- [Announcer] Number 290, Harry McNally. - [Commentator] We're all set to go now in the Balboa Mile and what a field has congregated here in San Diego for this one. In lane one will be Kerry Wiseacre of the North Carolina Track Club. In lane two, a guest competitor from Czechoslovakia, Josef Odlozil. In lane three, one of the truly greats of all time, Peter Snell, former world record holder. He has won three gold medals in Olympic competition, one at 1500 meters, two at 800 meters, from New Zealand. Lane four will be Jim Grelle from Oklahoma Athletic Club, the fastest American in the mile at 3:55.4, which he ran in Vancouver. Jim Ryun will be next to him, the fabulous boy from East High School in Wichita, who has run 3:56.8. Another great high schooler, John Garrison of San Diego, coached by Igloi, who has done a 3:58.1, he'll be in lane six. Dave Farley of the U.S. Marine Corps is lane seven. And lane eight is Harry McCullough of the United States Air Force. So we're set to go now in the Balboa Mile, the competitors lining up, but of course this is the one that Peter Snell wants very much, he hopes to make up, in his final race in the United States, the World record which he lost to Michel Jazy earlier this month. And of course, earlier, he also lost to Jim Grelle in that Magic Mile in Vancouver, when he had an illness. Just a little bit anxious there at the start. Snell of course a double winner in the '64 Olympics had his old mark in the mile shattered when Jazy ran a 3:53.6. But Snell claims to be back in top shape after that illness in Vancouver - [Line Judge] Lane one. - when he incidentally finished last with a 4:15.4. He would like very much to avenge that loss tonight. Grelle, on the other hand, America's fastest miler, beating Jim Beatty's old mark by a tenth of a second. There's Snell right there, the... - [Man] Hurry up, Fuller! - Wonderful personality from New Zealand. Odlozil, who was second to Snell in the 1500 at Tokyo is in Lane Two. And, on the outside, taking the early lead, is Dave Farley of the Marine Corps. On the inside is Kerry Wiseacre And Wiseacre was figured to go out fast, here, to sort of set the pace. And now, Jim Beatty, a race I know that you'd like very much to be in, I was going to comment on you, as far as projection is concerned, what you would consider necessary to break the world's record here, as far as splits. - [Jim] Bill Fleming, if they break the world record in the mile race, here, they're gonna have to run an extremely fast tempo. I'd say we're gonn`a have to see a first quarter in the vicinity of 57 seconds. We'll have to see a half-mile that will go through in, in 1:56 to 1:57. We'll see a 3/4 mile that will go in the vicinity of 2:57 and then with a tremendous last quarter. Ah, if the last, 3/4 mile mark is anywhere near three minutes, I don't think we'll see the record. Back to you, Bill. - [Bill] All right, thank you very much, Jim, we'll be checking in with you. It's Wiseacre, McCullough, Farley, Odlozil, Snell is running dead last at the present time, and Grelle's not concerned about that, because he's running just ahead of him. As they go into the back stretch, we might let you hear a short conversation that Jim... When we reach the 3/4 mark we'll let you hear what Jim Grelle has to say about when he's going to make his move. We're just midway through the second lap of this four-lap race. Remember, the world's record pending 3:53.6, set by Michel Jazy of France. Harry McCullough of the United States Air Force is leading the pack here, is coming down, at the end of two laps. Grelle, as you can see, has moved up on the shoulder of McCullouh. Wiseacre still in first place, and Snell has kept right pace with Grelle. - [Bill] So, it's Kerry Wiseacre running in first place, Harry McCullough of the United States Air Force, Jim Grelle, and... then Snell. Odlozil is running in seventh place right now, so the boy from Czechoslovakia is far back. Now, as Harry McCullough takes the lead, on the back stretch we will come close to the 3/4 mile. Odlozil has moved up very quickly at the top of the turn. This boy was the one who finished second to Snell in the 1500-meters in Tokyo. Josef Odlozil of Czechoslovakia picks up a great deal of ground, less than 220 yards in the back stretch. And now Grelle, running in second place, the last... Here is Odlozil, and here is Jim Ryun! Jim Ryun, on the shoulder of Grelle. Snell is fourth. And Ryan is going to take the lead from Odlozil! Jim Ryan, the boy from Wichita. And here is Grelle, making his move. And Snell is now in third, passing Odlozil. It's Ryan, Grelle, Snell and Odlozil. And there goes Grelle past Ryan, on his shoulder with 200 yards to go, Ryan fights it off, Snell may be boxed, because Grelle is on the outside trying to overtake Ryan. Here comes Snell with a great pounding thirst! It's Ryan on the inside! He's got the lead! Snell gets second! And it is Jim Grelle third, and Jim Ryan, a high-schooler from Wichita has defeated Peter Snell and Jim Grelle in the most amazing performance in his career. This young man was the first high-schooler in the world ever to go under four minutes. He has a best time of 3:56.8. And today, has won the Balboa Mile, the national championship. - [Bill] A little bit earlier, Grelle had talked to Jim Beatty, and we were going to play that tape for you, but things got so exciting there, we didn't want to disrupt the continuity of the race. But he did say that he was going to make his move at about 250 yards if the pace was slow. Now Jim, correct me if I'm wrong on that. - [Jim] If it is slow-- - [Bill] Jim? - [Commentator] Here's Jim Ryun, he's the 17-year-old. Number five will be Daryl Bisaillon, and number six, Jim Grelle. The world record for this distance is three minutes, 35 and 6/10 seconds, set by... four years ago. Now take a look at Right along side, of Jim Ryan, four laps of the track 1500 meters Going for the lead is Jim Ryun now he told some of the he did not want to be in the lead For Ryun after having led there for about 10, 15... 18 year old from California has taken the lead Second place O'Hara All 130 pounds of him, remember he's not made it to the Olympic team yet... number five, in last place at the moment, just behind Jim Grelle. setting the pace. second place, OHara in third place In fourth place Jim Ryun, running almost along side each other from Witchita, Ryun and now moving up is Jim Grelle Jim Grelle has moved into third place, So the runner here will really has to even work harder to even make the final That's a very interesting point Jim Grelle is in third place is last at the moment There are now two laps to go O'hara Takes the lead that's the first move by any of the chief contenders in this race Grelle is not going to let O'hara get away Snell in now moving up Jim Ryun is dropping back now just over one lap O'hare is still second and Grelle third And now Ryun is beginning to move up, making his move at this point, Jim Ryun. There's a little more than a lap to go now moving from third now moving to second Grelle is trying to take the lead Jim Ryun now moving into third. The greatest the United States has ever had, and they're all going for the Olympic games right now! Now here comes Jim Grelle It's Jim Grelle in the lead. O'hare is gonna have a tough time. is going for the lead, taking the lead Here comes the finish line He literally leaped through the air 17 year old Jim Ryun O'Hara has made the team who led in the final lap from Wichita Kansas 6'2" but only weighs 150lbs and here is the finish and if you can see on the left of your screen that is Ryun Apparently nipping at the throat