This Day in Track & Field, February 10, Jim Beatty breaks 4 minutes for mile indoors (1962), by Walt Murphy

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

(c)Copyright 2025-all rights reserved. May not be reprinted or retransmitted without permission.

This Day in Track & Field–February 10

1920—Dartmouth’s Earl “Tommy” Thomson was a double winner at the Millrose Games, finishing first in the 70-yard High and Low Hurdles.

Missouri’s Jackson Scholz won the 70-yard dash over Loren Murchison and Charlie Paddock, while Joie Ray won the 4th of his 7 Wanamaker 1-1/2 mile races (the precursor to the Wanamaker Mile).

Representing his native Canada, Thomson would win the gold medal in the 110-Meter Hurdles at the Antwerp Olympics later in the year, with Murchison and Paddock winning gold in the 4×100 relay (Paddock also won gold in the 100 and silver in the 200).

Scholz would go on to become a 3-time U.S. Olympian, winning gold in the 4×100 in 1920, and gold and silver, respectively, in the 200 and 100 in 1924. He was portrayed in the iconic movie Chariots of Fire.

(For Subscribers): https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/02/11/118260689.html?pageNumber=19

Scholz: https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/30/obituaries/jackson-scholz-89-american-olympian-portrayed-in-movie.html

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79001

1962–Two world indoor records fell at the L.A. Times Invitational. Jim Beatty became the first man to run a sub-4 minute mile indoors when he ran 3:58.9 to break the previous mark of 4:01.4, which was set by Irishman Ron Delany in 1959.  The second mark fell in the 1000-yards as  Peter Snell ran 2:06.0 to smash Ernie Cunliffe’s previous mark of 2:07.9.

Given a headsup by his coach, Mihály Iglói, that Beatty would be shooting for sub-4, ABC’s Wide World of Sports was on hand to cover the potentially historic race. Sadly, I could only hear the audio description of the race, since my TV chose to go dark during the following day’s broadcast! (I had avoided reading any news accounts of the race).

Getting help from Los Angeles T.C. teammates László Tábori and Jim Grelle, Beatty took the lead for good with three laps to go, passing the 3/4-mile split in about 3:01.2 and then sprinting away to history.

SI Vault: https://vault.si.com/vault/1962/02/19/history-on-the-boards

From “Bring Back the Mile”

Beatty Looks Back

http://bringbackthemile.com/news/detail/jim_beatty_an_all_american_miler

Race Video(the audio is slightly ahead of the video):

http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?video_id=36474

Mike Fanelli took a closer look on the 60th anniversary of Beatty’s historic race.

https://trackandfieldnews.com/60-years-ago-today-the-first-indoor-sub-400/

Jim Beatty visited Coogan’s after the 2015 Hall of Fame Gala at NY’s Armory. Here he is sitting below his Sports Illustrated cover, one of the dozens that used to adorn the walls at the Washington Heights pub (Every cover dealing with T&F). (WM-That’s me in the mirror taking the picture!—photo included in the attached Word file)

1963—Bob Hayes ran 20.5 in Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad, to equal the outdoor World Record for 200-meters, but the mark was never accepted by the IAAF since the event wasn’t included in the meet’s program!

1973–Two of the greatest hurdlers ever met in the rarely-contested (indoors) 120-yards event in Houston, with Rod Milburn edging Willie Davenport, 13.3-13.4.

1974—Judy Shapiro-Ikenberry (2:55:17) was the winner of the first U.S. Women’s Marathon Championship in San

Mateo,CA.

https://www.facebook.com/RunningNiche/photos/a.192949898105404/879481396118914/?type=3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Shapiro-Ikenberry

1978–Lynn Jennings (Bromfield School,Ma) ran 4:18.9 in Toronto to set a U.S. High School Indoor Record for 1500-meters. That mark stood for 35 years until Mary Cain (Bronxville,NY) ran 4:16.11 in 2013 en-route to her mile record of 4:32.78! Cain later improved her records to 4:11.72/4:28.25.

1984–Sergey Bubka jumped 19-1  ½ (5.83)  in Inglewood, California, to break his 9-day old record of 19-1 (5.82m).

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

1989–Fans were treated to three hot races in less than an hour at the Vitalis/Meadowlands Inv. in East Rutherford,NJ., although the winners of all three fell short of the World Records they were after.

Paula Ivan won the Women’s Mile in 4:18.99,  just missing the world record of 4:18.86, which was set by fellow Romanian Doina Melinte (who served as the rabbit for the first 600-yards here!) at this same meet the previous year.

Marcus O’Sullivan won the Eamonn Coghlan Mile in 3:51.66, the 5th-fastest time in history at the time. There had been hopes that O’Sullivan would challenge Coghlan’s World Record of 3:49.78, which was set here in 1983, but he had to settle for a new mark in the 1500-meters, as he was timed en-route in 3:35.6.

And Morocco’s Said Aouita held off Steve Scott to win the Men’s 3000-meters in 7:39.71, just missing Emiel Puttemans’ 16-year-old World Record of 7:39.2. Scott ran 7:39.94 to break the American Record of 7:41.57, which was set by Brian Abshire  on the same 10-lap track in 1988, Abshire finished 3rd here in 7:41.84.

NY Times: http://tinyurl.com/6jvjphj

Sports Illustrated Vault-The Hares Split

1995–Michael Johnson became the first man to break 45-seconds in the 400-meters indoors when he set a World Record of 44.97 in Reno, Nevada.  Another record was set in the meet’s first event when Jackie Joyner-Kersee ran an American best of 6.67 in the seldom-run 50-meter hurdles. JJK also won the Long Jump with a leap of 22-3  ½ (6.79).

Befitting the setting in the gambling town of Reno, “The Biggest Little City in the World”, the El Dorado Casino, one of the meet’s sponsors, offered odds on a number of events, and drew a wide range of reactions. Some loved the idea, feeling it would bring more attention to the sport, while others, including USATF head Ollan Cassell, weren’t pleased. Cassell said he was concerned “for the integrity of the sport” and ordered each athlete to sign an agreement that they would not bet directly or indirectly. And NBC almost pulled the plug on its planned broadcast of the meet until they were assured that athletes wouldn’t be betting on themselves (or others).

Before the powers-that-be stepped in, sprinter Dennis Mitchell, trying to pump up interest in the meet, told a local TV reporter earlier in the week that he placed a $10 bet on himself, at 4-1 odds, and encouraged viewers to do the same. Many people did, but they went home empty-handed after Mitchell finished 4th in the 50-meters.

After following the sport closely for decades, I thought this was my opportunity to cash in on my knowledge of the sport, but, alas, I went for longshots in each event and lost every bet I placed!

It never got beyond the joking point, but one pre-meet conversation among athletes in a particular event highlighted the concern that officials had about allowing betting in the sport. “Well, if the odds are good on “Joe Blow”, maybe we’ll place bets on him and let him win”!

NY Times:  http://tinyurl.com/ybxjpzf

Betting Line (next page)

1996-Unheralded Jenny Spangler (2:29:54), who only had the 61st best personal best going into the race, was the surprise winner of the Women’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Columbia,SC. Joining her on the team were Linda Somers (2:30:06) and Anne-Marie Lauck (2:31:18). Joan Benoit-Samuelson, the winner of the inaugural Olympic Marathon for women in 1984, finished 13th (2:36:54).

Results(Scroll down):

http://www.marathonguide.com/news/exclusives/USAWomenOlympicTrials_2008/USAOlympicMarathonTrialsHistory.cfm

Online Coach: http://www.jennyspangler.com

https://www.podiumrunner.com/training/marathon-training/jenny-spanglers-best-race-and-how-she-achieved-it/

2002—Russia’s Svetlana Feofanova cleared 15-6  ¼ (4.73) in Ghent, Belgium, to break her own World Record of 15-5  ¾ (4.72). It was her 3rd WR in the space of 8 days and she would set two more before the end of the season.

You don’t see many indoor 10k races, but the fastest ever run came on this day when Kenya’s Mark Bett ran 27:50.29.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/11/sports/plus-track-and-field-bett-and-feofanova-enter-record-book.html

2006–Running in lanes all the way on the fast Arkansas track in Fayetteville, Wallace Spearmon (31.88) won a close one over Kerron Clement (31.94) and LaShawn Merritt (31.94) as the trio produced the three fastest times in history at 300-meters. Spearmon earned a $25,000 bonus from meet sponsor Tyson Foods for his effort.

IAAF Report: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/spearmon-dashes-to-3188-300m-world-best-fay

Full Results: http://flashresults.com/2006_Meets/indoor/tyson/index.htm

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-gxBiBxoWU

2007–Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva cleared 16-2 (4.93) in Donetsk to break her year-old World Record of 16-1  ¼ (4.91), which was set at the same venue.

IAAF Report: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/updated-493m-isinbayeva-breaks-own-world

2007—America’s best distance runners descended on Boulder, Colorado, for the U.S. X-Country Championships.

Top Finishers

Men(12k)-1.Alan Culpepper 37:09, 2.Adam Goucher 37:35, 3.Dathan Ritzenhein 37:47, 4.Jorge Torres 38:07;

Women(8k)-1.Deena Kastor 26:47, 2.Shalane Flanagan 27:48, 3.Kara Goucher 28:01, 4.Lauren Fleshman 28:26;

Elliot Heath and Jordan Hasay were the Junior Champions

https://www.letsrun.com/2007/boulderecap82007.php

Results: https://usatf-cross-country-championships.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?do=info&event_id=9&year=2007

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYah51rU2tg

2008–Sweden’s Susanna Kallur set a World Record of 7.68 in the Women’s 60-meter hurdles in Karlsruhe, Germany. The previous mark of 7.69 was set by Ludmila Engquist back in 1990. Kallur and her twin sister Jenny were born in Huntington, NY (Long Island). Their dad Anders played on four  Stanley Cup championship teams for the NY Islanders.

It wasn’t until December, 2018, that USATF recognized Kallur’s mark as an American Record, since she had dual-citizenship at the time. Losing their status as American Record holders were Lolo Jones (7.72/2010), and Sharika Nelvis and Keni Harrison, both of whom ran 7.70 in 2018. (The record that Kallur broke was the 7.74 that Gail Devers ran in 2003).

The rule now is that an American Record can only be set by an athlete who is eligible to represent the U.S. in international competition.

Kallur has since lost both records, with American Tia Jones and the Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton running 7.67 in 2024. Charlton would lower the WR to 7.65 at the 2024 World Indoor Championships.

IAAF Report: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/kallurs-absolutely-unbelievable-world-60m-hur

2017—Senior Tara Davis (Agoura,CA) jumped 21-11 (6.68) in Frisco,Texas, to break Carol Lewis’s 36-year old U.S. High School Record (21-7  ½ [6.59]) in the Long Jump.

Davis didn’t seem too excited when she exited the pit after her big jump, but her jaw dropped for a few seconds when she heard an official announce the distance.

(Includes Video): https://usatodayhss.com/2017/tara-davis-agoura-national-indoor-track-record-long-jump

Beyond The Marks(Billy Cvecko puts Davis’ mark in perspective): https://www.milesplit.com/videos/186265

2018—Edward Cheserek, running on Boston University’s fast track, won the mile in 3:49.44, the 2nd fastest indoor time in history (at the time/now #13). Less than 24 hours later, he would win the 3000 at the New Balance Grand Prix at the nearby Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury Crossing, setting a meet record of 7:38.72.

Video(for FloTrack subscribers)

Post-Race Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaoqCMeiRdI

2018—USC, with a lineup of Zach Shinnick 46.3, Rai Benjamin’ 44.6, Ricky Morgan 45.7, and Michael Norman 45.4, set a Collegiate Record of 3:01.98 in the 4×400 at Clemson. The Trojans were pushed to the record by Florida (3:02.23), which was also under Texas A&M’s year-old previous mark of 3:02.52. The Aggies were 3rd here in 3:02.95.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbTZlbgZFpQ

2023—Junior Mia Brahe-Pedersen (Lake Oswego,OR) ran 22.89 for 200-meters in Albuquerque, breaking the U.S. High School Record of 22.97 that was set by Bianca Knight (Ridgeland,MS) in 2007.

Significant Birthdays

Born On This Day*

Kévin Mayer-France 33 (1992)  2-time Olympic silver medalist-Decathlon (2016, 2021/2012-15th)

2-time World Champion (2017, 2022/2013-4th, 2019-dnf); withdrew from the 2023 World Championships after 2

    Events

Announced the day before competition in Paris was to begin that a hamstring injury would keep him from taking part

  in the Olympic Decathlon!

2010 World Junior (under 20) Champion

Set the current World Record of 9126 in Talence in 2018

10.55, 25-7  ¼(7.80), 52-6(16.00), 6-8  ¾(2.05), 48.42, 13.75, 165-10(50.54), 17-10  ½(5.45), 235-11(71.90), 4:36.11

2017 World Indoor Champion-Heptathlon

2024 SB: 8476

http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/125947

https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/decastar-talence-2018-mayer-world-record

https://trackandfieldnews.com/world-record-kevin-mayer-totals-9126/

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

WR Video(complete): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oLYYvtnB3M

WR(Mayer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJWwxJHlvo

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-decathlon-kevin-mayer-out-of-games

Justin Gatlin 43 (1982) 2004 Olympic gold medalist—100m; 2005 World Champion—100,200

2016 Olympic silver medalist—100m;

8th in the 100 at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials

2017 World Champion-100m (Usain  Bolt was 3rd)

Silver medalist in the 100 at the 2019 World Championships…ran 2nd leg on the U.S. team that won the 4×100 in

        Doha and set an American record of 37.10

2-time World Indoor Champion—60m(2003,2012);

2-time NCAA Champion in the 100 and 200 (Tennessee/2001,2002)

PBs: 9.74 (2015), 19.57 (2015);

2nd to Usain Bolt in the 100 and 200 at the 2015 World Outdoor Championships

Served a 4-year ban from 2006-2010.

Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Gatlin

Controversy

http://tinyurl.com/2015BoltVsGatlin

www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/30/justin-gatlin-2010-apology-iaaf-drugs-federal-authorities

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/105463

2004 OG: https://olympics.com/en/video/athens-2004-gatlin-wins-the-100m-final

Sam Graddy 61 (1964)  1984 Olympic gold medalist—4×100 (100-silver/behind Carl Lewis).

Relay team set a World Record of 37.83—anchor Carl Lewis won his 4th gold medal of the Games)

(Sam Graddy, Ron Brown, Calvin Smith, Carl Lewis)

1984 NCAA Champion-100m (Tennessee/1983-5th, 1986-4th); 1983 NCAA Champion-4×100

PB:10.09 (1984)

Played in the NFL with the Denver Broncos (1987-88) and the Los Angeles (Oakland) Raiders (1990-92).

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

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78468

https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sam-graddy-14358562

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GradSa00.htm

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-graddy-b6829212

OG 4×100: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvOfmnr4PMM

Larry Young  82 (1943)  2-time Olympic bronze medalist—50k Walk (1968,1972)

Whenever he would be called up to a stage at some function, he wouldn’t just casually walk from his table, he would

    go into full race-walking mode!

http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79230

Hall of Fame Bio(2002): https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/larry-young

2010 Article:

http://www.runblogrun.com/2010/12/larry-young-considering-a-unique-us-olympic-medalist-by-larry-eder.html

Sculptor: http://www.youngsculpture.com/

http://mosportshalloffame.com/enshrinement-in-columbia-olympic-race-walker-larry-young/4398/

Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Young_(athlete)

Mary Rand—Great Britain 85 (1940)  3-time medalist at the 1964 Olympics-Gold (Long Jump), Silver (Pentathlon),

Bronze (4×100).

Was married to Bill Toomey, the 1968 Olympic gold medalist in the Decathlon, from 1969-1991

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68611

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/mary-rand-olympic-gold-didnt-make-rich/

Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rand

Deceased

Gordon Pirie-Great Britain 60 (1931-Dec.7, 1991) 3-time Olympian:

1952: 5000 (4th), 10,000 (7th)

1956: 5000 (Silver), 10,000 (8th)

1960: 5000 (1st round), 10,000 (10th)

Former World Record holder: 3000 (7:55.6/1956, 7:52.8/1956), 5000 (13:36.8/1956), 6-miles (28:19.4/1953)

PB: 29:15.49 (1960)

https://www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=138

http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69394

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

Videos

5000 WR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rALoDESkVM

Beats Wes Santee in a Mile (1953): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq2AjZlOsxY