MOBILE, Ala. - Vincent Rono, NCAA champion at 1500m, ran the first ever sub 4-minute mile in the state of Alabama at the USA Invitational, Saturday, clocking in at 3:59.63 in blustery condition.  The University of South Alabama senior posted the fourth-fastest time run in the world this year, third-best time run in the United States, and is the second-fastest collegian at the full mile distance behind Josh McDougal of Liberty, whose 3:57.46 in Lynchburg, Va., on March 31 tops the world list according to the IAAF's website (International Association of Athletics Federation is the world track and field governing body).

Rono just missed dipping under track and field's magical mile barrier last year at this meet, clocking 4:00.60 on a windy day last April.

"I thought that maybe the wind might be too much," Rono said, "But we wanted to do it so bad because we came so close last year, and the today the pace was good enough to do it."

The pacemakers went through the first lap in 58.01, setting the stage for Rono to begin his push.  Through two laps, the clock read 1:57 as the winds at Jaguar Track began to swirl, particularly on the backstretch.  With one lap to go, the time was 3:00 and Rono had broken clear of the field that included nine-time Sun Belt Conference champion Tonny Okello and 3000m SBC indoor titlist Micah Tirop, both Jaguar athletes.  Rono drove through the heavy winds and ran all the way through the line for his final time.

Okello, second as he was last year in this event, finished in 4:14.32, while the first-year Jag, Tirop, took third in 4:18.09.

The meet was shortened to due the inclement weather, but another of South Alabama's NCAA finalists got in a spectacular race in world-leading time.  Four-time SBC champion Ajoke Odumosu, ran the 400m in the fastest-time in world this year, clocking 50.46.  Her time betters that of South Carolina's Natasha Hastings, a 50.55 performance run in Columbia, S.C., on March 31.

Clarisse Moh was third, behind Odumosu, in a personal best 52.58.

The Jags travel to Auburn, Ala., for the Auburn Invitational, April 22.