Ridgewood’s Luke Pash Shatters Records with 4:03 Mile at RunningLane Championships

photo courtesy of Ridgewood Schools

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School’s Luke Pash has solidified his place among the elite in U.S. high school middle-distance running. The senior track star clocked a blazing 4:03.02 mile at the prestigious RunningLane Track Championships, setting a Bergen County record and running the fastest mile ever by a New Jersey high schooler in a high school-only race.

Pash’s time now ranks him second all-time in New Jersey state history, behind only Olympian Marty Liquori, who ran a 3:59.8 mile against open competition in 1967.

Championship-Level Competition in Alabama

Running in the highly competitive Championship Mile, Pash faced off against 21 of the top high school runners in the country, with 19 of them holding personal bests of 4:08 or better. The meet, held May 24 in Huntsville, Alabama, attracted over 2,000 athletes from 24 states and featured just four events: the 800m, mile, 3200m, and steeplechase.

“It was an awesome atmosphere,” said Pash. “There was music, energy, and my parents and coaches were there. I even had a few kids I met earlier cheering me on.”

Splits & Strategy: How Pash Closed Strong

Pash executed a smart and strategic race, keeping calm early and reserving his strength for a powerful finish:

• Lap 1: 61.17

• Lap 2: 60.65

• Lap 3: 61.59

• Lap 4 (kick): 59.62 🔥

That final lap surge helped him pass eight runners, moving from 11th to 3rd place overall, behind only Michigan’s T.J. Hansen (3:59.02) and New Mexico’s Corbin Coombs (3:59.25)—both of whom broke the fabled 4-minute mile barrier.

“Coach Sal yelled at 300 meters that it was ‘go time’,” Pash said. “So I just started passing kids and got the last one with about 25 meters left.”

What’s Next for Luke Pash?

The season isn’t over yet for Ridgewood’s standout miler. Pash is scheduled to compete in:

• Group 4 State Championships (Franklin H.S., May 30–31)

• State Meet of Champions (June 4)

• New Balance Nationals (Philadelphia, later in June)

While event selection is still in progress, another attempt at the sub-4-minute mile is firmly on the radar.

“Before this race, the 4-minute mile was a dream,” Pash said. “Now, it’s something I think I can actually get—maybe even this season.”

Pash is committed to running at North Carolina, where his performance is sure to keep rising.

Highlight Moment

Luke Pash also captured victory in the 1600m run at the Bergen County Group Championships at Old Tappan High School on May 9, 2025, continuing his dominant spring season.

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