From Walt Murphy. Shared with permission. Walt produces an info-rich daily ”This Day in T&F” newsletter.
Learn the history of the sport–one day at a time – High School, College, Elite. Also receive current news, schedules, results. For more information, contact Walt Murphy at wmurphy25@aol.com
On May 16, 1971 The World Was Glued To Their TVs To Watch A One Mile Race
Editor’s note: I was a soph on the Essex Catholic HS team and all-in for Liquori. Marty’s younger brother Steve was my teammate.
In one of the most highly anticipated races in history, future Hall of Famers Jim Ryun and Marty Liquori, who were teammates on the 1968 Olympic team, met in the “Dream Mile” at the Martin Luther King International Freedom Games at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field.
My brother Pete and I (and a few friends) had planned to drive from NY to watch the meet, but we awoke to a rainy and cool morning. There was some debate on whether to go or not, but we agreed that we had to–thank goodness we did!
To set the stage, Ryun had dominated the mile in the mid-60s, setting world records of 3:51.3 and 3:51.1, but had retired after the 1969 season, one in which he was beaten by Liquori at the NCAA Championships and then dropped out at the AAU Championships, which was won by Liquori. In the meantime, Liquori had established himself as one of the best milers in the world (ranked #1 in 1969). Ryun had announced his return to the sport earlier in the year, and the interest in a rematch of America’s two best milers grew with each passing week. And then there was the social aspect, with Ryun, the All-American boy from the Midwest, going against Liquori, the “tough” guy from New Jersey. Liquori, who had starred at Franklin Field at Essex Catholic (NJ) H.S. and as a member of Villanova’s powerhouse teams at the Penn Relays, was even booed by some of what were supposed to be his “hometown” fans, who were rooting for “good guy” Ryun.
Both runners and some observers tried to downplay the importance of the early-season matchup, but fans and newspapers across the country would have none of that. Theories on the best race plans for each runner abounded–most centered on how Liquori could blunt Ryun’s awesome kick.
Too often, events like this fail to live up to the hype, but this one exceeded all expectations and will go down (at least to some fans) as one of the great races of all time. 20,000+ fans who had braved the raw conditions stirred with excitement as the race began. There was no rabbit, and the field of 11 was taken through a modest first 1/4-mile by Manhattan College freshman Joe Savage, with Liquori and Ryun sitting in 4th (61.1) and 6th (61.4), respectively. Savage continued to lead through the next 220, then West Virginia’s Morgan Mosser took over briefly, with Ryun moving into the lead at the 1/2-mile, followed closely by Mosser and Liquori, with all 3 timed in a slowish 2:03.3. Next came Reggie McAfee and Byron Dyce at 2:03.6, then Savage, Keith Colburn, Brian McElroy, Denis Fikes, Dave Wright, and Sam Bair.
The tension was building as everyone wondered when Ryun or Liquori would make a move. That question was answered quickly as Liquori, who, like Ryun, had run a sub-4 minute mile in high school, started picking up the pace with about 700-yards to go, with Ryun right on his heels. Fans wondered if Liquori was starting his kick too soon, but he would say later, “I think I started my kick too late”.
The two giants went through the 3/4-mile split in 3:00.0-3:00.3, meaning they covered that 3rd quarter in roughly 57-seconds. Everyone who hadn’t stood up when Liquori started his long drive were now on their feet as the two went down the final backstretch together. As they entered the final turn, it looked like Ryun was poised to unleash his devastating kick, but Liquori, as tough a competitor as the sport has ever seen, held off Ryun in a memorable stretch duel, with Liquori running a personal best of 3:54.6, with Ryun clocked at 3:54.8. A great race by two great runners!
Fans and officials swarmed the finish area to congratulate both runners, making it difficult for the trailing runners to cross the finish line (see the video). Also breaking four minutes was Dyce, the former NYU star, who was 3rd in 3:59.6. He was followed by McAfee (4:00.0), Colburn (4:01.1), Mosser 4:02.7, Savage 4:02.7, Fikes (Penn) 4:03.9, Bair (Pacific Coast) nt, Wright (Villanova) 4:06.7, McElroy 4:16.6.
Wish there were a clearer video of the race, but still worth a view
