1968 Mexico/800 meters/ Tom Farrell

New York guy. Ran for St. John's in college and I believe had a brother who was also a good middle distance guy. I don't recall that he did anything after Mexico City.

The best 800 meter runner that year was an oregon runner by the name of Wade Bell. Unfortunately he got food poisoning at the olympics.

Tommy was also 5th in the 64 Games as a soph @ SJU running 1:46.6.

Legend!

Ralph Doubell of Australia won the final in a then =WR of 1:44.3 (1:44.40), which is sadly still the Australian record. He didn't know (so he says)it was a WR until Tom told him. It should be noted that Doubell never broke 1:46 outside of those Games.

The most important thing Tom Farrell did in 1964 was when he lent Bob Hayes his spikes (they had the same shoe size) for the semi-final. Hayes had forgotten them at the village. Bob Schul takes credit for the "hand-off" in his book. Imagine today Tim Broe walking up to Derrick Peterson and asking to give lend his spikes to Maurice Greene. That's pretty much what happened.

Men's 800m. Final. Olympic Games 1968

1. Ralph DOUBELL (AUS) 1:44.3 EWR

2. Wilson Kiprugut CHUMA (KEN) 1:44.5

3. Thomas FARRELL (USA) 1:45.4

4. Walter ADAMS (GER) 1:45.8

5. Josef PLACHY (CZE) 1:45.9

6. Dieter FROMM (GDR) 1:46.2

7. Thomas SAISI (KEN) 1:47.5

8. Benedict CAYENNE (TRI) 1:54.3

Men's 800m. Final. Olympic Games 1964

1. Peter SNELL (NZL) 1:45.1 OR

2. William CROTHERS (CAN) 1:45.6

3. Wilson Kiprogut CHUMA (KEN) 1:45.9

4. George KERR (JAM) 1:45.9

5. Thomas FARRELL (USA) 1:46.6

6. Jerome SIEBERT (USA) 1:47.0

7. Dieter BOGATSKI (USA) 1:47.2

8. Jacques PENNEWAERT (BEL) 1:50.5

(Yes - there Kenyans around in those days too)

tom's brother peter was a 1:47 800 runner for notre dame. he has been the women's coach at princeton for about 30 years.

OK well here is something I know a bit about.. haha hint check my screen name... So here from a few websites should be enough info

Tom Farrell - went to Archbishop Molloy HS with my father in NY (the same one I went to)

In 1961, Tom Farrell was the national high school indoor 1,000 yd. Champion. He also anchored Molloy’s 2-mile team to his first Penn relay championships. Tom also set Molloy’s still standing record in the 880 yds. At the time of 1:54.3.

At St. John University Tom was a two time NCAA Champion. He set world records indoor at 660 yds. and 880 yds. at 1:49.8. In his Olympic career, Tom finished fifth in Tokyo and won the bronze medal at the 1968 games in Mexico City in 1:45.4.

Peter Farrell

Peter set the national interscholastic record for the 1000 yards while winning the national indoor championship in 1964. At Notre Dame, Peter was a two-time NCAA All-American. He won the 1C4A 1000Y championship and was ranked 5th in the nation and 14th in the world in 880 yards.

Peter has coached the Princeton Tigers woman’s track team since 1978. During his 25+ years at the helm, the Tigers have captured the Ivy League Indoor championship six times (1981, ’82, ’83, ’89, ’97, ’98) and the Outdoor crown seven times (1979, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’89, ’98). The cross-country program has also enjoyed success under Farrell’s watch, winning three straight Ivy titles from 1979-1981. In 2003, the cross-country team won the ECAC Championship for the second time in four years and finished 9th at the NCAA Champs.

AM Runner wrote:

In 1961, Tom Farrell was the national high school indoor 1,000 yd. Champion....

Peter set the national interscholastic record for the 1000 yards while winning the national indoor championship in 1964.

most of what you say is true - but there was no such thing as the national high school indoor championships during the '60s.

there were big time meets that billed themselves as such - much like the penn relays titles are called "championship of america", but there aren't any real titles.