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Hall of Famer,
Ryun Tops Poll
In a poll conducted by ESPN.com, National Track & Field Hall of Famer
Jim Ryun headed a list of the top 10 high school athletes of all-time.
In justifying this honor they commented, "As a high school senior
in
1965, Ryun ran a 3:55.3 mile at the AAU Championships to defeat Olympic
champion Peter Snell. His record would stand for almost 36 years, broken
in 2001 by Alan Webb.
Back when sub-4-minute miles were relatively scarce, Ryun broke four
minutes as a high school junior. Five of the six fastest "schoolboy"
miles have been run by Ryun, most of them on much slower tracks than
today's. While still in high school, Ryun competed in the 1,500 meters
in the 1964 Olympics, making it to the semifinals.
(ed note - all-right, we will age ourselves here - as high schooler in
the mid-1960's had the chance to watch Jim Ryun run a number of races
locally in Southern California. At the old "Compton Cup," which
used to squeeze about 10,000 people in the crowded Compton HS stadium,
saw Ryun (1964 his eleventh grade year) get knocked off the track during
the second lap of a mile race at the Open/Olympic level, and get back
on to finish ninth place at 3:59.1. Later that year he qualified for the
Olympic Games in Los Angeles off a sterling stretch run to take Los Angeles
Track Club star Jim Grelle for the last spot to the 1964 Olympics. The
next year as a high school senior he raced 3:55.3 for a full mile, the
National Record until Alan Webb's 3:53 of two years back! He raced an
amazing run against Peter Snell (New Zealander felt to be the world's
best middle distance runner of the time) in San Diego his senior year
in what I believe was the 3:55.3 effort. He set a World Record at the
University of Kansas in 1967 of 3:51.1 for the mile. In the 1968 Olympics
at Mexico City at altitude he was second to altitude-trained Kenyan Kip
Keino over 1500m, then in 1972 tragically was tripped during the qualifying
for the 1500 meter finals, leaving his career a bit unfulfilled at the
Olympic Level. He is a Congressman at this time in his life, and has running
camps - Link to his
career running info - Link to
his camp information.- excerpts
from Jim Ryun Story at Track and Field News
The mid-1960's was a magical time for running. At the same period Gerry
Lindgren, a less than 5'6" star out of Spokane, Washington cranked
an 8:40 indoor two miles in the LA area, and went on to defeat the Russian
Olympic level stars in a US-Russian dual meet that drew about 60,000 (yes
60,000 for a track meet in Los Angeles) to the LA Coliseum (yes track
in the LA Coliseum!!) over 10,000 meters. Lindgren also made the US 1964
Olympic team, and has the still standing prep 5000 meter record just under
13:45 that Dathan Ritzenhein just missed two years ago--amazing times---
some Jim Ryun pictures of his racing in Southern California during the
mid-1960's--
Above left - Ryun takes Peter Snell in San Diego's Balboa Stadium in
3:55.3 American Record Mile his senior year of 1965 (Balboa used to have
a second deck which was removed because of earthquake concerns along the
way) - (right) Peter Snell (New Zealand) dark uniform takes Jim Grelle
(Oregon and Los Angeles Track Club star) and Ryun (number 114), with Ryun's
"head-rolling" style when he became fatigued. Ryun worked his
way up to and just past Grelle during the summer of 1964 in the Olympic
Trials (also held in the LA Coliseum) for the valued third spot on the
U.S. Olympic team as a High School eleventh grader.
Jim Ryun sets World Record for 1500 meters in LA Coliseum - believe 1967
(note the crowd)
Them were the "good old days!!")
Track on TV this weekend
Tune in this weekend for the Verizon Millrose Games at New York City's
Madison Square Garden, the second stop on USATF's Golden Spike Tour. The
meet will be broadcast live on ESPN2 on Friday, February 7, from 7-9 pm
ET and Saturday, February 8 on NBC from 2:30 - 4 p.m.
Superstar lineups set for Verizon Millrose Games
NEW YORK – Following their record-setting performances last weekend
at the
adidas Boston Indoor Games, Regina Jacobs and Stacy Dragila will lead
many
of the world’s greatest athletes Friday night at the second event
of USA
Track & Field’s 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour, the Verizon Millrose
Games at
Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The event will be televised live on ESPN2 this Friday from 7-9 pm ET,
and
on NBC this Saturday from 2:30-4 p.m. ET.
Regarded as the world's greatest indoor invitational track meet, the
Verizon Millrose Games have been a sporting fixture in New York City since
1908. Held annually since 1914, the Millrose Games is the longest running
sporting event in Madison Square Garden history. In all, 87 world indoor
records have been set or equaled and 117 Millrose winners have been Olympic
Champions. This will be the 96th edition of this great event.
Last Saturday at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, 39-year-old Regina
Jacobs
broke 4 minutes for 1,500 meters for the first time in her storied career.
She won the race in 3 minutes, 59.98 seconds, to break Romanian Doina
Melinte’s world record of 4:00.27, set in East Rutherford, N.J.
in 1990.
A 22-time U.S. champion at various distances, Jacobs broke Mary Slaney’s
American record of 4:00.8, set in 1980, with her performance. Jacobs returns
to Millrose Friday night as a heavy favorite in the Fred Lebow women’s
mile,
where she owns a four-year winning streak.
A four-time women’s pole vault winner at Millrose (1998, ’00,
’01, ’02),
Stacy Dragila returns to the Garden after clearing 4.71 meters/15 feet,
5.50
inches to beat her own American record of 4.70/15-5 in the Visa women’s
pole
vault last Saturday in Boston. It was a tremendous beginning of the 2003
season for Dragila, who last year lost her indoor world record to Svetlana
Feofanova of Russia while Dragila nursed a foot injury.
The women’s 60m hurdles features one of the most exciting matchups
of the
evening as Gail Devers, the three-time world champion in the 100m hurdles,
takes on Brigitte Foster of Jamaica, who was second-ranked in the world
behind Devers in 2002.
Defending Verizon Millrose Games champions competing Friday include Shawn
Crawford in the men’s 60 meters. The 2001 World Indoor Championships
gold
medalist, Crawford will do battle with two-time Olympic gold medalist
and
three-time Verizon men’s 60m winner Maurice Greene. In returning
to the Big
Apple following a two-year absence, Greene for a fourth Millrose 60m title
after a great start out of the blocks propelled him to the 60m win at
Boston
last week in 6.52 seconds.
2002 Verizon Millrose men’s 60m hurdles champion Larry Wade will
attempt to
defend his title against a strong field including 1996 Olympic gold medalist
and three-time Millrose winner Allen Johnson, and 2000 Olympic Games silver
medalist Terrence Trammell, who set the Verizon Millrose Games record
of
7.47 seconds with his win in 2001.
Trammell will attempt a daring double when he also competes in the Verizon
men’s 60m.
Jeff Hartwig, who set a Millrose record in winning the Fred Schmertz
men’s
pole vault last year with a clearance of 5.87 meters/19 feet, 3 inches,
will
go for his fifth career Millrose title. Hartwig’s performance at
Millrose
last year helped springboard him to his finest season, as he ended the
2002
campaign ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News for the first
time in
his career.
Expect a great battle in the men’s high jump as 2002 Millrose
winner
Charles Clinger, who cleared 7 feet, 8 inches last week, takes on 2002
USA
Indoor and Outdoor champion Nathan Leeper and 1996 Olympic gold medalist
Charles Austin. Canadian star Mark Boswell also will provide a strong
challenge.
International stars on hand to defend their 2002 Millrose titles include
Wanamaker Mile champion Laban Rotich from Kenya, who will defend his title
against a loaded field that includes 2000 Olympic gold medalist Noah Ngeny,
2001 World Championships silver medalist and 2002 World Cup champion Bernard
Lagat, Ibrahim Aden and Sammy Mutai. Also look for 2002 U.S. Outdoor 1,500m
runner-up Bryan Berryhill to be in the mix.
Tisha Waller will defend her Millrose women’s high jump title
after adding
the 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor crowns to her resume last year. 2001 USA
Indoor and Outdoor champion and Millrose crowd favorite Amy Acuff will
challenge Waller.
For more information on the 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour, including
rankings of top performances and full results from last week’s adidas
Boston
Indoor Games, visit the USATF Web site, www.usatf.org.
Verizon Millrose Games At a Glance
Fields subject to change; all nationalities USA unless otherwise noted.
Men
Verizon Men’s 60m: Maurice Greene, adidas; Shawn Crawford, Mizuno;
Justin
Gatlin, Nike; Jon Drummond, Nike; Kaaron Conwright, Nike; Terrence Trammell,
Mizuno.
THE SCOOP: Although Greene looked strong in winning last week in Boston,
he
faces tough competition against defending Millrose champion Shawn Crawford,
Greene’s training partner and runner-up at Boston Jon Drummond and
2000
Olympic 110m hurdles silver medalist and 2001 World Indoor 60m hurdles
champion Terrence Trammell. 2002 NCAA 60m champion Justin Gatlin, just
21,
also is in the field and is considered a future sprint star.
60m hurdles: Allen Johnson, Nike; Terrence Trammell, Mizuno; Larry Wade,
Nike; Dudley Dorival, Haiti; Dominique Arnold, Nike; Arend Watkins, Nike.
THE SCOOP: Defending Millrose champion Larry Wade had a tremendous season
in
2002, ending the campaign ranked #3 in the world. He’ll do battle
with 1996
Olympic gold medalist and 1995 World Indoor champion Allen Johnson, who
posted the fastest time in the world this year of 7.48 seconds and was
ranked #2 globally last year. 2001 World Indoor champion and two-time
USA
Indoor champ Terrence Trammell also is in the field, along with 2000 USA
Indoor runner-up Dominique Arnold.
800m: David Krummenacker, adidas; Khadevis Robinson, Nike; Derrick
Peterson, adidas; Trinity Gray, Nike; Daniel Caulfield, Ireland; Khalid
Tighazouine, Morocco.
THE SCOOP: David Krummenacker enters this race with tremendous confidence
after ending the 2002 season ranked #3 in the world in the 800 meters.
Last
year Krummenacker set the American indoor record for 1,000 meters by running
2:17.85 at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, and he followed up by winning
the
800 at Millrose. Derrick Peterson, who finished as the runner-up in Boston
last weekend, also is in the field, along with 1999 USA Indoor and Outdoor
champion Khadevis Robinson and 2001 USA Indoor champion Trinity Gray.
Look
for Ireland’s Daniel Caulfield to provide a strong challenge after
placing
third last Saturday in Boston.
Wanamaker Mile: Bernard Lagat, Kenya; Laban Rotich, Kenya; Noah Ngeny,
Kenya; Seneca Lassiter, Nike; Bryan Berryhill, adidas; Ibrahim Aden, Nike;
Sammy Mutai, Kenya.
THE SCOOP: Bernard Lagat leads a strong group of Kenyan competitors in
this
classic event. Lagat is considered the favorite following his 1,500m win
last week in Boston in 3:38.18. Defending Wanamaker Mile champion Laban
Rotich was a close second to Lagat in Boston in 3:38.14. 2000 Olympic
1,500m
champion Noah Ngeny also should be a strong contender. 2002 USA Indoor
mile
runner-up Bryan Berryhill will contend, along with 2002 USA Outdoor 1,500m
champion Seneca Lassiter.
3000m: Bolota Asmerom, unattached; Dan Browne, Nike; Paul Bitok, Kenya;
Markos Geneti, Ethiopia; Martin Keino, Kenya; Kenneth Maiyo, Kenya; James
Karanu, Kenya; James Thie, Great Britain.
THE SCOOP: Kenyan Paul Bitok is the favorite here after finishing the
2002
season ranked #4 in the world in this event, and #7 globally at 5,000
meters. Fellow Kenyans Martin Keino, Kenneth Maiyo and James Karanu are
expected to provide strong competition. Americans in the field include
Bolota Asmerom, who ended the 2002 season ranked #3 nationally in this
event
after placing third at the 2002 USA Indoor Championships. 2002 USA men’s
marathon champion and 1998 USA Indoor 3000m champion Dan Browne also will
compete on Friday.
John Thomas Men’s High Jump: Charles Austin, So High Sports; Charles
Clinger, Nike; Nathan Leeper, Nike; Mark Boswell, Canada; Kwaku Boating,
Canada; Mike Morrison, Willingboro H.S.
THE SCOOP: It is a field of U.S. high jump greats. Charles Clinger is
the
defending champion and has the highest jump in the world so far in 2003
(7-8). 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Nathan Leeper will try to
win at
Millrose after finishing as the runner-up last year. 1996 Olympic gold
medalist Charles Austin will provide a strong challenge, as will Canadian
Mark Boswell, who enters the 2003 season ranked #3 in the world.
Fred Schmertz Men’s Pole Vault: Jeff Hartwig, Nike; Derek Miles,
Nike; Nick
Hysong, Nike; Tim Mack, Nike; Tye Harvey, NYAC; Toby Stevenson, Nike;
Piotr
Busciarski, Denmark.
THE SCOOP: Jeff Hartwig enters this year’s Verizon Millrose Games
with a
tremendous amount of confidence after ending the 2002 season ranked #1
in
the world. The four-time Millrose champ will be challenged by 2000 Olympic
Games gold medalist and 2002 USA Outdoor Championships third-place finisher
Nick Hysong, 2002 USA Indoor champion Tim Mack and 2002 USA Indoor
third-place finisher Derek Miles. 2001 World Indoor Championships silver
medalist and 2002 USA Indoor Championships runner-up Tye Harvey also is
in
the field.
Women
60m: Chryste Gaines, Nike; Torri Edwards, HSI; Angela Williams, Nike;
Inger
Miller, Nike; Lisa Barber, Nike; Brianna Glenn, adidas.
THE SCOOP: This could be anybody’s race in an extremely strong field.
Veterans Chryste Gaines and Inger Miller, both Olympic 4x100m relay gold
medalists, will be favored to win. Gaines is the two-time defending U.S.
Indoor 60m champion and the 2001 U.S. Outdoor 100m champ. Miller won the
gold medal in the 200 meters and the silver medal in the 100 meters at
the
1999 World Outdoor Championships. Four-time NCAA Outdoor 100m champion
and
2002 USA Indoor 60m runner-up Angela Williams will compete on Friday after
finishing second (top American) at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, along
with top young Americans Lisa Barber and Brianna Glenn.
60m hurdles: Gail Devers, unattached; Brigitte Foster, Jamaica; Melissa
Morrison, adidas; Jenny Adams, Nike; Vonetta Dixon, Mizuno; Perdita
Felicien, University of Illinois.
THE SCOOP: Two-time World Indoor champion and #1 ranked hurdler in the
world
in 2002 Gail Devers may have a difficult time holding off a strong field.
A
three-time World Outdoor 100m hurdles champion, Devers will face off against
Brigitte Foster, the world #2 in 2002. Also aiming high are four-time
U.S.
Indoor champion and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Morrison, who
ended
the 2002 season ranked #10 in the world, and #6 in the U.S.; and Jenny
Adams, who won the adidas Boston Indoor Games and finished the 2002 campaign
ranked #4 in the U.S. and #6 in the world.
800m: Hazel Clark, Nike; Jennifer Toomey, New Balance; Erin Belger,
Univ.
of California, Berkeley; Svetlana Badrankova, Kazakhstan; Sasha Spencer,
Nike; Kenia Sinclair, Seton Hall University.
THE SCOOP: The 2000 Olympic Trials and USA Indoor 800m champion, Hazel
Clark
returns to action at Millrose. Svetlana Badrankova brings international
credentials. Jennifer Toomey was the runner-up at this event at the 2002
USA
Outdoor Championships, and is considered a strong contender in this race.
Sasha Spencer was fifth at Millrose last year and third at the 2002 USA
Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and seventh at the IAAF World Cup.
Fred Lebow Women’s Mile: Regina Jacobs, Nike; Lyudmila Vasileyva,
Russia;
Catherine Berry, Great Britain; Geraldine Hendricken, Ireland; Birhane
Hirpasse, Ethiopia.
THE SCOOP: Coming off of her amazing world record performance in Boston
last
weekend, Regina Jacobs will step on the track Friday night as a heavy
favorite. Jacobs will have to be at her best to defeat a strong
international field including Ireland’s Geraldine Hendricken, who
last year
became the second-fastest Irish 1500m woman in history behind only Sonia
O’
Sullivan. Lyudmila Vasilyeva of Russia, who placed seventh last week in
Boston, ran the eighth-fastest time in the world outdoors in 2001, also
is
in the field.
High Jump: Tisha Waller, Nike; Amy Acuff, Asics; Gwen Wentland, Nike;
Lynn
Houston, Nat’s Athletic Training.
THE SCOOP: America’s best will go at it Friday night in what should
be an
outstanding competition. Reigning Millrose champion Tisha Waller is the
favorite after winning the 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships and
placing fourth at the World Cup. Last year’s Millrose runner-up
Amy Acuff,
who was the runner-up at last year’s USA Indoor Championships and
placed
third at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships, is in the field, along with
2002 USA Outdoor runner-up Gwen Wentland. Lynn Houston, who placed third
at
last year’s USA Indoor Championships, also should contend.
Visa Women’s Pole Vault: Stacy Dragila, Nike; Mel Mueller, Nike;
Mary
Sauer, Asics; Kellie Suttle, Nike; Tracy O’Hara, unattached; Jillian
Schwartz, Nike.
THE SCOOP: With her American record performance last week in Boston, Stacy
Dragila sent a message to the rest of the world that she is back from
a foot
injury that hampered her throughout the 2002 season. A three-time defending
champion at Millrose, Dragila set a world record here in 2001, one of
four
indoor WRs she set that year. Dragila will take on Mary Sauer, who ended
the
2002 season ranked #2 in the U.S. and #10 in the world after winning the
2002 USA Indoor title. Former Millrose Champion Mel Mueller will returns
after placing third at the 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
2002
NCAA Outdoor champion and Indoor runner-up Tracy O’Hara also will
challenge
Dragila, as will 2001 World Indoor Championships silver medalist Kellie
Suttle.
Verizon Millrose Games Schedule of Events. For a complete schedule of
all
non-GST Millrose events, visit www.verizonmillrosegames.com.
5:40 p.m. Women’s High Jump
6:00 p.m. Visa Women’s Pole Vault
7:05 p.m. Men’s 60m hurdles
7:15 p.m. Women’s 60m hurdles
7:25 p.m. Women’s 60 meters
7:35 p.m. Verizon men’s 60 meters
8:15 p.m. Fred Schmertz Men’s Pole Vault
8:15 p.m. Men’s 3000 meters
8:20 p.m. John Thomas Men’s High Jump
8:40 p.m. Women’s 800 meters
8:50 p.m. Men’s 800 meters
9:10 p.m. Women’s 400 meters
9:30 p.m. Fred Lebow Women’s Mile
10:00 p.m. Wanamaker Mile
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