Ethan Strand

Ethan Strand
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	October 20, 2002 (age 22)
Home town	Birmingham, Alabama
Education	Vestavia Hills High School
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Track and field, cross country
Event	1500m–3000m
University team	North Carolina Tar Heels
Club	Nike
Coached by	Chris Miltenberg
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	*All information from athlete's World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted. 800 m: 1:51.08i (Birmingham 2021); 1500 m: 3:30.25 (Eugene 2025); Mile: 3:48.32i NCAA Record (Boston 2025); 3000 m: 7:30.15i NCAA Record (Boston 2024); 5000 m: 13:26.60i (Louisville 2025); 10,000 m: 29:43.42 (Durham 2025);

Ethan Strand (born October 20, 2002)^[2] is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 meters, mile, and 3000 meters. He holds collegiate records over the short track mile and 3000 meters, which he set while competing for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Strand is an NCAA Indoor Champion over the 3000 meter distance.

Early life and education

Strand attended Vestavia Hills High School, located near Birmingham, Alabama. His father Scott is a graduate of Auburn University and the former coach of the men's track team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while his mother Lori is a former cross country coach at Samford University. Strand is a two-time winner of the Alabama Gatorade Cross Country Player of the Year award.^[3]^[4]

Career

In June 2024, Strand reached the 1500 meter final of the United States Olympic Trials. He was one of five collegians to make the race.^[3]

On November 23, 2024, Strand finished eighth in the 2024 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wisconsin, in a time of 28:53.0. His teammate, Parker Wolfe, finished one place ahead at 28:50.2.^[5]^[6]

On December 7, 2024 in Boston, Strand broke Drew Bosley's former NCAA record in the short track 3000 meters of 7:36.42 by more than six seconds, running 7:30.15. Strand out-kicked his teammate Parker Wolfe in the final straightaway, who ran 7:30.23.^[5]^[7]

On February 1, 2025 in Boston, Strand broke Cooper Teare’s former NCAA record in the short track mile of 3:50.39 by over two seconds, running 3:48.32. Strand accelerated past Robert Farken of On Athletics Club Boulder, closing in 27.10 seconds for his last 200m. Strand's time places him as the seventh fastest indoor miler of all time.^[8]

In March 2025, at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships, Strand won an NCAA title over the 3000 meter distance, with a winning time of 7:52.03.^[9]

On July 5, 2025, Strand won the International Mile at the Prefontaine Classic, with an outdoor personal best of 3:48.86.^[10] That same month, he signed a professional contract with Nike.^[11]

On August 2, 2025, Strand finished second to Jonah Koech in the 1500 meter final at the 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, in a personal best time of 3:30.25, thus qualifying for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.^[12]