Monument Mile magic as Ben clocks 3:57 and age group Records fall

Saturday 21st May 2022

Ben MacMillan celebrates his superb run at the Monument Mile Classic (Photo by Bobby Gavin)

*We will update this report further as and when have the opportunity to do so (with Birmingham/Loughborough on this weekend). Thanks for patience.

Race results (downloadable on right side of the page)

Ben MacMillan wrote himself into the Scottish all-time list with a superb sub four-minute run at the latest Monument Mile Classic.

The Central AC athlete, representing Stirling University, clocked a stunning 3:57.76 to land a hat-trick of prizes from the organisers.

Ben also became the first Scot to break the four-minute barrier in Scotland since 1985.

Corey Campbell was another Record breaker as the Team East Lothian teenager took down the British U17 Record and, apparently, a World Record for an athlete aged 15 years. Corey clocked 4:05.77 to finish in seventh place.

Slideshow of Bobby Gavin’s photos from the event

Fiona Matheson broke the W60 World Record with 5:38.55 and Philippa Millage took down a British Record for W40 with her run at 4:48.07 (nine seconds better than the previous best).

Alastair Walker made it a trio of British Masters Records with his run of 5:10.57 a big improvement at M65 (with previous having been at 5:24).

In addition, there was a T20 British Record for Ben Sandilands of Fife AC with 4:09.96 in the Men’s A race.

VP-Glasgow youngster Ruairdh Laing came up with a British U13 Best at 4:50.25. And Garscube’s Erin Burnett did likewise for U13 Girls with 5:10.33.

All these Records and Bests will be subject to the ratification processes.

Photo by Bobby Gavin

In the Men’s A race, Stirling Uni’s Kieran Reilly was second in 4:01.37 and there was a strong run for third by Kilbarchan AAC’s U20 athlete, Jack Patton, in 4:01.90.

‘It’s quite unbelievable,’ said Ben, who became the first Scot to run a sub four minute mile on Scottish soil since 1985.

‘I was so nervous beforehand and I didn’t think I could do it. But I just had to tell myself that, if I was going to, I just had to go for it and give it absolutely everything.

‘My coach, Michael Wright, has played a huge part in all of this.

‘I’m so grateful to him for his input. It has been 18 months in the making and a lot of hard work in that time with big weeks of miles and lots of time in the gym.’

MacMillan took him the first prize of £250, a cash bonus for breaking the Monument Mile Record and the Scottish Student Sport competition first prize.

A superb 13.51 run at 5000m recently suggested Ben was in top form and, with the race expertly paced by his Central AC’s team-mate, Alastair Hay, he pushed on superbly from around three minutes dead at the bell.

The Women’s podium as winner Niamh Carr is flanked by Katie Lowery (on right, second place) and Philippa Millage (photo by Bobby Gavin)

In the Women’s race, there was a win for Edinburgh Uni’s Naimh Carr to take first prize and also the students first prize.

Niamh clocked 4:46.40 to win from Katie Lowery, also from Edinburgh Uni, in second in 4:47.02. Third place went to W40 athlete, Philippa Millage of VP-Glasgow in 4:48.07.

The even had promised fireworks on a Friday night in Stirling – and it did not disappoint.

Masters athlete Fiona Matheson lit the fuse early in the programme of 29 races with a superb run to clock a new W60 World Record.

The Falkirk Victoria Harriers athlete, who has been in top form for the past six months or more, clocked 5:38.55 to add another Record to her long list of achievements of recent years.

Huge well done to Central AC, Michael Wright, the Monument Mile sponsors and the Officials and volunteers who made this event happen.