 The 1500 m and mile run events have historically been some of the most prestigious track and field events . Swedish rivals <unk> <unk> and Arne <unk> broke each other 's 1500 m and mile world records on a number of occasions in the 1940s . The prominence of the distances were maintained by Roger <unk> , who ( in 1954 ) was the first to run the long @-@ elusive four @-@ minute mile , and Jim <unk> 's exploits served to popularise interval training . Races between British rivals Sebastian Coe , Steve <unk> and Steve <unk> characterised middle @-@ distance running in the 1980s . From the 1990s onwards , North Africans such as <unk> <unk> of Algeria and <unk> El <unk> of Morocco came to dominate the 1500 and mile events . 
