time by seven seconds, ranking second on the all-time world list behind Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji (4:20.98).
American athletes claimed four of the top five women’s performances in 2025. The USATF Road Mile Championships produced three of those marks, with Kristin Gear (4:23.98), Karissa Schweizer (4:24.40), and Gracie Morris (4:24.73) finishing second, fourth, and fifth on the season list.
Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir split the American trio with a 4:23.99 victory in Herzogenaurach that moved her to fifth all-time. Gear, Schweizer, and Morris performances rank in the top 10 on the world all-time list.
Men’s Road Running Mile Top List
The men’s rankings presented similar American strength, with four runners cracking the season’s top five. Hobbs Kessler, with a time of 3:54.34, and Nico Young, who posted 3:54.50, finished second and third on the 2025 list after their electric showdown in Herzogenaurach in April. Both now sit sixth and seventh on the world all-time list.
Vincent Ciattei (3:54.55) and Sam Ellis (3:54.93) rounded out the American contingent in the top five, with both posting their times at Des Moines in April. Ciattei ranks eighth all-time while Ellis holds the 12th-fastest mark in history.
Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the road mile in Herzogenaurach with a time of 3:52.45, making it the fastest time of the season and the third-fastest in road mile history.
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