Ryun sets sights higher
By GREG OIEN
KU sophomore Jim Ryun went out to do one thing Friday night and that was to break his world record mile time of 3:51.3 at the National Amateur Athletic Union Track and Field Championship held at Bakersfield, Calif. And that is just what he did, turning in a time of 3:51.1
Ryun stunned the crowd of 11,600 after running a 1:59 half mile. He then turned over a blistering 53.5 last quarter to cinch the new mark. Ryun after finishing the race was asked by the public address announcer if he felt like taking a victory lap now. "That's the trouble," Ryun commented, "I do."
Ryun had planned for several weeks to make this one a 3:50 mile if the pace was right. It had been the first time in Ryun's career he had taken a race into his own hands and planned to run the race his own way.
"I began thinking about it weeks ago and decided this is where I wanted to start running well. It wasn't the meet itself, but where it came in the season. What hacks me was that I wasn't a bit tired—when I can walk and talk with all of those people after the race," the native Kansan said.
Ryun had kept his plans from everyone including KU Track Coach Bib Timmons, who stayed at home in Lawrence. Timmons was as shocked as anyone when he found out after the race his student was shooting for the 3:50 mile.
Though Ryun hinted it to Oregon Coach Bill Bowerman, while talking to him before the race, it was a well guarded secret. "It must be nice not to have to worry about a
race like this," Bowerman said. "But coach, I am worried about this one," Ryun replied.
Ryun can take pleasure in knowing that he completely dominated the record pace from start to finish. It was the first time that Ryum had lead a fast pace and stayed there the whole distance.
Another difference was Ryun's third quarter. Where the Jayhawker usually does his poorest of the four laps, Ryun's lap Friday was his second best of the quartet.
When Ryun was asked about his plans for the rest of the season he replied: "I'd like to get that 1,500 meter record, but its a tough one. That's one of the best records in the book."
Australian Herb Elliot now holds that record with a time of 3:35.6 set in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
Ryun is planning to run the 1,500 meter race in the U.S.-British Commonwealth meet, and as one of Ryun's fans said, "That boy can do almost anything."
But another sophomore shared the lime-light with Ryun at the championships, and one KU coach could beam with pride at both.
KU assistant track coach John Mitchell could well have been the happiest man in the stadium as he watched Ryun set a new world mile mark and former high school pole vault pupil Paul Wilson set a new world's record of 17 feet,8 inches.
TIRES AND GLASS
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V13-0956
6 Summer Kansan Tuesday, June 27, 1967
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