Amir Rusyaidi sets new Singapore road mile national record in Australia

SINGAPORE – Patience is the key for Amir Rusyaidi, as he became the first Singaporean to run the mile in under 4min 20sec, after he clocked 4:19.55 at the Australian Road Mile Championships’ elite men’s race in Ballarat, Victoria, on April 26.

Not only did the 23-year-old shatter the previous road mile national record of 4:30 set by Soh Rui Yong in 2024, but his time is also faster than the track mile national mark of 4:20.83 set by Lui Yuan Chow in 2019.

The Perth-based athlete said: “I’ve been at this for a decade now – I wasn’t a National School Games champion or even a top-three finisher – but here I am, as the first Singaporean to run sub-4:20 in the mile.

“Patience and consistency really are the name of the game, in all aspects of life. I’ve got big dreams for the future, especially with the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games taking place next year.

“But I’m in no rush. I know there’s a lot I still need to work on, and I’m willing to be patient.”

The Singapore Athletics (SA) hailed his achievement as “an impressive feat given that road race timings are usually slower than track performances”.

In social media posts congratulating the athlete, SA noted that “the Ballarat course, with its two sharp turns, made it an even tougher challenge”.

Amir added: “I knew I had it in me after running a sub-four 1,500m in March, but I didn’t expect to go faster than the track mile record after racing the 1,500m and steeplechase just two days before.

“Huge shout-out to (former road mile national record holders) Ethan Yan and Rui Yong for paving the way – I’m just standing on the shoulders of those before me.”

Amir, who is studying at the University of Western Australia, also runs the Instagram page @insidetracksg which provides analysis, rankings, previews and reviews of the Singapore athletics scene.

Even as he pursues a bachelor of sport and exercise sciences and master of applied human performance science course, he is also eyeing SEA Games qualification in the men’s 1,500m.

His fastest time this year is 3:59.61, which is just behind fellow Singaporean Oliver Lim’s 3:59.39, and the qualifying mark of 3:59.36.

Amir said: “I have my sights on the 1,500m, track mile and indoor mile records over the next few years, and maybe even becoming Singapore’s first sub-four miler. But first up, (qualifying for) the SEA Games in December!”

Meanwhile, at the London Marathon, Soh set a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon completed in a suit by a man when he clocked 2hr 39min 57sec on April 27 to break the previous mark of 2:40:52 set by Frenchman Emmanuel Bonnier in 2023.