Here is a terrific compilation of some of the greatest track & field distance races of all time. This will definitely get your heart rate up! The last clip is Billy Mills in the 1964 Olympics. The race seemed more like a rugby match than a track run, but watch his kick at the end---absolutely awesome! Click on the Finish Line picture (just to the left) to watch the YouTube clip.

This was one of the memorable races from the Munich Games in 1972. It was overshadowed by the terrorist events of the games, Prefontaine's 5000m and Frank Shorter's Marathon Win. The 800m race was probably one of the most perfectly run races ever. Watch how close the finish is, but more impressive is Wottle's finishing lap and kick to the win!

Click on the picture to the left.

The Dream Mile at Penn Relays - 1971

One of the things I remember most in the 1970's is the ABC's Wide World of Sports was always showing Track and Field events.  Most of the attention was on the Mile.  I was only 11 when this race happened.  Not exactly able to understand what I was watching, but it was easy to have favorite runners.  In this race there were two guys from NJ.  The winner (Essex Catholic) and Joe Savage from Roselle Catholic.  I can't remember just how many times I watched a mile race in the 70s, it was awesome.  It was my favorite race, but never my ideal distance as a runner.  We had these guys, plus Filbert Bayi, Kip Keino, John Walker, Rod Dixon, and the list is long goes on, along with the legendary distance runners like Prefontaine, Shorter, Kenny Moore and that list goes on and on.  Bill Rodgers winning marathons and always battling Tom Fleming (from NJ).  As a young kid there was a lot to watch and feed off of as a teenager.