PCGUIA 10/PC Guia 10.iso/database/body/cu7.txt

Text File | 1996-03-13 | 5KB | 103 lines

1.5
Why is Roger Bannister still a legendary name in British and
world sport, nearly 40 years after his most famous race?
Because he made history. Because he was the first man to
break that magic barrier of four minutes for the mile race. In
1954, on the Iffley Road track of his Oxford University,
running on cinders, he recorded 3 minutes 59.4 seconds and
hit headlines around the world. Either physically or mentally,
the four minute barrier had proved beyond generations of
the world's best milers. But that year John Landy of Australia
had been close to four minutes and Bannister believed he
and Landy were in a "race" to break through the barrier.
Later that year, Bannister beat Landy in a head to head
battle in the final of the Empire Games mile at Vancouver,
Canada - a race that remains one of the greatest. Bannister
moved on to a successful career as a neurologist. But his
breakthrough in the mile that day in Oxford remains one of
the great sporting achievements of the century
@
2.3
R.G. Bannister accomplished at Oxford yesterday what a
whole world of milers had recently been bracing themselves
to achieve first - the four-minute mile.  He did so in
conditions which were far from promising and he did better
than even time, for he finished weary but triumphant and
mobbed by an encircling crowd, in 3min 59.4sec. - three-
fifths of a second less than the magic four minutes.  On the
way, at 1,500 metres he had equalled another world record,
shared by Gundar Haegg, the previous holder of the world
record of 4 min. 1.4 sec. over the mile, Lennart Strand,
another Swede, and Walther Lueg, of Germany.

The occasion was the annual match between the University
and the Amateur Athletic Association which one fears was
rather forgotten in the general excitement.  For the record,
the A.A.A. won by 64 points to 34 in the 16 events.  The
crowd might well have been larger but at least it did all it
could to make up for lack of numbers by an intelligent
enthusiasm which enabled many among them to realize
when the last lap was being run and Bannister raced well
ahead, that something big was about to be recorded by the
time-keeper - almost certainly a world record - perhaps the
four-minute mile itself.

STRONG GUSTY WIND

The conditions have been described as unpromising because
a strong gusty wind was bound to handicap the runners part
of the time as they ran round the Iffley Road track and one
or two early showers threatened worse things still.  Actually,
the weather was fine for the race.  The match itself was not
started until five o'clock in the evening and an uneasy hour
passed, with little success for Oxford.  C.E.E. Higham's
excellent time of 14.8sec. in the high hurdles only inches
behind P.H. Hildreth, the A.A.A. champion, in spite of a slow
start, was the best thing seen so far.  I.H. Boyd's victory in
the half mile to a great extent made up for his failures
through unfitness in the university sports.

But all this was quickly forgotten when the mile was
announced and the six runners lined up.  Bannister, C.J.
Chataway, W.T. Hulatt, and C.W. Brasher represented the
A.A.A. and G.F. Dole and A.D. Gordon ran for Oxford.
Bannister's great time of 4min. 3.6sec. last year was well in
mind and Chataway started as a university record holder, but
nothing dramatic enough happened during the first two laps
to excite more than the actual time keepers.

Brasher, always a gallant and willing runner - or
steeplechaser - set the pace and the first quarter was
completed with Brasher a stride or two in front of Bannister
and Chataway about the same distance away, third.

A DECISIVE PHASE

Chataway went ahead about half way down the back-stretch
during the third lap and Bannister went after him.  Brasher
dropped back and, one fears, became forgotten though he
had deserved well of all concerned.  At the bell, Chataway
was still a little in front of Bannister and one had to wait
again for the back-stretch to see a new and decisive phase in
the race unfold itself.  Bannister now lengthened his
magnificent stride and, obviously going very fast, passed
Chataway and raced farther and farther ahead.

Spectators now really sensed a triumph of above the average,
and as Bannister broke the tape some 50 yards ahead of
Chataway there was a general swoop on to the centre of the
field.  Bannister was encircled and disappeared from view,
but somehow the news leaked out.  There was a scene of the
wildest excitement - and what miserable spectators they
would have been if they had not waved their programmes,
shouted, even jumped in the air a little.  It is hard to believe
that Bannister's time will not be accepted by the highest
world authorities, for whatever else could be said the wind
was at least as much of a handicap as occasionally it was a
help.  Chataway's time of 4min. 7.2 sec. was his own personal
best.

The following are Bannister's times for each quarter-mile:
57.7sec., 60.6 sec., 62.4 sec., 58.7 sec.