A Herne Hill-born athlete cemented her place in British sporting history on Saturday with a course-record time of 4:23 at the Vitality Westminster Mile.
Katie Snowden, 30, came out on top of the British middle-distance talent in the British Miler Club (BMC) wave.
With a time 25 seconds faster than second place Lilly Hawkins, Snowden overcame the challenges and broke the British mile record for the course.
Snowden said: “It’s really cool to be the first person to do it.
“I last raced here in 2017 so I’m glad I ran a lot faster this year than back then too.
“It really helps when there’s a good atmosphere so it was great there were lots of people spectating.”
The course contains two near 90-degree turns and 30 feet of elevation, meaning the race is more fatiguing and breaks up the athlete’s stride rhythm.
Snowden explained: “A road mile is harder to judge your effort than a 1500m on the track.”
Running has long been a passion for the Londoner.
At 12 years old Snowden was encouraged by PE teachers Libby Head and Fiona Murray to join Herne Hill Harriers at Tooting Bec Athletics Track after realising her running flair at the primary school sports day.
Snowden competed in London Schools races alongside now Olympic Bronze Medallist Georgia Bell but she said: “winning English Schools over 800m in 2009 was my favourite memory.”
Next year, Snowden aims to make the British World Athletics Championship team in Tokyo, improving her 2023 eighth place in Budapest.
She said: “Breaking the world record for a road mile would be a fun one to have a go at.”
With all her successes of the last few years, Snowden knows she has inspired young girls at Herne Hill Harriers and has received messages on social media.
But is running in southwest London accessible to young people?
Snowden said: “Running clubs such as HHH are accessible to everyone so there is an opportunity if it is something an athlete wants to pursue.
“More and more run clubs and parkruns are being introduced such as in Battersea Park so that gives people another way of being part of the community.”
Snowden’s advice to young athletes was to enjoy their time competing and not to compare themselves to what others are doing.
She said: “A quote I’ve always liked is ‘comparison is the thief of joy’.”
Snowden, whose favourite route is between Clapham Common and Battersea Park, has little time to enjoy her victory.
She races the 1500m at ATHLOS against three-time Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon in New York on Thursday, the final race of her season.
When asked where she would host a mile road race in London, The Westminster Mile record holder said: “Down Oxford Street would be a fun place to have one.”
British Millers Club (BMC) was tasked with finding the athletes up for the challenge of breaking the long-standing men’s four-minute barrier and the women’s 4:30 mark.
Before the event, BMC stadium announcer Harrison Mayne said Snowden was a firm favourite to break the British record but it had not been guaranteed.
He said: “The Westminster Mile has proven more difficult than some other races.”
