Jim Ryun Dethroned

It speaks volumes that the only valid comparison for 2022 HS milers is 1960s Jim Ryun, not Webb, not Liquori, not anyone else. His 3:55 in 1965 is like Bob Beamon in the 68 Olympics, a landmark performance that was eventually broken, but will always be the reference for everyone who follows them.

For an age class record? No disrespect on an amazing run, but black page needs to be reserved for world/Olympic golds (or shocking silver/bronze like Molly S), significant national records, and accomplishments of that caliber.

The bar was raised a long time ago, and now we’re finally catching up

Thx you for this list of performances..!; you missed one .. he ran 4x sub-4 in his senior year. 5x total as a HS athlete.

[ 3:51.3 @ 19yo; 3:51.1 @ 20yo. on cinders as you stated !!! ]

//:::::::::::::::://

3:58.3 - 5/15/65

3:58.1 - 5/29/65*

3:56.8 - 6/4/65

3:55.3 - 6/27/65

*… your missing mark.

The fact that you are talking about an athlete from 50+ years ago, proves the GREAT JIM RYUN has not been dethroned.

I realize times have changed, but I’m old enough to remember Jim Ryun and to have watched him compete many times. Jim Ryun was a national celebrity and known to the majority of Americans when he finished HS. Comparing him and what he accomplished to people like Sahlman or Martin is laughable. I knew of Ryun and was aware of his exploits and I was in grade school, years before becoming a runner myself. Ryun was up there with Ali, Mays, Unitas, Jim Brown. Can you imagine a world now where Sahlman is mentioned along with Brady and Lebron? No, Jim Ryun is not dethroned and imo, he never will be given the historical context.

I've never seen a cinder track but I always wondered if you could get certain cinder tracks that feels more like a hard packed dirt track. That's how I make sense of Ryuns times lol. I assume he was running on the "mondo-cinder" tracks lol

I ran on a high quality cinder track all through HS, and it was fast, not any/much different from some of the first generation synthetic tracks available at other nearby schools. However, in college I got to experience next gen tracks, and they certainly FELT much faster. Hard to know if it was me or the track.

Seeing it all listed out really brings it home. Greatest high school athlete of all time period. Not just in running.

Eh, McCormick is a great runner. No reason that just because Bergen lost to him he can't run 3:59. Ran 4:03 at Nike Outdoors last year and 4:02i this year. He has a good shot.

Both he and McCormick would have a shot. But I do think Bergen is slightly fitter than McCormick -- he just decided to try to lead all the state races because he was returning 800, 1600, and 3200 champion. Worked in the 800 where the burden of leading is less, but didn't work in the longer stuff -- Connor ate him up in the last lap of the 1600 & 3200. I also think Bergen made the mistake of thinking he could peak for Brooks and still win 3x at state.

And this is what amazes me about Jim Ryun the most. What he did back then was INSANE and what he could do today would absolutely draw us mad. 3:51 today is extremely impressive and is far better than what Burns did yesterday. Not turning down Burns achievement, which was pretty nuts for a Junior but ya know. Like 3:51 in HS would be mind boggling in every layer.

3:51.3 WR .. @‘19yo in 1966, was run AFTER high school. Burns is fantastic.. Ryun was otherworldly on par J. ING.

With everything available today, Ryun would make this year’s WC team, maybe even finishing 2nd at USAs between Hocker and Centro.

He made the ‘64 Olympic team as a 17 year old with a best time of 3:39.0, then topped that off by beating the reigning Olympic Champ a year later in an AR 3:55.3. Then WRs in each of the next two years at 19 and 20. I don’t think that will ever happen again over that span and age groups - the records, not the times. Although the times he ran are still damn fast regardless of shoes and surfaces.

why is it so freaking hard to get birthdates of these young american runners?

worldathletics.org

One Mile - men - u20 - outdoor - 2022

Open link

Because they are new on the radar.

Jim Ryun will always be the GOAT!! Period!

give him the super shoes, the elite training and the drugs all these kids are hopped up on!!

Jzs. Here is some more details on Ryun's rise.

From "Jim Ryun, Master of the Mile"

1962-63 15 year old sophomore
- 5:38 mile time trial
- 11:51 2 mile XC first time trial
- 11:23 4th is first JV race
- won the next JV race
- 10:36 in first varsity race, eventually becoming Wichita East's top runner
- 6th at State meet, leading the team to victory.
- 4:40 self-timed time trial during the winter of his sophomore year
- 4:32.2 loses his first mile race by 0.2 to defending State champ Charles Harper
- 4:26.5 down 15 meters with 100 to go, Ryun digs deep and finds that kick of his, winning his first mile over Harper.
- 4:21.7 leads from gun to tape for win #2
- 4:21.3 wins again, runs first 880, a leg of winning 2mile relay team
age 16
- wins another mile
- 4:16.2 wins state meet
- 4:08.2 MVAAU loses to college runner, doubles back with 1:54.5 880 (5th)
- 1:53.6 5th again, behind four college kids
- 4:07.8 USTFF 6th to college kids

During the Summer he ran 5 miles every day at 5:30am. The harder he worked, the more talented he became. Will YOU run 5 miles at 5:30 am this Summer? Will you?

1963-64 Junior year 16 years old
- Undefeated in cross country
- 4 mile AAU XC meet against college runners he finished 3rd
- indoor meet at Cow Palace (SF) Lindgren in race. Ryun stumbles off track then finishes well back in 9:22.6
age 17
- 4:06.4 wins state meet in national hs record time.
- 4:01.7 3rd in Modesto behind Burleson and O'Hara
- 3:59.0 8th in Compton, first ime that 8 runner had broken 4:00 in the same race, and the first time a hs kid broke 4:00.
- 1:50.3 5th in open competition
- 9:06.5 in KS allcomers
- 3:39.0 4th at AAU 1500m
- 3:46.1 4th NY Randalls Island OT
- 3:41.9 3rd LA Olympic Trials (53.7 last lap)
- 3:44.4 4th Tokyo heats
- 3:55 DFL Tokyo semi

1964-65 senior year 17 years old
- 4:07.2 State Indoor meet
- 4:04.4 Wichita East Invite
- 4:02.0 Hutchichson Invite
age 18
- 3:58.3 State meet win, first and only sub 4:00 in all hs competition
- 3:58.1 1st California Relays Compton, CA
- 3:56.8 Modesto 3rd behind Snell and Grelle
- 4:04.3 Golden West HS 1st
- 9:04 Golden West HS 1st
- 3:55.3 1st San Diego American Record, defeats Snell
- 3:40.4 2nd US/USSR dual meet
- 3:49.9 1st US/Poland dual meet
- 3:41.6 1st US/Germany

1965-66 Freshman college 18 years old
- 3:42.7 1st Sugar Bowl
- 4:02.2 1st Millrose Games
- 4:03.9 1st Texas Relays
- 8:47.4 1st two mile SW Relays
- 3:58 4x1 mile Emporia Relays, ¾ of DMR, 47.6 on 4x440
- 3:59 DMR Kansas Relays
- 3:55.8 Kansas Relays
age 19
- 8:25.2 Los Angeles American Record, beats Grelle and Keino
- 3:53.7 Compton Relays 0.1 short of Jazy’s WR
- 1:44.9 World Record Terre Haute, IN
- 4:02.8 47.8 relay
- 3:58.6 AAU
- 3:51.3 World Record Berkeley