Ryun’s mile record earns him USATF Throwback Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Jim Ryun (Wichita, Kansas) set a world record in the men’s mile on June 23, 1967 and was voted by fans as landslide winner of the 14th USATF Throwback Athlete of the Week award. In the absence of competition during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are taking a weekly look back at some of the great efforts by American track and field athletes through the years.
 
The 1968 Olympic silver medalist at 1,500m and a three-time Olympian, Ryun set his second world record in the mile in 1967, clipping .2 seconds off his own WR to win the AAU Championships at Bakersfield’s Memorial Stadium. Ryun won the race by five seconds, and his record stood for eight years before being broken by Tanzania’s Filbert Bayi.
 
It was Ryun’s third straight AAU mile win, and he added Olympic Trials victories over 1,500m in 1968 and ‘72. While at the University of Kansas, Ryun won the 1967 NCAA mile crown. He set a world record in the 880y in 1966, clocking 1:44.9, and won the Sullivan Award that year. A National Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee, Ryun also served two terms as a U.S. Congressman representing the state of Kansas.
 
Other historical performances of note from the June 22-28 period in USATF history:

• June 22 — Rick Wohlhuter American record in men’s 800m, 1:43.9 at Westwood, California in 1974
• June 24 — John Thomas World record in men’s high jump, 7-2 at Bakersfield, California in 1960
• June 25 — Louise Ritter American record in women’s high jump, 2.00m/6-6.75 at Los Angeles, California in 1983
• June 26 — Lillian Copeland American record in women’s shot put, 12.30m/40-4.25 at Pasadena, California in 1926 (also set AR in javelin same day)
• June 27 — Cyndy Poor American record in women’s 1,500m, 4:07.32 at Eugene, Oregon in 1976
• June 28 — Madeline Manning-Jackson American record in women’s 800m, 2:00.5 at White Plains, New York in 1975

Now in its 19th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
 
2020 Winners: January 9, Miranda Melville; January 16, Paul Perry; January 23, Natosha Rogers; January 30, Tyler Day, February 6, Devin Dixon; February 13, Elle Purrier; February 20, Tori Franklin; February 27, Sandi Morris; March 4, Abdi Abdirahman; March 12 Marielle Hall; March 19, Tim Tollefson; April 2, Louise Ritter; April 9, Francie Larrieu Smith; April 16, Erin Gilreath; April 23, Suzy Powell; April 30, Joe Dial; May 7, Dawn Ellerbe; May 14, Ramona Pagel; May 21, Brian Oldfield; May 28, Jackie Joyner-Kersee; June 4, Jesse Owens; June 11, Mary Decker Slaney; June 18, Leroy Burrell; June 25, Sandra Farmer-Patrick; July 2, Jim Ryun.
 
We welcome your nominations!
 
To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to communications@usatf.org.
 
Fans can follow along with #USATF on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.