DISTANCE LEGENDS

(Matt McGowan, April 2008, RunOhio) Four years ago at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field in Sacramento, California, 1964 Olympic 5,000 meter Gold medalist Bob Schul was discussing with me his desire to put together a DVD spotlighting some of the athletes who helped make distance

running in the USA what it is today. At first he wanted to have a reunion for the athletes who were part of the LA Track Club from the 1960's. Then he decided to broaden the scope and try to get the top American distance runners from the 1950's and early 60's together, something which up to now has never been accomplished.

Bob's goal of producing a video of the top American distance runners for this era will take place during the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field in Eugene, Oregon this summer. He has created a web site spotlighting the athletes from the 1950's and early 60's - www.distancelegends.com

Bob has contacted the athletes listed below and over half have already agreed to meet in Eugene and be part of the video and do public appearances and clinics. Bob also hopes to create a Distance Legends poster which will be for sale at the clinics.

Horace Ashenfelter - Gold Medal in the 1956 Olympics - World Record 8:45.4.Won 17 National titles from 2 miles - 6mile, and cross country

Jim Beatty - World records - 2 miles - 8:29.8 (1963), Indoor World records - 1 mile -3:38.9 (1962) , 2 mile 8:30.7, mile - 3:58.6 (1963), American records -
3:40.2 and 3:39.8 1500 meters 3:39.4, 3:39.0, 300 meters 7:54.0, 5000 meters 13:51.3, 13:45

Don Bowden - first American to run under four minutes in the mile - 3:58.7 - American Record (1957)

Bill Dellinger - Bronze medal in 5000 meters - 1964 Olympics; World records 2 mile- 8:50, 3 mile -13:37 and American record in 1500 meters 3:41.5

Jim Grelle - American record mile 3:55.4 (1966), ran under 4 minutes in the mile 18 times, National Champion two time Indoor mile, Pan American Champion.

Gerry Lindgren - World record 6 mile -27:11.6 (tied Billy Mills) - 1965, American record 3 mile 13:04.2 (1965)

Billy Mills - Gold medal 10,000 meters 1964 Olympic with an American record 28:24.4, World record in 6 mile - 27:11.6 (tied Gerry Lindgren), American record - 10,000 meters - 28:17.6 (1965)

Jim Ryun, Silver medal 1500 meters 1968 Olympics, American record mile - 3:55.3 (1965), 2 mile - 8:25.1 - (1966); 5 World records - 880 yards - 1:44.9 and
mile - 3:51.6 (1966), mile - 3:51.1 and 1500 meters - 3:33.1 (1967), indoor mile - 3:56.4, 3 time National Champion in mile

Wes Santee - 4.00.5 mile in 1954, World Record in 1500 meters - 3:42.8 - 1956

Bob Schul - Gold medal in 5000 meters - 1964 Olympics, World record 2 mile 8:26.4, American records - 3 mile indoor 13:31.4, 5,000 meters outdoor - 13:38, 3 mile -13:15 (1964), 3 mile 13:10.4 (1965)

George Young - Bronze medal steeplechase 1968 Olympics - Four time Olympian, six American records - World indoor record 2 mile - 8:27.2 and 3 mile - 13:09.8 (1969), American records; steeplechase - 8:30.6 2 mile - 8:22 (1968), won seven National title

Two other athletes who excelled during and late 50's and early 60's have passed away.

Max Truex - American record in 10,000 meters in 1960 Olympics placing sixth - 28:50.34, other American records 3,000 meters 8:03.6, 5,000 meters 14:22.8
(19:56), 14:14.5 (1957), 14:04.2 (1958), 14:03.6 (1960). 13:49.6 (1962) Truex passed away in 1990.

Buddy Edelen - World record in marathon 2:14:28 (1963), American record in marathon 2:18:57 (1962), 10,000 meters - 29:58.9 (1960). Edelen passed away in
1997

Many of the above athletes will speak at the Heritage Court Yard in the Oakway Center where the Eugene Running Company is located. For more information on dates and times of the various clinics will be posted on www.distancelegends.com, http://www.bobschul.net www.runohio.com, and http://www.eugenerunningcompany.com

"Most of the running was on dirt tracks. Working full time with no sponsors training was difficult. The results these men achieved are an inspiration to us all"

"The purpose of the DISTANCE LEGENDS is to bring back some of America's greatest runners from the past to share what it took for them to be successful. It is my hope that this will bring about a new renaissance in distance running and in the process get young people more active and handle some of the obesity and health issues affecting our young people." from Bob Schul's Distance Legends web site.

Read RUNOHIO's Book Review - A Closer Look at - Bob Schul, "In the Long Run" http://www.runohio.com/news/07-28- 04Book_review_schul.html