Riley Chamberlain Breaks the NCAA Mile Record—and 2 Others Dip Under the Previous Record
Runner's World
February 15, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Riley Chamberlain made history by breaking the NCAA indoor mile record at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, finishing second with a time of 4:20.61—less than three seconds behind winner Elle St. Pierre. This shattered the previous mark set last year by Silan Ayyildiz, as Chamberlain and two other runners (Wilma Nielsen and Jane Hedengren) all dipped under the 4:23.46 threshold. Chamberlain’s performance was a significant breakthrough, considering her previous personal best was 4:26.19. The race showcased the rising talent of BYU’s track team, with freshman Jane Hedengren also achieving a world under-20 record in the event.
Chamberlain credited her success to training alongside Hedengren, highlighting how their teamwork and mutual positivity contributed to her improvement. This dynamic duo has been instrumental in pushing each other to new heights, as evidenced by their recent performances. For Chamberlain, this milestone represents a leap forward in her already accomplished career, which includes anchoring BYU to back-to-back NCAA titles in the distance medley relay.
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Originally published on Runner's World on 2/15/2026