Herb Elliott

In 1957 Herb Elliott was the World's fastest ever 18 year old over 1500m. (3min. 47.8sec.) and the one mile (4min. 4.3sec.). The following year he broke the 4 minute mile barrier whilst still a teenager. In some respects Elliott only had two seasons at the top, 1958 and 1960, because during 1959 he got married, did very little running and spent much of his time studying to gain admission to Cambridge University (from where he later graduated with an M.A. in Natural Sciences). After competing in Australia during the early months of 1958 he travelled to Cardiff for the Empire Games (Commonwealth) at which he won both the 880yds. (CBP of 1m 49.3 secs) and the mile (3min. 59sec.). He then embarked upon a latter day "Grand Tour" of Europe smashing world records. On Aug 6th, in Dublin, he carved 2.7sec. from Derek Ibbotson's one mile record clocking 3min. 54.5sec. and then in Gothenburg on Aug 28th. lopped 2.1sec. from Stanislav Jungwirth's 1500m. world record with a time of 3min. 36sec. He then flew around London's White City for another fast mile of 3min. 55.4sec. before returning home a little too exhausted for his own good. In 1959 he almost gave up athletics. Olympic year and his memories of watching the 1956 Melbourne Games, however, rekindled his ambitions. In Rome he was the favourite to take the 1500m. title, though it was two years since he had set his world records. He was unsure how to best run the final but he and his legendary coach Percy Cerrutty devised a simple plan. At the half-way mark take the lead and run away from the rest. So he did! He won by 20 metres in a new world record of 3min. 35.6sec. with the most memorable performance of the Games. No one ever beat him over 1500m. or the mile in over forty contests during his brief career. (George Herringshaw)

The runners are Tim Snyder, Dave Partridge, Bart Denny, Brent McKee, Jim Reader, Ward Narhi, Mark Stretch, and Brad Martin.

The finish is at 60. (key: Position(prior position); SQ = space; PLayed; Move; Banked; Replacement; Overtaking costs).