This Day in Track & Field, June 21, John Landy breaks Roger Bannister’s World record at mile (1954) in Turku, Finland, by Walt Murphy

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

This Day in Track & Field–June 21  

1947—Legends-to-be were all over the place at the NCAA Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Wiki bios linked)

Mel Patton (USC)—won the 100y in 9.7.  Set two World Records in the 100y (9.4, 9.3), 1948 Olympic gold medalist in the 200.

Herb McKenley (Illinois)—won the 220y (20.7) and the 440y (46.2-one turn), led Illinois to the team title. World Record holder in the 400m/440y, 2-time Olympic silver medalist in the 400.

Harrison Dillard (Baldwin-Wallace)—won the 120y (14.1) and 220y (22.3) Hurdles. World Record holder, Olympic gold medalist in the 100 (1948) and 110-hurdles (1952). 2^nd to Dillard in the 120y-hurdles was Bill Porter, the 1948 Olympic gold medalist in the 110-hurdles (Dillard failed to make the team in the hurdles)

Irv Mondschein(NYU)-won the High Jump(6-6  ¾ [2.00]). “Moon”, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 91, was an Olympian in the Decathlon and was a college coach for decades.

Bob Richards (Illinois)-won the Pole Vault (14-2 [4.32]). 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1952, 1956). First athlete to appear on the cover of a box of Wheaties!

Willie Steele (San Diego State)-won the Long Jump (26-6 [8.075?]). 1948 Olympic gold medalist

Fortune Gordien (Minnesota)—won the Discus (173-3 [52.80?]). World Record holder, 2-time Olympic medalist (bronze-1948, silver-1956.

NY Times(for subscribers):

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1947/06/22/110055042.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0

Results: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1947.pdf

1954–Roger Bannister beat Australia’s John Landy to the first sub 4-minute mile (see May 6), but Landy exacted a small amount of revenge by breaking his British rival’s World Record with his winning time of 3:57.9 in Turku, Finland (rounded up to 3:58.0 under the rules of the day). Just as he did in Bannister’s historical race, Brit Chris Chataway set the pace through the 3/4-mile split (2:57.0) and held on to finish 2nd (4:04.4).

Landy earned a 2^nd WR in the race, clocking 3:42.8 for 1500-meters to break Was Santee’s previous mark of 3:43.8.

(2004 article): http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/30/1083224580028.html?from=storyrhs

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2905670

https://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/viewing/R10120/transcript.html

Australia Hall of Fame: