45 Years.. and counting

[Fielding Melish]

Feb. 15, 1964

Gerry Lindgren sets a national two miles indoor high school record of 8:40.0, with a 8:06.3 en route record at 3000 meters.

Maybe the longest-standing track record of any significance...

[catson52]

Re: 45 Years.. and counting

Feb. 15, 1964

Gerry Lindgren sets a national two miles indoor high school record of 8:40.0, with a 8:06.3 en route record at 3000 meters.

Maybe the longest-standing track record of any significance...

Those timings indicate he finished the last 200+ meters pretty fast, suggesting he could have achieved even better timings at both "posts". Where did he place in the race?

[EastBayprepoftheweek67]

Re: 45 Years.. and counting

Those timings indicate he finished the last 200+ meters pretty fast, suggesting he could have achieved even better timings at both "posts". Where did he place in the race?

He finished second to Ron Clarke. My memory of the race was that after pulling or pushing Clarke from the beginning, Lindgren finished about 5 seconds behind Clarke (8:35), just holding on to his pace, no longer being able to challenge Clarke at the end.

[catson52]

Re: 45 Years.. and counting

Those timings indicate he finished the last 200+ meters pretty fast, suggesting he could have achieved even better timings at both "posts". Where did he place in the race?

He finished second to Ron Clarke. My memory of the race was that after pulling or pushing Clarke from the beginning, Lindgren finished about 5 seconds behind Clarke (8:35), just holding on to his pace, no longer being able to challenge Clarke at the end.

An evenly paced run throughout would convert the 3 K time to 8:41.7 for 2 miles. A difference of only 34 seconds between the two timings as noted for (an evenly paced run by) Lindgren, would suggest we convert Komen's 3K WR to about 7:55 for 2 miles. Komen ran under 8 minutes twice for 2 miles, but most would agree that his 3K WR is superior, but not equal to about 7:55 for the English distance. Two successive sub 4:00 miles without a rest or stopping in between, only 42 years after Bannister, is fantastic enough whichever way you look at it.

[hanklaw]

Articles from Golden Gate Invite

Here are some articles from the Golden Gate Inv at the Cow Palace where Lindgren set his record:

http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRA ... nv_sjm.pdf

hank

[catson52]

Re: Articles from Golden Gate Invite

Here are some articles from the Golden Gate Inv at the Cow Palace where Lindgren set his record:

http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRA ... nv_sjm.pdf

hank

Thanks. Evidently both Clarke and Lindgren speeded up at the end. Clarke's last lap at just over 60 sec. was really impressive. Lindgren's at 63 and change, was also obviously faster than most of his previous laps.

[Recdude]

Indoor mile steeplechase?

Great article from 45 years ago. I'm still astonished with Lindgren's race. This had to be the greatest high school performance ever. Did you see that there was also a one mile steeplechase race at that meet, and indoors to boot. I've never heard of anything so odd. How did they run THAT race?

[dj]

Re: Indoor mile steeplechase?

Great article from 45 years ago. I'm still astonished with Lindgren's race. This had to be the greatest high school performance ever. Did you see that there was also a one mile steeplechase race at that meet, and indoors to boot. I've never heard of anything so odd. How did they run THAT race?

Not so odd. For many years the indoor AAU champs included a 2-mile steeple. Hurdles or barriers set up on each straight, and periodically they would run across the infield, go over a barrier, and land in the sawdust jumping pit.

[cubop]

Great photo also from that old T and F news of Tom O'Hara....what a great runner and how strange that after Tokyo he just plain quit running...just 21!

His 3.38.1 in New Jersey at the AAU's was certainly equivalent to 3.54 for the mile.....I never was able to get a last quarter on that race....and he looked like he could move up to the 5 since he won the 62 NCAA cross? was it 62? I know, he was disqualified..

Lindgren, O'Hara, Ryun, Morgan Groth, John Camien, Bob Day and Tucker (SJS) who ran 3.40,8 in that meet in New Bruswick...Camien ran 3.39.9...2 high schoolers......and average age of 20 for those 7....What a talented group....I dont know if the US ever had such a great crop of runners as in 1964....PLUS...Schul, Dellinger, Mills, Edelen, Young and Greele.