so apparently I work with his son. He said his pop tied the WR 1500m at one point. Is this true? I know we was a hell of a runner and first guy from MI to go sub 4.
so apparently I work with his son. He said his pop tied the WR 1500m at one point. Is this true? I know we was a hell of a runner and first guy from MI to go sub 4.
Never heard of him
One Mile Performance3:59.2 Wind PlacePhiladelphia, PA Date 29 APR 1978
Depends how you define 'first guy from MI." Popejoy ran under four for Michigan State, though attended HS in IL.
You work with Zach? Army right? Hope he's doing well.
I only knew about Tom being the first guy from MI to break 4 (like you mention), hadn't heard about him tying the world record.
Isn't he the one that came up with our slogan, "Just Du It"?
I don't believe he ever tied the WR but a hell of a runner. The lack of running history from the millenials is embarassing.
Duits was actually the first Michigan native to run sub-4 outdoors with his 3:59.2 in '78. The first to do it overall came a few months earlier when Greg Meyer ran 3:59.1 at the University of Michigan.
The "World Record" story probably came from the American Record that he was part of. In '79, the U.S. sent national teams to compete in an international relay meet in Bourges, France. Duits anchored the winning 4 x 1500 in an AR 14:46.3. He was a 3:39.44 guy at the time, and he stunned with a 3:35.8 anchor leg.
Pretty big talent, but never quite put it all together in a big meet.
Phil Night wrote:
Isn't he the one that came up with our slogan, "Just Du It"?
Pronounced "Dites"
At 3:35 in the video
Me too after his fiance was killed in a car accident it was really hard on him. He's a good kid and his Dad was uber talented back in the day.