1,500 metres, Men

There were three 1,500 runners with top credentials for the Los Angeles race. New Zealand’s Jack Lovelock was a Rhodes Scholar and trained in 1931-32 at Oxford, where he ran 4:12.0 at the 1932 University Championships. Italy’s Luigi Beccali was a determined runner but with only fair results prior to 1932, when he posted a 4:11.5 mile in Milan on May 15. The top American was likely Glenn Cunningham who won the 1932 NCAA mile in 4:11.1 for the University of Kansas. But even beyond these three, other top runners were present, including Canada’s Phil Edwards, who was born in British Guiana.

At Los Angeles, the three heats were won by Lovelock, Beccali, and Cunningham, who posted the best time of 3:55.8 in winning the first heat. In the final, Lovelock took the field thru a first 400 of 60.5, but Cunningham took the lead on the second lap. Edwards then moved ahead to lead at 800 metres, done in 2:04.5. Cunningham attempted to jump the field on the third lap, but Edwards stayed with him, and he led thru 1,200 in 3:07.0. He then started to pull away over the last lap. Cunningham looked beaten but Beccali, Lovelock, and Britain’s John “Jerry” Cornes took off after Edwards. On the last curve, Lovelock tied up completely and would finish seventh. Beccali passed Cunningham on the final curve and rushed past Edwards with 100 metres left, pulling away to a comfortable margin. Cornes took the silver, and Edwards held off Cunningham for the bronze.

Frenchman Jules Ladoumègue, who held the world records at 1000m, 1500m, the mile and 2000m was declared a professional earlier in the year and denied a shot at the Olympic title.