Roger Bannister running track

The Roger Bannister running track, also known as the Oxford University track, is a 400-metres athletics running track and stadium in Oxford, England. It was where Sir Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile on 6 May 1954, when it was known as the Iffley Road track. The track is owned and operated by Oxford University.

History

In 1867, Oxford University built a grass track round at Marston Road Sports Grounds. The University later decided to build a new running track at Iffley Road. The ground was leased from Christ Church.

In 1948, Roger Bannister, then a 19-year-old student at Exeter College, was elected President of Oxford University’s Athletic Club. He made it a prime aim of his presidency to replace the bumpy, uneven track with a new six-lane track. Two years later, in 1950, the new 440 yards track was refurbished and was opened by the John Lowe, the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.<ref...
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