Friends, family and fans lined the stands at Des Moines Christian High School’s football field hoping to see the school’s former track star Caleb Ten Pas make history.
He came up just short.
Ten Pas just missed out on reaching his goal of running a sub-4-minute mile, tallying a time of 4:06.56 during a special event at Lions Field in Urbandale on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
“It just wasn’t in the last lap,” Ten Pas said the run. “I wish it was but that’s OK. I’m just so grateful to be back running.”
It’s been a long journey for the Oregon signee. He missed this year’s state track meet after hairline fracture to his second metatarsal.
He was forced into a walking boot for six weeks but was still determined to eclipse the 4-minute mile mark before heading off to college. Only two runners in Iowa high school history have accomplished the feat.
Ex-Dowling star Jackson Heidesch was the first, conquering the feet in 3:59.08 in 2023. Former Western Dubuque star Quentin Nauman topped it by running 3:58.65 in 2025. Both did it at the Hoka Festival of Miles, one of running’s top national events.
Ten Pas hoped to be the first to do it on Iowa soil. So, he set up a special event before heading to college. The stage was certainly set.
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Iowa runner Carson Houg ran with him as a pacer. Brett Carney with All-American Timing was on hand to make sure an official time was counted.
The Ten Pas family gave out ice cream to the first 100 fans that showed up to the event that grabbed attention on social media. Caleb’s dad, Kyle Ten Pas, estimated well over 500 fans showed up hoping to watch some history.
They still got a good show.
“It was so awesome,” Caleb Ten Pas said. “I didn’t know exactly how many people were going to be out here at my home school.”
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Community comes to support Caleb Ten Pas’ sub 4-minute mile attempt