Thursday, June 5, 2014

50 Years Ago Today

Jim Ryun runs a sub four minute mile at age 17.

Via Toni Reavis

"On the heels of Dr. Roger Bannister‘s celebrated first sub-4:00 mile in 1954, (Jim) Ryun became the twelfth member of the exclusive sub-4 club as a high school junior on June 5, 1964.  Running 3:59.0 while finishing eighth at the Compton Invitational just six weeks after his 17th birthday Ryun became a national sensation."

Here is a good read from Track and Field News about how Ryun's sub-4 wasn't the big news that night, Gerry Lindgren got most of the attention for high school record 5,000. Track and Field News Editor Burt Nelson called Lindgrens that 5,000 meter race "the best race I've ever seen". Funny how time has a way of making certain events more significant or memorable.

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