<P> The world record in the mile run is the best mark set by a male or female runner in the middle - distance track and field event . The IAAF is the official body which oversees the records . Hicham El Guerrouj is the current men's record holder with his time of 3: 43.13, while Svetlana Masterkova has the women's record of 4: 12.56 . Since 1976, the mile has been the only non-metric distance recognized by the IAAF for record purposes . </P> <P> Accurate times for the mile run (1.609344 km) were not recorded until after 1850, when the first precisely measured running tracks were built . Foot racing had become popular in England by the 17th century, when footmen would race and their masters would wager on the result . By the 19th century "pedestrianism", as it was called, had become extremely popular and the best times recorded in the period were by professionals . Even after professional foot racing died out, it was not until 1915 that the professional record of 4: 123⁄4 (set by Walter George in 1886) was surpassed by an amateur . </P>

Who ran a mile in the fastest time