First under 1:45.00, 1:44.00 for 800m?

[lovetorun]

Just trying to remember...who was the first USA citizen to break 1:45.00, 1:44.00 ?

I'm guessing Jim Ryun first under 1:45.00 with his WR 1:44.9y, and was it Earl Jones first under 1:44.00?

Didn''t ask re: 1:43.00 since Johnny Gray is the only one with his AR.

[Master Po]

I am sure someone will know this at a glance, but I think maybe Wohlhuter was first USA runner under 1:44?

[Per Andersen]

I am sure someone will know this at a glance, but I think maybe Wohlhuter was first USA runner under 1:44?

Yeah, Wohlhuter, 1.44.1y n 1974. He also ran sub 1.44 800's a couple of times.

But who were first Americans to run sub 1.48, 1.47 and 1.46?

[dukehjsteve]

I'll take a shot at first US'er under 1:46.... I remember that Tom Courtney ran 1:45.8, in about 1957, in Europe somewhere. He also had a WR at 880 yards at 1:46.8 about the same time.

Of course it would be easy to just look this stuff up, but that spoils the fun of it.

[dj]

Everybody's correct with the Sub-1:46 and under categories.

Courtney was also the first to break 1:47.

The first under 1:48 was really Mal Whitfield in the early '50s.

But before Whitfield came John Woodruff with a pair of marks that have claim to being the first under 1:48, as well as the first under 1:49. In 1937, Woodruff had a 1:47.8 on a short track, but which would convert to 1:48.1.

In 1940, Woodruff ran 1:47.0 en route to a 1:47.7 880y. The mark was run on an oversized, banked indoor track in a handicap race, with the handicapped runners serving as rabbits.

Later that year, Woodruff ran a fully valid 1:48.6.

The first under 1:50 was Ben Eastman in 1934. Two years earlier, Eastman was also the first to be timed under 1:51, although Lloyd Hahn had run a 1:51.4 indoor 880 in 1928.

The first under 1:52 was Ted Meredith with his 1912 OG win in 1:51.9.

Before that, things get really messy with 880y marks having to be converted.

[lovetorun]

Nice work dj...BTW was all that from memory, or did you do some prior research...I'm impressed.

[Per Andersen]

I'll take a shot at first US'er under 1:46.... I remember that Tom Courtney ran 1:45.8, in about 1957, in Europe somewhere. He also had a WR at 880 yards at 1:46.8 about the same time.

Of course it would be easy to just look this stuff up, but that spoils the fun of it.

In Europe somewhere? Man, it was at Bislett and I was unable to watch it.

But I had watched the Moens/Courtney race about 2 weeks earlier, also at Bislett

dj - what about Lon Spurrier's 1.47.5 880 in early 1955?. First sub 1.47?

[dj]

dj - what about Lon Spurrier's 1.47.5 880 in early 1955?. First sub 1.47?

You're correct about Spurrier, if you're countiong conversions. I was trying to stay away from conversions, hence not going pre Mel Sheppard. Nevertheless, I should have remembered Spurrier, but I didn't.

[dj]

Nice work dj...BTW was all that from memory, or did you do some prior research...I'm impressed.

Memory, otherwise I would have been more specific about dates and marks. But these are major fenceposts for the US history in the event.

A lot of my research in the last several years has been pre-1947, in other words, before the advent of T&FN and their first world rankings. So at this point I know Lloyd Hahn a lot better than I know Lon Spurrier!

[mikli]

The first under 1:52 was Ted Meredith with his 1912 OG win in 1:51.9.

Before that, things get really messy with 880y marks having to be converted.

I think under 1.53 is still an easy one: Mel Sheppard with his 1908 OG win in 1:52.8

[dj]

The first under 1:52 was Ted Meredith with his 1912 OG win in 1:51.9.

Before that, things get really messy with 880y marks having to be converted.

I think under 1.53 is still an easy one: Mel Sheppard with his 1908 OG win in 1:52.8

Depends on if or how you're converting a Sheppard 1:53 3/5 880 in a handicap race from 1906.

But you're right in the sense that regardless of which race you want to count, Sheppard is the first sub-1:53.

[LopenUupunut]

What about Kilpatrick?

[mikli]

What about Kilpatrick?

Yes, it was not that easy, after all.

[dj]

What about Kilpatrick?

Yup, Kilpatrick with 1:53 2/5 880 in the London/NYC dual meet. Should have remembered that one, but I didn't.