by Jeff Benjamin
A photo with Steve Scott, photo from 1994 Staten Island AC Dinner
Steve Scott, Cover of Sports Illustrated, March 1981
Steve Scott is one of the finest milers in American track & field and also in Global Athletics. Scott has run 136 sub four minute miles. Steve made the US Olympic teams in 1980, 1984 and 1988. In 1983, Steve Scott took the silver medal in the 1,500m, with Steve Cram taking the gold.
Steve Scott set three records for the mile, the final, 3:47. 69 (July 7, 1982), which was the American record until Alan Webb ran 3:46.91, twenty-six years later. His longest AR was the Indoor 2000m, for which he ran 4:58.6, which he held for 33 years, until Bernard Lagat broke it 33 years later, with his 4:54.74 on Feb. 15, 2014.
Steve Scott was one of the fine milers from the Golden Age (1976-1988), where many of us waited each day during the summer for the mile results, with Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Scott, Ray Flynn, Eammon Coglan, Craig Masback, Thomas Wessinghage and the immortal John Walker! Steve Scott raced alot (up to 50 races a year), from 800m to 5000m, but mostly miles and 1,500m.
Steve Scott sent the following response to Jeff Benjamin:
Awaiting The Baton In The Relay Exchange Zone – Profiles Of Athletes, Coaches & Legends During The War Against Corona
Profile # 21
American Mile Legend, Olympian & World Championships 1500 Silver Medalist Steve Scott!
By Jeff Benjamin
Steve Scott, Sports Illustrated, July 1980
What advice can you give to runners, -especially youth, high school, collegiate- who are challenged during this time as well?
“It’s important to stress the social distance for young kids – I know it’s so hard to run by yourselves, but during this whole crisis it is so important that if you say you’re going to run with a friend that you have to stay 6 feet apart and just keep everybody else safe.
I think that’s the biggest thing and I know it it’s stinks but you know what you’re going through and I stay focused on the future – you have a cross country season coming up and you got to keep your training going in preparation for the battle if you are still in high school and if you’re going to run in college the same thing – get in the miles and be ready for the the college experience.
As far as missing out those of us who ran and made the 1980 Olympic Team know exactly what it feels like and we can relate that to them. When you have something taken away like that through no fault of your own it’s just stinks- I mean there’s no other way around it. It’s just horrible but we all got to keep our eyes on the prize which is taking our eyes off of ourselves and saying OK what’s what’s good for not only your household, but your community, the state of the countr,y and the entire world, and we want to make sure this doesn’t spread and doesn’t take our love ones.
I think you have to re-focus 180 and say, “OK well I’m gonna focus on training as fast as I can for the next season. After 1980 I did that and focused on the upcoming 1983 World Championships where I got a Silver medal in the 1500. You have to just change your focus and look towards the future instead of what’s going on right now.”
John Walker and Steve Scott, photo by Getty Images / World Athletics
