The GREATEST High School Athlete OF ALL TIME!

The Greatest of All Time. It's not even close.

What Jim Ryun accomplished during his high school career is hard to believe. Stick around until the end to learn about his greatest high school race.

Thanks for watching!

[libradragon]

Jim Ryun was a hard working and gifted athlete. He had to overcome asthma and those snail-sand tracks of the era. He inspired me to join my High School Track Team in 1967. I am grateful that he appeared on the scene when he did. It's been one helluva ride. Thank you, TRP. Keep them coming.

[liamrunning]

He hosts (not sure if he still does) a cross country meet down in Lakeland, Florida. He's super nice and still into running, I was lucky enough to talk with him and take a picture with him.

[huntermorgan]

I got to meet this guy at his meet in Florida, the Jim Ryun Invitational, and I won it, and the winner got a 1 on 1 with him, such and nice down to earth guy.

[charlesthorndike]

Jim Ryun had an INSANE progression in the mile. Here are all of his mile PBs:
5:38 - 05.09.1962
4:48 - Early 1963
4:45 - Early 1963
4:32.4 - March 1963
4:26.4 - March 1963
4:21.7 - 06.04.1963
4:19.7 - 24.04.1963
4:16.2 - 03.05.1963
4:16.2 - 18.05.1963
4:08.2 - 25.05.1963
- Kansas City, MO
4:07.8 - 08.06.1963
- Houston, TX
4:06.4 - 16.05.1964
- Manhatten, KS
4:01.7 - 23.05.1964
- Modesto, CA
3:59.0 - 05.06.1964
- Compton, CA
3:58.3 - 15.05.1965
- Wichita, KS
3:58.1 - 29.05.1965
- Modesto, CA
3:56.8 - 04.06.1965
- Los Angeles, CA
3:55.3 - 27.06.1965
- San Diego, CA
3:53.7 - 04.06.1966
- Los Angeles, CA
3:51.3 - 17.07.1966
- Berkeley, CA
3:51.1 - 23.06.1967
- Bakersfield, CA

[Alex_Freshour]

My grandfather was on the same team as Jim Ryun in high school, he keeps telling me stories about how he practiced and told me about that state meet where he went 3:58. It’s really interesting

[jastew]

Michael Stember Godspeed. But that Alan Webb video made me feel different about Stember

[davidvik]

And then... 50 years later, Jakob Ingebrigtsen runs a 3:56 mile at 16 years old! Insane

[Biggiecheese]

First off love the videos. Secondly, have you ever thought of doing a video about Louis Zamperini? His story is absolutely amazing for anyone that doesn't know it. I highly recommend the book Unbroken if you haven't heard it before.

[jakubgomola]

Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s junior / high school results are equally as legendary as Ryun’s

[stephenmissal]

I used to run summer track in Wichita when Jim Ryun was active. He was from East High School, and I from Southeast. He would have been a couple of years my senior I believe. He worked out at the track many of us used, along with two other gifted track athletes from East High....sprinter Bob Hansen and middle distance runner Joe Henderson. All excellent....Ryun just remarkable, especially considering the primitive tracks and training in those days.

[charlesthorndike]

Jim Ryun was really something else. I'm Norwegian, so it's an absolute joy to watch Jakob Ingebrigtsen progress. Jim and "Jake" had pretty similar times the year they turned 17:
Jim when he turned 17 (1964): 3:39.0 in the 1500m, and 3:59.0 in the mile
Jakob when he turned 17 (2017): 3:39.92 in the 1500m and 3:56.29 in the mile


What's also cool is that their fastest mile as a junior/U20 runner is the EXACT SAME time (!) 3:51.3 for Jim (in 1966), and 3:51.30 for Jakob (in 2019)
Talents like these come by only once or twice in a lifetime.

[ronaldbaker]

Ryan was able to do it without a pacer, unlike Webb, and cinder track and shoes unlike shoes today. Ryan is the greatest miler ever.

[gowers]

Excellent video as usual! One minor note -- in the race against Snell in '65, it was American Jim Grelle who attempted to pass Ryun with 1/2 lap remaining, not Odlozil. Grelle ended up third in that race and can be barely seen (obscured by Ryun/Snell) in that famous finish line photo.

[LearningFast]

Katelyn Tuohy definitely is the most dominant high school female athlete. She absolutely dominated throughout her entire high school career.

[henrystartt]

Wilt chamberlain was an ATHLETE! He was 7’1” did competed in the state high jump, long jump and 100 yard dash at 250 pounds!

[andyfranklin]

I got to meet him and play ultimate Frisbee with him at a running camp in Gettysburg. Wonderful and legendary man.

[scottkordziel]

I enjoy your videos and the research you put into them. Good job man.

[MrSupernova]

Perfect timing! I was watching a marathon on youtube to kill the time while I ate then your notification popped up! Keep up the awesome work!

[masonmiller]

Love your content, thanks for another great video.

[IlliniPilot]

How does Steve Prefontaine compare? He was undefeated for his entire junior and senior year in any distance he raced, and held the national high school record in the 2 mile.