Walt Murphy is among the most interesting observe geeks that I do know. Walt does #ThisDayinTrack&FieldHistory, a wonderful every day service that gives true geek tales about our sport. You’ll be able to take a look at the service for FREE with a free one-month trial subscription! (e-mail: WaltMurphy44@gmail.com ) for the complete every day service. We’ll put up just a few historic moments every day, starting February 1, 2024.
by Walt Murphy’s Information and Outcomes Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission
This Day in Monitor & Area–October 14
1964–It was the primary day of competitors on the first of 4 Olympic Video games that I’d attend as a member of Monitor and Area Information’s Olympic Excursions. I first turned conscious of the journal the earlier 12 months and shortly signed up once I noticed an advert for his or her journey to the Tokyo Olympics.
One of many tour packages included a stopover in Hawaii, and I had watched the Opening Ceremony with fellow tour members on a TV arrange in a lodge hallway in Honolulu. I had even competed (utilizing the time period loosely) in a highway race that featured native resident Leah Ferris, the 1963 U.S. Indoor 1/2-mile champion. With the time distinction, I used to be additionally in a position to watch a World Collection recreation between the NY Yankees and St.Louis Cardinals at 7am!
However now right here I used to be, a younger observe fan from Brooklyn, strolling in the direction of the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. I can nonetheless hear the flag-ropes banging in opposition to the tall metallic posts within the plaza exterior the stadium on that breezy day (took me just a few days to determine that out). As luck would have it, my seat was proper subsequent to Cordner Nelson and his spouse, Mary. What higher option to be launched to the Olympic expertise than to speak observe (and discipline) with the co-founder of Monitor and Area Information!
Most of that first day was crammed with qualifying rounds (Bob Hayes received his warmth and 1/4-final within the Males’s 100-meters), however there was one working last–the Males’s 10,000-meters. Many of the pre-Video games chatter centered on Ron Clarke, the world report holder from Australia, defending champion Pyotr Bolotnikov of the Soviet Union, and New Zealand’s Murray Halberg, the 1960 Olympic Champion at 5000-meters. Clarke was the consensus decide of T&F Information’s professional panel, with 18-year outdated Gerry Lindgren thought-about to be the main American entry.
A crowded discipline of 38 runners, nonetheless the biggest ever to contest an Olympic 10k last, began the race, and the stunning 1/2-way chief was one other American, Billy Mills, who went by means of 5000-meters in 14:04.6, a world-record tempo!
Everybody “knew” that Mills couldn’t keep that tempo, however wasn’t it good to see him within the lead, at the very least for some time? Lindgren, who had suffered a sprained ankle shortly earlier than the Video games, was out of competition at this level, whereas Mills was one in all solely 5 runners nonetheless battling for the three medals. Quickly it was right down to 4, with Mills, Clarke, Tunisia’s Mohammed Gammoudi, and Ethiopia’s Malmo Wolde working their approach round lapped runners. With two laps to go, Wolde misplaced contact with the others and the sensation amongst excited American followers was, “Wow, Mills goes to get at the very least a bronze medal”!
On the bell, nonetheless maneuvering round lapped runners, Clarke held the lead, whereas Mills moved barely forward on the flip, however not sufficient to chop in. They bumped shoulders, with Mills stumbling to the skin of lane two. Then Gammoudi, as a lot of an underdog as Mills coming into the race, squeezed his approach between the 2 leaders, knocking Mills off stride once more. Gammoudi opened up a lead of about 5-6 meters on the backstretch and regarded like a positive winner, however Clarke gamely gave chase and drew nearly even halfway down the ultimate stretch. After which Mills did the unthinkable. His late dash introduced him first previous Clarke, after which Gammoudi, as he went on to achieve one of many largest upsets in Olympic historical past, profitable in 28:24.4 (smashing Max Truex’s 4-year outdated American File of 28:50.2). Gammoudi held on for 2nd in 28:24.8, with Clarke third in 28:25.8 as all three bettered the earlier Olympic File (as did Wolde, who completed 4th in 28:31.8). Mills, by no means pondering of himself because the underdog coming into the Video games, had written in his working diary that he can be able to run 28:25 on at the present time! He’s nonetheless the one American to win the Olympic 10,000.
Right here’s how Cordner Nelson wrote of Mills’s end in his great protection for T&F Information: “Then abruptly occurred a uncommon second which made even mediocre observe followers say, ‘That was well worth the journey, alone’. 100 and fifty kilos of preventing man went into motion with an all-out dash which abruptly turned sane males (together with TV announcers-WM) into screaming hysterics. With every stride of his 5’-11” body the Marine Lieutenant bore down on his rivals, surging previous a mass of lapped runners, previous Clarke and Gammoudi 50 yards from the tape so quick that Clarke was surprised and gave up the chase. With a wild grin, Billy Mills hit the tape, arms upraised in a leap of sheer pleasure”.
All in all, not a nasty option to begin my Olympic viewing “profession”.
Mills, a Native American (Ogala Lakota/Sioux), is presently a a lot sought-after motivational speaker, each at working and company occasions, and is the spokesperson for the group he based, Working Robust for American Indian Youth.
Eternally coupled with Mills’s historic win is the dramatic name of the end on NBC’s protection. See under for the total story.
There have been additionally two discipline occasion finals on at the present time.
Nice Britain’s Mary Rand set a World File of 22-2 (6.76) whereas profitable the Ladies’s Lengthy Leap. Successful the silver medal was Poland’s Irena Kirszenstein-Szewińska (21-8 [6.60]), and the bronze went to the Soviet Union’s (and Russia’s) Tatyana Shchelkanova (21-3/4 [6.42]), who set the earlier WR of 21-11 ¾ (6.70) in July.
Rand, who completed 9th in 1960 after being thought-about a possible gold medalist, greater than made up for that disappointment by leaving Tokyo with a full set of medals, profitable silver within the Pentathlon and bronze within the 4×100.
Kirszenstein-Szewińska, destined to change into one of many legends of the game, would additionally take residence 3 medals from Tokyo, profitable a 2nd silver within the 200, and gold within the 4×100 relay.
Finland’s Pauli Nevala (271-2 [82.66]) received the Males’s Javelin over Hungary’s Gergely Kulcsár (270-1 [82.32]) and the Soviet Union’s (and Latvia’s) Jānis Lūsis (264-4 [80.57]), who would win gold in 1968 and silver in 1972. Ending 4th in his 4th Olympics was Poland’s Janusz Sidło (263-0 [80.17]), the 1956 Olympic silver medalist and former World File holder. He would end 7th in his 5th Olympics in 1968.
Medalists/Outcomes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1964_Summer_Olympics
http://indianyouth.org/billy-mills
Mills was portrayed by Robbie Benson within the film “Working Courageous”.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086220/
http://www.amazon.com/Working-Courageous-VHS-Robby-Benson/dp/6304836260
OTHER MILLS LINKS:
(last-lap footage and dramatic NBC race-call)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOj0zjPzg-c
One other Look (in Shade w/feedback from Mills):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs6G8NfEyVk&function=associated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F5iCsymMj0
Mills Appears Again on 50th-Anniversary
https://indianyouth.org/i-was-there-50-years-ago-billy-mills-Fiftieth-10k-olympic-anniversary/
Each Ardour has Its Future(Glorious Documentary): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHYl8c7f5zU&NR=1
NY Occasions: http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/sports activities/year_in_sports/10.14.html
T&F Information Cowl(Oct./Nov.) https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1964_10-11.jpg
E book co-authored by Nicholas Sparks: http://www.alibris.com/search/books/creator/Billypercent20Millspercent3Bpercent20Nicholaspercent20Sparks
Washington Publish(2005):
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content material/article/2005/10/28/AR2005102802132.html
Working Previous: http://www.runningpast.com/billy_mills.htm
In anticipation of his return to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics, Mills started posting a collection of articles (with nice pictures) in August, 2019, that chronicled the trail he took on his option to Olympic glory in 1964. After all, the Video games had been postponed till 2021 on account of Covid, and, since spectators nonetheless wouldn’t be allowed to attend, Billy and his spouse Patricia had been pressured to remain residence. https://indianyouth.org/road-to-tokyo/4/
Whereas Mills was nonetheless basking within the glow of his historic win, Sri Lanka’s Ranatunge Karunananda was nonetheless circling the observe, having been lapped 4 occasions! Working alone within the packed stadium, he completed nearly 5 minutes after Mills had received his gold medal. He turned the darling of Japanese followers (as hardcore tracknuts groaned), who gave him a thunderous ovation when he lastly crossed the end line. He even acquired many items within the days following the race. http://kiribath.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/unsung-hero-of-sri-lankan-sports-r-karunananda-1964-olympics/
NBC Name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOj0zjPzg-c
Once you watch the video of the final lap, you’ll hear NBC’s Bud Palmer describing the homestretch battle between Gammoudi and Clarke after which another person excitedly saying within the final 50-meters, “Take a look at Mills!, Take a look at Mills!”. That was the voice of Dick Financial institution, some of the educated observe followers on this planet, who had been employed by NBC as their professional analyst. Over time, the widespread perception was that Financial institution had “stepped on” Palmer’s name, or had even grabbed the microphone from his broadcast accomplice, who apparently hadn’t but noticed Mills making his late transfer on the leaders. NBC execs, deciding that Financial institution’s motion was “unprofessional”, truly fired him earlier than the Video games in Tokyo had ended!
Not too way back, Financial institution, who didn’t personal a pc, heard by means of a buddy that there have been some feedback on the web about Mills’s race and his dramatic name, main him to set the report straight along with his first-hand account of what truly transpired within the TV sales space that day.
“LOOK AT MILLS! LOOK AT MILLS!” THE TRUE STORY OF DICK BANK’S VERY BRIEF BUT NOTABLE TELEVISION PARTICIPATION AT THE TOKYO OLYMPICS IN 1964—AS TOLD TO ARTHUR HEAD ESQ.
It has come to my consideration that there are some postings about me on the Web. I don’t personal a pc… nor do I need or want one. Mine is between my ears. I nonetheless kind on an IBM Wheelwriter 1000, drive a 1989 Volvo 240GL with 299,000 miles, and do not need nor do I want a mobile phone; or one that may take images.
So you may nicely perceive why I didn’t know there was one thing about me on the Web.
I did know that the final lap was on YouTube, however not the private feedback. Billy has had a DVD manufactured from it that he sells, and I’ve it. Additionally, a pink T-shirt that claims, “Take a look at Mills! Take a look at Mills!”
I want to make recognized the proper details relative to my participation on NBC’s telecast of the Tokyo Olympics.
I used to be employed by Jim Kitchell, the manager producer, who was from NBC Information. He had achieved presidential assassinations, house pictures, and so forth., however he knew nothing about sports activities. I feel my good buddy, the late Bud Palmer, might need had a hand in it. I had labored for ABC’s “Extensive World of Sports activities” in 1962, did the US-USSR meet from Stanford that 12 months, from Moscow the following 12 months . . . and from Kiev in 1965. I used to be employed as an professional commentator. I wasn’t an itinerant, as acknowledged.
Bud Palmer was one of many most interesting individuals I’ve ever met—not too lots of his variety in that enterprise—and the very last thing I’d have achieved was to embarrass or present him up. That summer time, the primary of two Olympic Trials had been held on Randall’s Island in New York Metropolis (the Olympic Trials had been held there in 1936, but it surely had deteriorated badly through the years).
Bud requested the place I used to be planning to remain when in New York. I informed him I had no plans. He mentioned he and his spouse Daisy had been going to be away at the moment, and I used to be welcome to make use of their reasonably giant residence on Park Avenue. Which I did!
As the ultimate 2 hundred meters of the race unfolded, Bud, for no matter motive, overlooked Billy Mills. I might see that he was going to win the race and there was not going to be any point out of him till he had crossed the end line. He was specializing in Clarke and Gammoudi.
I didn’t seize Bud’s microphone. I had my very own. What went out over the air was not an try and fill in commentary. It was a pure response, as if I had been a spectator. It simply so occurred there was useless air, so I used to be simply heard.
It has been written that I used to be guffawing with glee. It was extra like unrestrained euphoria that shortly turned tears. My good buddy Neil Allen of the London Occasions got here up from his seat within the press part to supply congratulations. I might barely communicate.
The following day, Kitchell mentioned what I had achieved was “very unprofessional.” Dick Auerbach, the producer (he had no data of observe and discipline), informed me they’d be turning off my microphone through the last occasions.
My response: “Then why trouble to show it on?”
We didn’t have an enclosed announce place. I continued to sit down there for the following few days, providing simply heard feedback underneath my breath. Invoice Henry was the third individual. He was a grand outdated gentleman, stadium announcer on the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, however was not knowledgeable on the game.
After the third day, I discovered a message once I returned to the Okura Lodge: name Dick Auerbach on the New Otani. He was having dinner on the highest flooring. I mentioned it was Dick Financial institution, returning his name.
“I’ve some dangerous information for you.” My father had had a coronary heart assault in April 1961, and was confined to our residence. He was my first thought. After all, there would have been a name from my mom.
“From as we speak on, you might be not working for NBC.” My response: “So what’s the dangerous information?” He was an oily man who didn’t have the heart to inform it to my face.
I used to be by no means recognized over the air. My pricey, late buddy Harley Tinkham, did determine me within the Los Angeles Mirror-Information. Brutus Hamilton, the longtime coach at California and head coach on the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, mentioned to his spouse: “That might solely be one individual . . . it must be Dick Financial institution.”
I used to be confined in that announce place. Now I might hob-nob with the European press . . . and I knew plenty of them, and communicate out as I needed.
After I returned residence, NBC refused to pay me. My then brother-in-law was an lawyer, related to the notorious Marvin Mitchelson. Marv had been an in depth buddy since our days at Los Angeles Excessive College.
A name was made to NBC in Burbank, advising them that if a test was not of their workplace by 5 that afternoon, an motion can be taken. It was.
I later labored for CBS, doing thirty-five meets in 1969-70, calling the races and dealing alone.”
Full transcript of his letter: http://www.letsrun.com/discussion board/flat_read.php?thread=3925604&web page=1
(Financial institution handed away in February, 2020, on the age of 90)
https://apnews.com/article/dac98a608326d0c791ecc458f309363b
1968—Mexico Metropolis’s altitude performed a task in 2 World Information being set on at the present time on the Olympics.
American Jim Hines received the Males’s 100-meters, setting the primary IAAAF-approved auto-timed World File of 9.95. Jamaica’s Lennox Miller (10.04) received the silver medal and American Charlie Greene (10.07), who had suffered a hamstring pressure in his semi-final race earlier within the day, received the bronze.
Romania’s Viorica Viscopoleanu received the Ladies’s Lengthy Leap with a World File leap of 22-4 ½ (6.82), 4 years to the day after Mary Rand set the earlier report of 22-2 (6.76) on the Tokyo Olympics. Successful silver and bronze had been Nice Britain’s Sheila Sherwood (21-11 [6.68]) and the Soviet Union’s (and Russia’s) Tatyana Talysheva (21-10 ¼ [6.66]).
People Randy Matson (67-4 ¾ [20.54]) and George Woods (66-1/4 [20.12]) completed 1-2 within the Males’s Shot Put. Successful the bronze was the Soviet Union’s (and Russia’s) Eduard Gushchin (65-11 [20.09]). All 3 medalists achieved their finest mark within the 1stspherical.
Hungary’s Angéla Németh (198-0 [60.36]) received the Ladies’s Javelin over Romania’s Mihaela Peneș (196-7 [59.92]), the defending champion, and Austria’s Eva Janko (190-5 [58.04]).
The Males’s 20k-Stroll was the closest in Olympic historical past, with the three medalists ending inside 5 seconds of one another. The Soviet Union’s (and Ukraine’s) Vladimir Golubnichiy, the 1960 gold medalist, received his 2nd Olympic title in 1:33:58.4, whereas Mexico’s José Pedraza (1:34:00.0) gave the native crowd a thrill by passing the Soviet Union’s (and Ukraine’s) Nikolay Smaga (1:34:03.4) contained in the stadium to seize the silver medal.
Medalists/Outcomes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1968_Summer_Olympics
WR Progressions
M100: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Males’s_10 0_metres_world_record_progression
WLJ: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladiespercent27s_long_jump_world_record_progression
M100: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyur9WwYjZ8
2007—The Netherlands’ Lornah Kiplagat set a World File of 1:06:25 for the Half-Marathon on the 2nd IAAF World Highway Working Championships in Udine, Italy (to not be confused with the present type of the World Highway Working Championships). She additionally obtained credit score for a WR for 20-Kilometers along with her en-route clocking of 1:02:57. The winner of the $30,000 first-place prize, plus a $50,000 World File bonus mentioned, “In Kenya for years, individuals didn’t imagine ladies might run so nicely”.
2017—North Rockland (NY) sophomore Katelyn Tuohy smashed the 2-1/2 mile course report at NY’s Van Cortlandt Park, working 13:21.8 on the Manhattan School Inv. The earlier better of 13:53.9 was set by Jessica Lawson (Corning Painted Publish,NY) in 2015.
Publish-Race Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54oe71ystBk
Tuohy, who would finally win three Nike Cross Nationals titles (2017-2019), handed up the 2018 Manhattan meet, however returned in 2019, profitable the Jap States title in 13:33.2, the twond-fastest time ever run at Vanny. Tuohy, who went on to win 4 NCAA particular person titles (2022-5000, X-Nation, 2023-Indoor 3000 & 5000), additionally led North Carolina State to three NCAA workforce titles in X-Nation (2021-2023). She additionally set the present Collegiate Information within the Mile (4:24.26) and 3000 (8:35.20) indoors in 2023.
Can She Defy Historical past?(Apparently so!/June, 2018 Article):
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/sports activities/katelyn-tuohy.html
https://gopack.com/sports activities/cross-country/roster/katelyn-tuohy/9615
