The first high school athlete to run a mile in under four minutes was Jim Ryun in 1964. He set two world records in the half-mile and the mile at age 19. Ryun went on to compete in the Olympics and later served as a member of the House of Representatives. In his book, Ryun weaves personal stories with those of historical and biblical figures to inspire readers to approach life with intention.
Grades 8 and up
For more about runners, read Project 222: Running the Fastest Mile.
