First African American Four Minute Mile

[Swensen]

Question for the experts. Was Reggie McAfee the first African American to break four minutes in the mile? For years I have assumed that he was but wanted to put my assumption up to expert scrutiny.

[gh]

How well do you know Nos. 1 through 51?

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/archive/U.S.Sub-4s.pdf

[Swensen]

Thank you for your reply gh. I'm not sure how your reply helps answer my question, but thanks

[dukehjsteve]

that's a neat list..... and I believe that Reggie indeed was # 1.

[lovetorun]

I always hoped that Jerome Walters would do it back in the 50's....but I think he was a few seconds shy. What were his PR's in mile and 1500m? sems like he was about 3:46 and 4:04...

[bad hammy]

How well do you know Nos. 1 through 51?

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/archive/U.S.Sub-4s.pdf

Nice list. Without scanning the list (which I just did) what is the significance of Steve Holman's entry?

[dj]

How well do you know Nos. 1 through 51?

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/archive/U.S.Sub-4s.pdf

Nice list. Without scanning the list (which I just did) what is the significance of Steve Holman's entry?

Fastest initial sub-4?

I know he's not the first Minnesotan (probably Mike Slack)

[bad hammy]

How well do you know Nos. 1 through 51?

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/archive/U.S.Sub-4s.pdf

Nice list. Without scanning the list (which I just did) what is the significance of Steve Holman's entry?

Fastest initial sub-4?

Bingo - 3:53.31. Lamong broke through last year with a 3:53.97. Maree is on the list with a 3:48(!), but with the caveat that the time was his first as a US citizen, not his first ever.

[gh]

I believe McAfee also had the heartbreak of being a 4:00.0 miler before he was a member of the sub-4:00 club. But I could be making that up.

[bf]

It was either McAfee or Tommy Fulton, in '73.

[gh]

As you'll see from the linked list, McAfee was No. 52, Fulton (5 weeks later) No. 55.

[Halfmiler2]

Denis FIkes was close behind at #68.

[kuha]

I thought Byron Dyce claimed this honor...no?

[gh]

The T&FN list includes only those "Americans" who were such in an international eligibility sense. A dual citizen like Byron doesn't qualify.

[malmo]

Byron Dyce has held only one passport in his life - an American passport. He is the first African American to break 4:00. Followed by Reggie McAfee, Tommy Fulton, Denis Fikes and Mike Wyatt.