• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Olympics

1968 Olympic Trials: Aerobic Attrition, by Mike Fanelli

RBR AdminbyRBR Admin
September 9, 2018
0
0 0
0
SHARES
122
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Editors’ Comment: This is the third story from Mike Fanelli on the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and the U.S. Olympic Trials. We thank Mike Fanelli for his writing, and his photos, courtesy of the Track Garage, the iconic sanctuary of athletics housed in the garage of Mike Fanelli. In this, his third column, Mike Fanelli focuses on the 10,000m Men’s final.

Mills, Clake, 1.jpegA fit Billy Mills training in Tahoe with Ron Clarke, photo credit: unknown

RelatedPosts

Coffee with Larry, Today is Veterans’ Day, Some thoughts on Harrison Dillard, 100m, 110m gold, 92nd Infantry Division

The Most Excellent Adventures of Des Linden

USATF Statement on the death of Dick Fosbury, the man who developed the ‘Fosbury Flop’, 1968 Olympic gold medalist

Four track events and one field discipline were held on day three of these Trials that included just one final, the 10,000 meter death march.

As there were four rounds of the 100, in an effort to mimic the actual Games agenda, there were absolutely zero eliminations from the heats nor quarter finals held this day. Charlie Greene and Jim Hines were the cream of the crop in these first two efforts while Ronnie Ray Smith was hot on their heels. Wisconsin’s Ray Arrington took the first heat of the 800 qualifying round in 1:49.7 while Wade Bell outlegged Tom Farrell 1:48.6 to 1:48.8, in the second of two heats. Tom Wyatt nailed a nifty 49.2 in the intermediates as Geoff Vanderstock went 49.8 in the other heat. Chucker, Randy Matson, led the way, as all 7 qualifiers in the shot put advanced to the finals since each competitor surpassed the required 58 foot standard to do so.

lindrgn, clke, .jpegGerry Lindgren and Bill Clarke midway through the Echo Summit 10,000, photo credit: The archives of Hank Lawson

At 1700 hours, participants in the lone final on the day’s itinerary, a 25 lap affair, were called to their marks. As much of an advantage that the altitude provided to contestants in events at 400 meters or less, the hindrance effect on the 10,000 meter athletes was of a far greater magnitude. Dartmouth alum, Tom Laris, led the seven starters through a first kilo of 2:59.5, then 2,000 meters at 5:58.8, 3K in 9:01.5 and a 4,000 meter split time of 12:05.4.

As is typical of the 10K, even in oxygen rich conditions, this footrace devolved into a grinding act of attrition. Bill Clark, winner of the ‘Semi” Olympic Trials competition in June, fell off the pace at 4,000 meters. Five laps later, marathon qualifier Kenny Moore was off the back. Just shy of five miles, Gerry Lindgren, still hampered by a broken achilles, began to slip away…and on the very same lap, so did the Tokyo gold medalist, Billy Mills, a victim of relentless stomach cramps. By 9,000 meters Laris, Van Nelson and Tracy Smith had a 35 meter advantage over Mills in fourth, and were continuing to pull away, by virtue of a steady stream of 70 second revolutions. As the threesome emerged out of the penultimate turn, Smith leapt into the forefront and then blazed a 27 second final furlong to cinch the first qualifying spot (30:00.4). Nelson (30:04.0) and Laris (30:09.8) were left to battle for the second and third qualifying positions, before Billy rolled in for fourth and Gerry fifth.

SIDEBAR: Afterwards, Billy Mills, who was apparently in extraordinary condition for these Olympic Trials, attempted to petition his way into the upcoming 5,000 meter race. He had the backing of more than 70 athletes. But in the end, his appeal was denied.

“Dammit Billy,” said good pal George Young, “you oughta’ do a war dance”.

“With my luck,” said Mills, “it would probably rain.”

Author

  • RBR Admin
    RBR Admin

    View all posts

Previous Post

2018 Ostrava Diary: Americas won for the 2nd time, by EME News

Next Post

2018 Pescara Diary: Gianmarco Tamberi clears 2.30m for third time since Euro Champsr

RBR Admin

RBR Admin

Similar Post

2022 London Marathon Diary: Yalemzerf Yehualaw claims stunning victory in TCS London Marathon, from NN Running Team
Road Racing

Bekele meets Cheptegei, the man who took away his world records, in Valencia

November 30, 2023
Will experienced marathon runners hand over to the younger generation in London?

Ayana, Chelimo and Dibaba highlight the women’s elite field for Sunday’s Valencia Marathon

November 30, 2023
Excitement builds up towards The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run next weekend
Kenyan Athletics

Excitement builds up towards The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run next weekend

November 30, 2023
Coffee with Larry, The Running Event is Here!
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry, The Running Event is Here!

November 30, 2023
2022 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Recovery Week Two, Day 4…
Cross Country

2023 RunBlogRun Fall Cross Country Training & Racing Programs, Week 13, Day 3, Wednesday is a recovery day.

November 30, 2023
Coffee with Larry, Some thoughts on Mike Fanelli, competitor, coach, elite manager, husband, friend to many, esteemed track & field historian
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry, Some thoughts on Mike Fanelli, competitor, coach, elite manager, husband, friend to many, esteemed track & field historian

November 29, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

August 27, 2023
An epic pole vault competition

An epic pole vault competition

October 19, 2023
2022 USATF Outdoor Champs: Melissa Jefferson takes the Women’s 100m title in windy 10.69!

The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

February 8, 2023
Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

July 17, 2023
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
2022 Munich Diary, Day Five, a Great Friday Night

2023 European Athletics Indoor Champs, The Women’s 60m, who will win the final tonight?

5
TCS New York City Marathon Broadcast to be Available in More Than 530 Million Homes Around the World on Sunday, November 6

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
2022 London Marathon Diary: Yalemzerf Yehualaw claims stunning victory in TCS London Marathon, from NN Running Team

Bekele meets Cheptegei, the man who took away his world records, in Valencia

November 30, 2023
Will experienced marathon runners hand over to the younger generation in London?

Ayana, Chelimo and Dibaba highlight the women’s elite field for Sunday’s Valencia Marathon

November 30, 2023
Excitement builds up towards The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run next weekend

Excitement builds up towards The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run next weekend

November 30, 2023
Coffee with Larry, The Running Event is Here!

Coffee with Larry, The Running Event is Here!

November 30, 2023

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reborn Sha’Carri Richardson comes back from the brink and is now ready to become the world champion

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
2022 London Marathon Diary: Yalemzerf Yehualaw claims stunning victory in TCS London Marathon, from NN Running Team
Road Racing

Bekele meets Cheptegei, the man who took away his world records, in Valencia

November 30, 2023
Will experienced marathon runners hand over to the younger generation in London?

Ayana, Chelimo and Dibaba highlight the women’s elite field for Sunday’s Valencia Marathon

November 30, 2023
Excitement builds up towards The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run next weekend
Kenyan Athletics

Excitement builds up towards The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run next weekend

November 30, 2023
Coffee with Larry, The Running Event is Here!
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry, The Running Event is Here!

November 30, 2023

Recent Tweets

Next Post

2018 Pescara Diary: Gianmarco Tamberi clears 2.30m for third time since Euro Champsr

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist