I have fond memories of sitting on the hardwood basketball court of Wichita East High School where I was first introduced to “Timmie Talks,” by Coach Bob Timmons. These talks usually took place just prior to a competition. On occasion, when our attitudes during workouts needed adjusting, Coach Timmons would pause the work-out and would present what came to be fondly referred to as a “Timmie Talk.”
It was during these brief moments, as a sophomore cross country runner, that he started instilling in me the need to train my thoughts while training my body. Coach would dare us to believe in something out of our comfort zone and then begin working to achieve it both mentally and physically. It was during these “talk times,” that God gifted me with three simple, self -centered as they were, steps to athletic success.
These steps would begin setting the stage for my 3:51.3 mile world record in Berkeley, CA on July 17, 1967. I began to dream big with an expectation of setting a mile world record. As I look back on these moments, the friends made on the East High team, I thank the Lord for everyone's help. God definitely directed me to run cross country and to be surrounded by those who loved and participated in the sport.
Step #1 was actually making the East High cross country team. To do that I allowed myself to trust and believe in Coach Timmons’ training methods. After all, his cross country, swim and track teams were Kansas State Champions! Having never run or been in an athletic program, I did wonder if all the workouts (demanding energy I didn’t know I possessed) would really lead to success?
Step #2 was rather silly. It involved earning an East High letter which would be applied to a jacket. The jacket served as a measurement of an individual’s success in the 1960’s. It not only gave you status at school and acceptance with your teammates, but it meant you were better than average at your given sport. This was particularly important for me after being cut from every sports team I had ever tried out for. I also had the idea that if I won the right to wear a letter jacket, that a girlfriend may come with it!!!
Step #3 was in some respects the most challenging because it would require me to make friends. My initiation into the friendship arena started with a teammate, Don Walker, who was a year older and “knew the ropes” so to speak. It all began because I needed a ride to Saturday morning work-outs. These work-outs were held at such locations as East High, a designated area on a country road, Echo Hills golf course or College Hill Park. Don was willing to pick me up and believed in my running potential. He was a huge help to me because I could ask all the questions I wanted and he never made me feel my questions were without merit. He became the friend who would help me pick out my letter jacket. He eventually would introduce me to my future wife, Anne. I will save that story for later!!
These are the steps that spurred me on to the memorable event of July 17, 1966.
Background to event:
The Vietnam War and the United States involvement in it caused the Soviets to pull out of the the 8th Annual USA vs USSR Track and Field meet scheduled for Los Angles, CA for July 23- 24,1966. Initially the entire meet was cancelled. The Soviets were unhappy with the USA’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict.
Prior to the USA vs USSR competition the USA vs Poland Track and Field meet was to be held on July 17 in Berkeley,CA. That too was cancelled.
Both meets would have raced the Olympic distance of 1,500 meters in place of the mile. Because the Soviet and Polish teams cancelled on July 10, there ensued a scramble as to what the next steps should be. The AAU called an emergency meeting in San Francisco. What I consider to be a most fortunate decision was made during the meeting. The “Polish meet” would be held in Berkeley with all available USA athletes competing against each other. A side note: The “Soviet meet” would be held in Los Angeles July 23, 24 against British Commenwealth athletes.
On Tuesday, July 12, I flew from Topeka, KS to St Louis, MO to photograph the 1966 MLB All Star Game for the Topeka Capital Journal. In those days an athlete had a real job to pay the bills and remain eligible for the Olympic Games.
As the news continued to play out, with the July 17th meet cancelled and then rescheduled, I began to consider an attempt at bringing back to the United States of America the World Mile Record. Was there enough time before July 17 to rest and get ready? I’m not known for making snap decisions. I prayed. And, was in constant communication with Coach Timmons.
On Wednesday, July 13th, I made it my goal to attempt a world record in the mile. Initially, the race was to be at the distance of 1,500 meters. I arranged a call to the meet director and track coach at the University of California Berkeley, Sam Bell, to ask that the distance be changed to a mile race. His reply,“It's already changed to the mile.”
After seeting the goal, I now needed a plan. I asked Sam for his help with pacesetters for the race confiding in him that I would like to attempt a world record, asking too that he not publicly advertise my intent. Coach Bell hesitated responding with, “Jim, I could sell more tickets by announcing your attempt.” Ultimately, he agreed to my plan. Because the details and planning had easily fallen in place, I started resting and ended any heavy training.
Sam Bell and I both went to work searching for pacesetters.
These would be individuals who would be willing to sacrifice their own races to help me.
Sam called Rich Rono for the University of Texas, “Ryun needs your help.” Rich wanted to run under 4 minutes. He agreed to run a fast pace in leading the second lap. Rich responded, “I’d like to see the record come back to the United States and Ryun is the only guy who can do it.” Prior to the race, Rich and I spoke. He told me he could take us through the half in 1:57 (turns out it was faster than that). Rich then discussed it with Tom Von Ruden from Oklahoma State who willingly agreed to help by running the first lap in around 57 seconds.
In my mental preparation, I thought I could pass the 880 in around 1:57, but would need more help with pacesetting. If I could count on someone to help carry us through the third lap in approximately 59 seconds, I thought there was a real chance for a world record. Wade Bell from the University of Oregon stepped up to help and volunteered to push past the 880 yd mark as far as he could carry the pace. All the pieces were in place for the attempt.
All four of us committed to a faster pace than any of us had ever run. However, there was another risk involved. According to International running rules, if I received pacesetting from my three teammates and one of them did not finish the race, the time and record would be nullified.
Each of us confidently accepted the challenge. Of course, there was the thought of what happens if we commit to a fast pace and can’t carry it across the finish line? I’d never run a 3/4 mile in around 2:55 in a time trial. Now I had committed to a time close to 2:55 knowing that I would have another 440 to run.
I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking through this as this is the risk one takes in chasing dreams. Was I concerned? Sure. Thousands of people would be watching witnessing a new world record or at least a gallant effort in trying. I was excited and at the same time at peace with my decision. It helped me to remain in a continual conversation with God.
The days leading up to Berkeley were interesting. There was an airline strike so flying to California was more difficult than usual. My friend and fellow photographer, Rich Clarkson, an experienced traveler, put together several alternatives for travel. We flew into San Francisco in plenty of time to prepare for the race.
With all the additional rest from training, I felt good. I checked into the dorm where athletes were being housed.
The night before the race, Rich Clarkson, fellow Jayhawker John Lawson and I went into San Francisco for dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf. I slept well that night and had a breakfast of cereal, eggs, sausage and 3 glasses of milk. I then headed back to the dorm for a nap. At 1pm I started my day again. At 2:30pm, I headed to Edwards Stadium at UC Berkeley for the meet.
When I arrived at the track, good friend and fellow miler, Jim Grelle, said, “Why don’t you go out fast, Jim, faster in your first half than you do usually and then come in as fast as you can. You’ve always gone out slow your first half and burned your last half.” Grelle was injured and was at the meet to cheer us on. He was unaware of our plan and yet, he had “prophetically” encouraged us to run the race we had planned.
At go time, the temperature was 75 degrees. No wind to speak of and a fast California track. As planned, Tom Von Ruden went directly to the front and led through the 440 in 57.3. Rich Rono led through the 880 in1:55.5. Wade Bell then took over the lead for a very important push. With approximately 600 yds to go, I felt the pace slow. I passed Wade.
My teammates had done a great job pace setting and it was now my turn to step up to the plate. Although it was very brief, I said a prayer for courage trusting that God and Coach Timmons had prepared me for this moment.
When running in front, it's both lonely and exciting. I was trying to relax and maintain the race pace. When I look back on photos from this race, I see a young Jim Ryun without any expression on his face without showing any pain. While there was increasing pain with every step, I knew if I gave into it, I would gradually tighten up.
When I passed the 3/4 in 2:55, I could hear Coach Timmons in my head saying, “When you arrive at a split time faster than you expected, don’t be afraid.” With that thought in mind, I briefly reflected on my past finishing kicks in many races that Spring. All of them had been sub 56 seconds for the closing 440. I began what seemed like the longest 440 of my life. Going through my head were the words, “relax”, “push the pace”, “don’t tighten up.”
I had arranged with Coach Bell prior to the race for the public address system to call out every 220 yds. I knew with 220 yds to go, I was running toward a new world record.
All went smoothly until the last 220 yds. The last 220 yds was a race in and of itself. I was tired and was experiencing an increasing heaviness in my legs. What had been relatively easy up to this point now became a struggle.
As I finally rounded the turn and began the long straightaway, I started asking myself,”Where is the finish line?” It finally came and with it a new world record of 3:51.3. It was 2.3 seconds faster than the current world mile record of 3:53.6 held by France’s Michel Jazy
My spilts were: 57.9, 1:55.5, 2:55.3, 3:51.3 220’s were: 29.3, 28.6, 28.0, 29.6, 30.3, 29.5, 28.0, 28.0. My last 1,320 was 2:53.4, no wonder I was tired. I became the youngest (I was 19 years, 2 months, and 18 days) ever to break the World Mile Record and the last American since Glenn Cunningham (a fellow Kansan) in 1934 when he ran 4:06.8.
The accolades tumbled in following the announcement that it was a World Record! I was told that Walter Cronkite interrupted his news program to announce that Jim Ryun had set a new world record in the mile bringing it home to the USA.
U.S. National Coach Stan Wright said, “It was just fantastic. He’s so great…the best. I feel sorry for the people who didn't come. It is a shame. They really missed something . He’s simply a physiological phenomenon. He’s got to be the greatest, the best of all time.”
Wade Ball said, “He's the greatest in the world. I’m only sorry I couldn't stay with him longer.”
Track & Field News reported, “Inside the quiet, gentle exterior of young Jim Ryun burns a fire as fierce as in any hero the world has known, and today he let us glimpse a concentrated jet of flame as it incinerated the world mile record and scorched the very soul of Michel Jazy.”
After the race, I sat with sports reporters for approximately three hours. When I went to retrieve my warm-up gear, I found it had been stolen.
I started running back to the dorm carrying my spikes. That’s when I heard a voice calling after me asking for my autograph saying she attended Kansas State University. I slowed down and yelled back, “Catch me later.”
This was the first time my wife, Anne, and I would meet. She went away wondering when in the world she would ever see me again.
Fortunately, God already had a plan in place for us to meet again.
My high school teammate and friend Don Walker was attending Kansas State University. He and Anne were in a Spanish class together.
Anne grew up in Bay Village,OH and was not going home for Thanksgiving, but would spend the holiday with Joan Booth and her family. Joan was a Kappa sorority sister and best friend who lived in Wichita, KS.
When Don learned that Anne would be in Wichita over Thanksgiving break, he asked how she would like a blind date with Jim Ryun. Anne’s reply was, “No blind date for me!” She recounted her Berkeley autograph rejection, and agreed to the “blind date.”
Don Walker drove us that night to the East High Track reunion held at the home of Don Steffens who had been our high school track manager and was now at KU helping Coach Timmons with the track team .
That night we played pool and Anne got her autograph as well as one for each of her 6 siblings and 7 cousins! We went to Pizza Hut for Anne’s favorite pizza - pepperoni! I was smitten!
Our date was the first of many to come. The more time I spent with Anne, the more I realized I wanted her to be wife. Even on the first date, I knew she would make a great mother! Two years later we became engaged and were married on January 25, 1969 in Bay Village at St Barnabas Church, the church she had grown up in. She has been a fantastic wife and yes, the best of mothers. Again, God moves in marvelous ways and answers prayers that often we don’t even know to pray.
One last story about that supernatural day in 1966:
After the race, back at the dorm, reporters figured out how to call into the dorm to interview me. Friends such as Neal Steinhauer (world class shot putter), were attempting to shield me from the media to give me some privacy. After several calls, one reporter became exasperated and told Neal, “You have told me three times now that he is in the shower.” Neal’s response, “He’s a very clean boy.”
Check out footage of the race here! And more coverage here.