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It would not be a surprise to find out that most people under the age of 40 are not familiar with the line, “That’s not a knife, that’s a knife,” by Australian Paul Hogan’s character, Mick “Crocodile” Dundee, from the 1986 movie Crocodile Dundee. It was 40 years ago that Mick Dundee was in New York and was accosted by a thug, when he presented the retort’s evidence; it was an impressive knife.
Sunday, another Australian was in New York; this time, it was Cam Myers. He had an impressive run at the Wanamaker Mile. Myers won in a time of 3:47.57. Make that Cam “Cassowary” Myers — now that’s a race.
At age 19, he is now the youngest winner of the Wanamaker Mile, breaking the record held by American Marty Liquori, who set it back in 1969 at age 20. Myers already holds the Australian national record indoors at 3:47.48 from February 2025. He shares the same PB as Ollie Hoare.
The outdoor mile may be next for Myers as Hoare holds that one as well at 3:47.48. While road racing a mile is farther and fewer between, this record also seems attainable at 3:58.30, as held by Jack Antsey.
The race
American Abe Alvarado paced. He ran through the first 400 metres in the time of 56.51 seconds. Hot on his heels was Irishman Andrew Coscoran, who recorded the first quarter in 56.72. Myers sat back in second behind the two at 56.95. At the halfway split, Alvarado recorded a 1:52.51. Coscoran was hanging on to second, and Myers was patient.
American Yared Nuguse slid into second behind Coscoran as Avarado retired. Germany’s Robert Farken made a pitch for the podium, hanging out with the top three going into the third quarter. Hobbs Kessler was in the mix for a minute.
But in the end, Myers broke the tape. Finishing second was Nuguse, and third was Kessler in 3:48.31 and 3:48.68, respectively.
Forty years after Mick Dundee pulled a knife in New York and casually redefined “impressive,” another Australian did the same—this time in spikes. Myers didn’t need to say a word. At Madison Square Garden, he simply showed us what racing a mile looks like; now that’s a race.
