JIM RYUN || ANALYZING THE GREATS || UNITED STATES

Jim Ryun is one of the greatest milers in history. In the 1960's, Ryun ushered in a new era of mile excellence, breaking the mile world record 3 times, and breaking the 1500 meter world record as well.

To this day, Ryun is still the youngest track and field athlete ever to become an Olympian. At just 17 years of age, Ryun qualifed in the 1964 Olympics, and this was in the summer before his Senior year of high school.

In 1965, Ryun famously ran a 3:55 mile as a senior in high school, which stood as the high school mile record for 36 years.

Ryun is undoubtedly one of the most influential and novel athletes of his time. Even more impressive, ESPN named him the greatest high school athlete of all time.

Thanks for watching.

Enjoy.

[thedigitalcrescendo]

“Every kid coming along foolish enough to take up this crazy sport wanted to be the next Jim Ryun.” Very appropriate.

[thedailystride]

Man, I knew that Jim Ryun was a high school stud, but this video made me realize how revolutionary he really was. Beating the Olympic Champion in high school is no joke. Solid video man. Keep them coming. I’d love to see Evan Jager.

[thatonekansasguy]

I went to the same High School as Mr. Ryun, they have the stop watch that timed the 3:58 in the foyer of the gym there.

[paulthompson]

In the 1965 Kansas State Track Meet, the 2nd place finisher was Mike Pedersen, who went to the same high school as Jim - Wichita East. Third place was run by Steve Perry, a junior from Wichita North high school. Mike went on to the University of Kansas as well, where he and Jim ran for the Jayhawks. Jim credits Mike's assistance in helping him getting a fast time in this race, even though it costs Mike in terms of getting his own best time.

[stevegalbraith]

I am from Kansas. In the 1965 State Track Championships the track was made of cinder, not concrete. I ran on cinder tracks in high school in the very early 70's and tracks were very slippery requiring 1/2 to 3/4 inch spikes. I would take two seconds off of Ryun's time against Snell, which would have given him a 3:53 compared to tartan tracks today, and a 3:56 at the State meet which is out of this world fantastic. Ryun is America's best High School runner, period...Pretontaine...our best Distance Runner in USA history for the type of runner he was and how much he inspired others

[terraflow__bryanburdo]

Great analysis. I grew up seeing him on Wide World Of Sports on TV, and of course the Olympics. My first track race was in 1973 and I ran 4:59 for the mile and couldn't comprehend running a minute faster than that. We all read "The Jim Ryun Story" and were flabbergasted by his workouts. I agree about his impeccable running form.

The 2nd place kid in the state meet was his teammate, trying to "help" him with pace. His splits were like 1:59/2:17 and he still got 2nd. It was around 100 degrees in the shade, probably 110+ on the track.

NO ONE ever handled Snell like that over the last 300 of any race. Watch the 1500 final of the '64 Olympics and you will be ammazed. I think this race in CA kind of slammed the door on Snell's great career. The third place runner was Jim Grelle, who would have been well-known if it weren't for the kid from Kansas.

[jonathanstiles]

Great video. His 1965 Kansas State Meet 3:58 Mile was certainly not on a concrete track. It was cinder. Basically equivalent to running a 3:54 Mile on a modern synthetic track. And this was 55 years ago in a high school meet, having to lead start to finish! His 1965 AAU 3:55 Mile was run on an asphalt-composite track however called Grass-Tex.

[summerlakephotog]

Iconic is the word that comes to mind.

[landman]

Jim Ryan was my hero, I’m 70 years old so when I say Ryan was my hero, I mean it.

[FocalPointPhotographyLLC]

Had 1968 Olympics not been at altitude Ryun would have won the gold.

[timjohnson]

He was my idol as a high school miler. Truly incredible performances as a teenager and young man.

[gowers]

In the 1965 AAU Championship against Peter Snell, the leader going into the last lap was Jozef Odlozil of Czechoslovakia. That particular race was run on an asphalt track (one of the first all-weather types of tracks). Ryun preferred dirt tracks, actually. There is a great book on Ryun -- "The Jim Ryun Story" by Cordner Nelson.

[musik]

Regarding the Snell race. Jim had finished third to Snell not long before this race and Jim realised that, against Snell, you can't leave your finishing kick until the last 200m, and so Jim ran very hard from the bell, and that allowed him to win the race. However, it should be noted that Peter not at his best in 1965.

[philipmurphy]

Good video. Additional comment regarding '68 Olympics, Mexico City , high altitude, the Kenyans took advantage of it psychologically and just buried that first 800 meters.

[johncampbell]

We idolized Ryan in HS. My next door neighbor in Scotch Plains, NJ broke Jim Ryan's HS indoor mile record of 4:07.2 by running 4:06.6 in 1972 in Princeton NJ which stood for 43 yrs. Scotch Plains also home of Renaldo Skeets Nehemiah SPFHS 77

[randyevermore]

The track Ryun ran on at the Kansas HS state meet was probably a cinder track, not a concrete track.

[gabequinn]

If you thought Pre's training regimen was insane, Jim Ryun's is pure madness

[openyoureyesandseethefutur]

you scored him perfectly, great commentary, thx

[rileyy]

Ryun was coached by Jack Daniels around the 1968 Mexico City olympics. The games were held at altitude and they knew that going out at a normal pace would kill them later in the race, so ryun planned to stay at the back and kick with a lap to go. Kip keino lived and trained at altitude in kenya, so he was accustomed to the conditions and wasn't affected like the other athletes. Under those conditions, ryun ran as well as he could've. This is also why the games were never held at altitude after 1968

[gowers]

The first video shown is his 3:33.1 1500m world record in Los Angeles -- his 3:51.1 mile was run at Bakersfield about two weeks earlier.