The 1988 Olympic Trials were a heart brake for Spivey, where he finished fourth. I was in the stands in 1992, and his win was just crazy train. Spivey dropped a 56 third lap and showed more guts in that last 700 meters than anyone I had ever seen in such a race. His emotions were real afterwards, he could not believe it!
Jim knew how to race. He also paid his dues in Europe, working as a pace maker for a few seasons to endear himself to the powerful meet directors. Spivey spent years as a coach, and now works with ASICS America in the team sports area. We catch up once or twice a year.
This piece, written by Jeff Benjamin, a long time writer for American Athletics (many will remember our first magazine), and great friend of the sport, knows that Jim Spivey was one of the few Americans (Bob Kennedy, Mark Nenow, Todd Williams, Mark Croghan, among others), who raced the best, to be the best, in a time when mediocrity was nearly celebrated in American distance running. Spivey wanted to be the best, and he gave the distance his respect and attention.
Jim Spivey did not know how to give up. This is the story of his biggest challenge and how he made it his magic moment...
In 1987, Spivey's progression kept on the upswing as he thrived under new coaches Ken Popejoy (1975 World ranked miler and later top Masters Miler) and Mike Durkin (1976/ 1980 1500 Olympian), earned himself a 1500 Bronze Medal at the Rome World Championships behind Abdi Bile of Somalia.
To add to the frustration, Spivey set his personal best over 1500 m (3:31.01, Koblenz) around the same time of the Seoul Games, making one wonder how well he could have run in the Olympics.
--------"I want you to follow this game plan for the final, tomorrow... Whoever has the lead, follow them for the first 800m. Then at 800 meters, take the lead, and run 56 seconds for the 3rd lap. With 200 meters to go, I want you tonight, to visualize people breaking into your house - and their names are Steve Scott, Joe Falcon, Terrance Herrington. What are you going to do? Are you going to let them come into your house, and steal everything? This is yours to be defended. Defend your house. When you get to 100 meters to go, don't go to your guns (that was Mike's way of saying all out kick). Keep one gear to use. Wait until 70 meters to go, then if someone starts coming up on you, go to the sprint. Feet straight, jaw relaxed."------
The pressure was indeed on. the first lap of the race was marred by the fall of Joe Falcon, who never recovered. After an opening 58 second 400, the pace slowed to 1: 58 at the 800. "I knew I had to take the lead," said Spivey.
Following Durkin's instructions, Spivey threw in a 56 second third lap, separating himelf rom the field, with only Herrington and Holman reacting. "It was scary when I took the lead." Holman, Herrington, Greg Whitley and Marsala did try and chase Spivey down, but it was all for naught.
Striking an emotional Seb Coe-like pose at the finish, Spivey exorcised his demons and dramatically won in 3:36.24. The first person to grab him at the finish was Popejoy. "I thought it was a dream and I would wake up and the race had not started", Spivey later said.
From 2001-2005, he was the head women's cross-country coach/assistant track and field coach at Vanderbilt University. Spivey currently lives in Wheaton, Illinois and works for ASICS America in college team sales, and coaches the Jim Spivey Running Club. He also coaches individuals and high school groups during the off-season, and gives speeches (both coaching-related and motivational). at seminars and running camps.
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