Athletics: Former top miler dies

Gunder Hagg, who set the mile world record in 1945 and held it until Roger Bannister broke the four-minute barrier, has died in Sweden at 85 after a long illness.

Hagg broke 15 world marks in middle-distance running and set 10 world marks over three months in 1942. That year, the Swede also was the first to run 5000m in under 14 minutes.

On July 17, 1945, Hagg set a world record for the mile of 4m 1.4s, which remained until Bannister clocked 3m 59.4s nine years later.