Running News Daily

Silan Ayyildiz, a junior at the University of Oregon, has etched her name into NCAA history by becoming the collegiate record holder in both the indoor and outdoor mile events. Her remarkable achievements in 2025 have solidified her status as one of the premier middle-distance runners in collegiate athletics.

On February 15, 2025, at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, Ayyildiz shattered the NCAA indoor mile record with a time of 4:23.46, surpassing the previous record of 4:24.26 set by Katelyn Tuohy in 2023. This performance not only set a new collegiate benchmark but also established a Turkish national record and topped the University of Oregon’s all-time list.

Continuing her exceptional form, Ayyildiz broke the outdoor collegiate mile record on April 26, 2025, at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. Her time of 4:25.50 eclipsed the longstanding record of 4:29.04 set by Angela Chalmers in 1987. This achievement marked her third collegiate record of the year, following her indoor mile and distance medley relay (DMR) records.

Born on October 10, 1999, in Istanbul, Turkey, Ayyildiz began her athletic journey in middle school and quickly rose through the ranks, securing national titles and representing Turkey in various international competitions. Her accolades include gold medals in the 1500m at both the 2022 Balkan Indoor and Outdoor Championships and a bronze medal at the 2021 Summer Universiade.

In 2023, Ayyildiz transitioned to collegiate athletics in the United States, joining the University of South Carolina. During her tenure there, she broke multiple school records and clinched the SEC 1500m title. Seeking further growth, she transferred to the University of Oregon, where she continues to excel both academically and athletically.

Since joining the Oregon Ducks, Ayyildiz has been a cornerstone of the team’s success. Her contributions include anchoring the DMR team to a collegiate record time of 10:42.05 during the indoor season. Individually, she has set personal bests across various distances, solidifying her status as one of the premier middle-distance runners in collegiate athletics.

With the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships on the horizon, Ayyildiz is poised to further cement her legacy. Her relentless pursuit of excellence and dedication to her craft make her a formidable competitor on the national stage. As she continues to break barriers and set new standards, the track and field community eagerly anticipates what milestones Silan Ayyildiz will achieve next.