I realize DC isn't a state, but it's not under any other state's jurisdiction and has a higher population that several states. Anyone have the DC best? (I'm actually from Maryland lol)
I realize DC isn't a state, but it's not under any other state's jurisdiction and has a higher population that several states. Anyone have the DC best? (I'm actually from Maryland lol)
Weird that there are no 4:00.x state bests. Lots of 3:59.x and 4:01.x.
Steve Bolt of Grissom AL ran 4:07.4 at the Florida Relays in 1973. I still have my copy of the excellent program for the '74 Relays which lists his record. And T&FN also reported that race (I also have my old T&FNs).
What is ridiculous is that the gatorzone website does, indeed, list the mile record as 4:05.04. I am trying to get it - and the 3200/2 mile record corrected. They stalled me by saying they are too busy with the current season to make corrections - even though I provided a photocopy of the program.
Apparently what happened is somebody tried to convert the old yard records to metric. Okay.... But instead of using the T&FN .9942 multiplier, they just subtracted two seconds for the mile and four for the 2 mile. Thus the 8:57.5 2 mile run by Billy Convey of Ransom Everglades in Miami in 1983 is listed as 8:53.5 for 3200 (by Billy Convey of Everglades Ransom. When they screw up they keep it going). I coached Convey so I am very aware of that race.
As for Bolt's supposed 4:05.04 "record" according to gatorzone, my guess is they meant to subtract two seconds from Bolt's 4:07.4 in order to list it as the 1600 record and accidentally typed 4:05.04 - adding the zero - instead of 4:05.4. Then they forgot to put "1600" and left "mile" even though all the other races are listed as metric.
Whew!
What bothers me is today's kids deserve to know what the real records are. Since I coached Convey and we are good friends, I'd love him to keep the record. But if a kid betters 8:54.4 for 3200, not 8:53.5, he will deserve to be listed as the record holder. If someone betters 4:07.4, not the absurd 4:05.04, he will be the true mile recordholder. Or 4:06.0 for 1600.
Hate to create more work for you but it seems the Alabama High School Athletic Association has Grissom's mile record at 4:01.1.
http://www.ahsaa.com/Sports/TrackField/Records/BoysRecords/tabid/792/Default.aspx
No idea where that time comes from.
The link is from 2009 from the University of Alabama's announcement of Bolt's selection into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The article says he ran 4:07 in high school, an understandable rounding off of 4:07.4 by a non-Track sports info guy.
http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/050509aaa.html
From all the discussion, I'm sure that 4:07.4 was in fact his best HS time.
I just wonder how someone at AHSAA came up with the 4:01.1
On the subject of Vermont:
Bobby Edgerton's best of 3:53 was not recognized as a state record because he lived in New Hampshire while attending a Windsor High School in VT.
Andrew Wheating's 3:54 is the fastest 1500m run by a VT resident high school aged athlete, but he went to Kimball Union Academy in NH so his time wasn't ratified either.
The current "official" state record is 3:57 by Jacob Ellis set last year.
Which state's record do you think will last the longest? Obvious choice is probably Kansas but then reconsider the question aside from the sub-4 states.
My thoughts are Rhode Island. I was absolutely shocked to see such a small state that high up. Springer is obviously a phenomenal runner, but I don't think I can even name anyone else who has come out of there. Not exactly a hot bed. Can't see that record going down for a longggg time.
that virginia record is pretty good!