This Day In Track & Field, June 15, Jack Lovelock wins Mile of Century in front of 35,000 fans at Princeton (1935), Buddy Edelen sets WR in Marathon (1963), written by Walt Murphy

Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service  (wmurphy25@aol.com)

This Day in Track & Field–June 15 

1935–It was later referred to as the “Mile of the Century”, a matchup at the 2nd Princeton Invitation of the last two World Record holders in the Mile, New Zealand’s Jack Lovelock and American Glenn Cunningham (who had set the current mark of 4:06.7 at this meet in 1934), and Bill Bonthron, the world record holder in the 1500-meters.

35,000 fans packed Palmer Stadium as Lovelock, who would win the gold medal in the 1500-Meters at the following year’s Olympics in Berlin, won the tactical race handily in 4:11.2, with Bonthron trailing by 10 yards, just ahead of Cunningham.

Said Lovelock after the race, “Cunningham’s tactics and uneven pacing were disturbing, as Bonthron might catch us both from behind . . . I took two very cautious peeps at (Bonthron) , swung out a fraction, and using the wind as best I could, let fly with my sprint”.

Lovelock’s Diary: https://thediaryjunction.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-let-fly-with-my-sprint.html

http://tinyurl.com/LovelockPrinceton

1935—USC teammates Roy Staley and Phil Cope finished in a dead-heat in the 120y-Hurdles in a dual-meet against Ohio State, with both equaling the World Record of 14.2.

1956–Parry O’Brien raised his World Record in the Shot Put to 61-4 (18.69) at the U.S. Armed Forces Championships in Los Angeles.

        After a dramatic intro by the host, listen to O’Brien talk about his event and some of the highlights of his career in this wonderful recording from “The Greatest Sports Thrills” radio show that was sponsored by the United States Air Force. (O’Brien was a lieutenant in the Air Force). http://www.otrcat.com/greatest-sports-thrill-p-49515.html

WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_shot_put_world_record_progression

1957–Occidental’s Bob Gutowski, using an aluminum pole, thought he had broken his own World Record (15-8  ¼ [4.78]) in the Pole Vault when he cleared 15-9  ¾ (4.82) at the NCAA Championships, which were held in the South for the first time (Austin,TX).

After he cleared the bar (which was originally measured at 15-10  ¼ [4.83+]), a gust of wind blew his pole towards the uprights. An official grabbed it, pointing it away from the pit. The IAAF rule in effect at the time nullified any record if the vaulter’s pole went under the uprights after a clearance, so Gutowski never got credit for a new WR (he did get…