Trivia -- 1971 Dream Mile

[Coghlan]

In the Liquori-Ryun Dream Mile, what was historic about the performance of the fellow who finished 4th?

[kuha]

A guess: Byron Dyce became the first "African-American" to break 4 minutes?

[SQUACKEE]

A guess: Byron Dyce became the first "African-American" to break 4 minutes?

What a tough way to break four! They went out in 2:03.

[kuha]

Yeah, they came back pretty quick...wasn't the winning time 3:54 or so?

[SQUACKEE]

Yeah, they came back pretty quick...wasn't the winning time 3:54 or so?

2:03- 1:51

[Kevin Richardson]

Liquori described the backstretch battle on the final lap by saying he and Ryun were running "like two kids running from the cops". Wish I had been old enough to appreciate it at when it happened.

[Conor Dary]

A guess: Byron Dyce became the first "African-American" to break 4 minutes?

Dyce was third in that race.

[EPelle]

Liquori described the backstretch battle on the final lap by saying he and Ryun were running "like two kids running from the cops". Wish I had been old enough to appreciate it at when it happened.

Liquori also stated: "Afterward Liquori described his front-running tactic by saying, "I wanted us both sagging in the stretch, looking more like boxers, both dead, like we were running on sand."

[Coghlan]

Byron Dyce

Byron Dyce was 3rd and he's Jamaican, I believe -- but you're on the right track (no pun intended).

[Coghlan]

splits

BTW, Liquori's splits were:

61.1
62.2 (2:03.3)
56.7 (3:00.0)
54.6 (3:54.6)

It was a 2.6 second PR for Liquori, and Ryun's fastest time (also timed at 3:54.6) since his 3:51.1 in 1967.

[SQUACKEE]

Liquori described the backstretch battle on the final lap by saying he and Ryun were running "like two kids running from the cops". Wish I had been old enough to appreciate it at when it happened.

Liquori also stated: "Afterward Liquori described his front-running tactic by saying, "I wanted us both sagging in the stretch, looking more like boxers, both dead, like we were running on sand."

Sounds like they were running an 800! Does anybody remember Ryun's position at the top of the stretch. When did he draw even? Was Ryun on Marty's shoulder on the last turn? Its tough to be behind someone at the start of the last stretch because to win you have gain about 3 meters in the last 80 or so when your both sprinting allout and tying up and dying and flailing. It least thats how i always finished. ops:

[Coghlan]

Ryun's position

I watched that race just a few days ago -- Ryun came up on Liquori's shoulder on the second half of the last curve, but never quite got even -- I'd say he got to within 2 feet of Liquori, but never got even, and Liquori stayed one-half stride ahead for the whole last straight. When Ryun pulled up to Liquori's shoulder, Jim Beatty, who was doing the color commentating (Jack Whitaker was announcing & interviewing both guys afterwards) said something like: "Here comes the master." But the master never got even.

[SQUACKEE]

Thanx Coghlan!

[kuha]

Re: Byron Dyce

Byron Dyce was 3rd and he's Jamaican, I believe -- but you're on the right track (no pun intended).

Ah, OK. Reggie McAfee finished 4th in 4:00.0, becoming the fastest black American at the distance... Dyce ran 3:59.6...

I was at the meet a year later when Ryun was the featured runner, but he had one of his worst days ever...running 4:19 or so...in a race won by the little-known Dave Wottle. I distinctly recall that, fairly soon after the race, we were astonished to see a tired Ryun climbing up in the stands toward us... He ended up sitting about 15 feet away with some friends.

[kuha]

Re: splits

BTW, Liquori's splits were:

61.1
62.2 (2:03.3)
56.7 (3:00.0)
54.6 (3:54.6)

It was a 2.6 second PR for Liquori, and Ryun's fastest time (also timed at 3:54.6) since his 3:51.1 in 1967.

Boy, that really is a tough way to set a PR. That was in the days before paid pacemakers...on the other hand, Liquori was HIGHLY motivated to win that race. You'd have to think that Liquori was in at least 3:52 shape (and perhaps 3:51) at the time, given ideal pacemaking...