In many countries, athletes compete in the 440 yard dash (402.336 m) – which corresponds to a quarter mile.
[1] World-record holder Lon Meyers (1858–1899) was the first person to run the 440 in under 50 seconds.
[1][2] In 1947, Herb McKenley of Jamaica set a world record in the event with a time of 46.3 seconds, which he lowered the following year to a new world record of 46.0 seconds.
The 400 metres (400 meter or 400 m race) is the successor to the 440 yard dash.
[5] An athlete who competes in the 400 m may still be referred to as 'quarter-miler' though this rounded, metric distance is 2 1/3 meters shorter than a full 440-yard (quarter mile) race.