BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Western Washington University junior distance runner James Jasperson set a world record last week running a timed mile in 5:51.4 in firefighter structural gear.

Jasperson, a junior that competes for the Vikings in cross country and Track & Field, has had his eye on setting this record for a while and got the chance at a meet on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at Shoreline District Stadium in Shoreline, Washington.

Jasperson is a firefighter with South Whatcom Fire Authority, in addition to a student-athlete at Western Washington University. The native of Lacey, Washington (North Thurston High School) came to WWU after obtaining his fire science degree from Everett Community College.

He holds the 8th-fastest mile time in WWU Indoor history at 4:18.19 and is just outside the top 10 in the 1,500 in the outdoor record book.

You can watch James break the record in the following video: