It has been 40 years since British distance legend Steve Cram's epic first sub-3.30 1500m run on the 16th of July 1985 in Nice, France. In what was one of the classic distance clashes of the era, Cram held off Moroccan Said Aouita to win in 3.29.67 to break countryman Steve Ovett's two year-old record by over a second and break through this historic barrier.
Talk about come in from the cold. This week, Wednesday 30 July, the Parliament gave a belated welcome home for the Moscow 1980 Australian Olympic team. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave the welcome. Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley concurred (not without demur; see later). ‘Albo’ did not name check...
Written by Ben Traynor, for Runner's Tribe The ASICS Gel-Kayano series has long been the gold standard in stability running shoes. Version 30 marked a turning point shedding the traditional medial post in favour of a broader base and ASICS' new 4D Guidance System. It was bold, maximal, and a...
Can it really be sixty years since 1965. Six decades on from a year which shook up distance running like few others. Three men from three continents, running largely the same events, often against each other, all ranked in the world’s top 10 athletes of that year. Australia’s Ron Clarke,...
A column by Len Johnson From the time I started following Australian athletics seriously – lost in the mists of time, but probably the 1970s – there’s been one constant helping my research: Paul Jenes and his Australian lists. Jenesy, as he’s so known to such a wide extent that it’s...
So, what’s the deal with the 1500 metres then? Specifically, the men’s 1500 metres. And let’s not forget the mile - if it ever went away. I thought I caught a glimpse of it in Oslo and Eugene recently – so, bring back the mile, at least into this...
Written by Len Johnson “Take me back. Take me way, way, way back,” Van Morrison intones in the opening lines of On Hyndford Street, the poem/song reminiscing on his musical influences growing up in Belfast. Morrison’s timeline goes back to the 1950s, “the days before rock ‘n’ roll.” This happens to...
Written by Michael Beisty ‘The less we interfere with the natural movements of our feet, the better we are going to perform, so shoes have to be avoided which promise to cushion and control what fits inside them in accordance with what the designers think should happen.’ (Arthur Lydiard, 2000)1 ‘It...
Well, that was quite the boilover, wasn’t it? Faith Kipyegon, the best female 1500 metres/miler ever – the best ever full stop, if we go by her unmatched three Olympic gold medals in a row, backed by all the considerable expertise Nike can bring, makes an attack on the four-minute...
Written by Michael Beisty Danny Boltz’s relationship with distance running is complex. He was a kid of prodigious talent who built his early reputation on fun runs, eventually to become a dual international and Olympian. However, his journey was bitter sweet. Hampered by the vagaries of the Australian marathon selection...
