This Day in Track & Field History, August 13, Kip Keino wins 3-Mile at Commonwealth Games, Naftili Temu wins 6-mile (1966), by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field–August 13

1925—Charles Hoff upped his World Record in the Pole Vault with a clearance of  13-10  ½ (4.23) in Oslo.

1966—Kenya’s Kip Keino was a double winner at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games (August 4-13) in Kingston, Jamaica, finishing 1^st in the Mile (3:55.34) and 3-Mile (12:57.4). He went past Australia’s Ron Clarke (12:59.2) on the final backstretch. Clarke (27:39.42) also finished 2^nd to Kenya’s Naftali Temu (27:14.2) in the 6-mile.

Other notable winners:

Men

100y: Harry Jerome (CAN) 9.41

440y: Wendell Mottley (TTO) 45.08

120y-Hurdles: David Hemery (ENG) 14.1

Long Jump: Lynn Davies (WAL) 26-2  ¾ (7.99)

Women

440y: Judy Pollock (AUS) 53.0

880y: Abby Hoffman (CAN) 2:04.3…2.Pollock 2:04.5

Long Jump: Mary Rand (ENG) 20-10  ½ (6.36)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1966_British_Empire_and_Commonwealth_Games

http://www.scottishdistancerunninghistory.scot/1966-british-empire-and-commonwealth-games-jamaica/

Videos: Mile  3-mile Highlights

1980–Soviet Tatyana Kazankina ran 3:52.47 for 1500-meters in Zürich to break her own  5-week old World Record of 3:55.0. 2nd was Mary Decker, who broke her own American Record (4:00.04) with her first sub-4 performance-3:59.43.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1500_metres_world_record_progression

1983-Finnish fans were about to have their hearts broken as the final round of the Women’s Javelin began at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki.

Great Britain’s Fatima Whitbread, who was the 12^th qualifier for the final, was leading, having thrown a personal best of 226-10 (69.14) in the first round, while Finland’s Tiina Lillak, the World Record holder, was sitting in 2nd place with a best of 221-4 (67.46). A sore back forced Whitbread to pass her last attempt, then she had to wait to see what Lillak would do.

Lillak, with the frenzied crowd seeming to will the javelin through the air, did the improbable, throwing 232-4 (70.82) to move into the lead and it was Whitbread’s heart that was broken! A jubilant Lillak sprinted halfway around the track in celebration, even though there was one more thrower left in the competition. When  Great Britain’s Tessa Sanderson fell far short with her final effort, the gold medal was Lillak’s, and she became part of Finland’s rich history in the event. Winning the…