In the next few weeks, Scott, whose American mile record of 3:47.69 has stood since 1982, will provide some answers.

In one of those races on 23 August 1886, he set a mile record which was not surpassed for almost 30 years.

He chose 16 July to make a special attempt to break the mile record.

On the track, he has held the American mile record of 3:47.69 for 23 years.

His amateur mile record would stand until 1911.

Perhaps his greatest legacy was setting three American mile records.

In 1955, Diane broke the mile record by a further 15 seconds, achieving her personal best of 4:45.

In the last 50 years the mile record has been lowered by almost 17 seconds.

Webb also went below Hunt's national 1,500-meter mark set in 1976 en route to his mile record.

In 1984, he set an absolute American 100 mile record of 12:27:01, again in a track race.