This Day in Track & Field–December 1
1956–Australian fans were hoping that John Landy, the 2nd man to break 4-minutes for the mile and the current World Record holder in the event (3:58.0), could bring home a gold medal in the Men’s 1500-meters on the final day of competition at the Melbourne Olympics.
But he was by no means the favorite. In fact, Bert Nelson wrote in Track and Field News that as many as 10 of the 12 finalists were potential winners. The early pace was quick, but cautious, with everyone still within striking distance as another Aussie, Merv Lincoln, led the tightly bunched pack through 800-meters in 2:00.1. With a lap to go (2:46.6), positions had started to change, but everyone was still in contention, with Villanova’s Ron Delany, who had won the first of his three NCAA 1500/mile titles in June, sitting in 10th place. The Irishman then started his amazing kick, one that would become familiar to American fans over the next few years, and started to quickly pass one runner after another. He finally took the lead coming off the final turn and went on to win the gold medal with an Olympic Record time of 3:41.2. Germany’s Klaus Richtzenhain edged Landy for the silver medal (3:42.0 for both).
Delany, with his “herky-jerky” stride, had already started his fabled indoor career by winning the first of his four straight Wanamaker Miles at the Millrose Games earlier in the year, and he would eventually become one of the most popular runners ever to grace the boards at NY’s Madison Square Garden.
The Irishman almost didn’t make it to Melbourne. Members of the Olympic Council of Ireland had voted 6-6 on whether or not to send him to the Games (finances being one of the considerations). Lord Killanin, the Chairman of the Olympic Council of Ireland (and the future Chairman of the IOC), cast the deciding vote in favor of Delany, clearing the way for one of Ireland’s greatest Olympic moments.
With a lineup that included 3 of the top 4 finishers in the 100, the U.S. was heavily favored to win the Men’s 4×100, but, even 60+ years ago, there was concern about the team’s ability to get the baton safely around the track. The handoffs were less than perfect in the previous day’s first round, as well as in the semi-finals, which were held earlier on this final day of competition, but the Americans won each of their races.
In the final, 5’-4” (1.63) Ira Murchison ran a great…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at runblogrun…