Date | 18 – 20 October 1968 |
---|---|
Status | Olympic |
Location | Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Ciudad de México |
Participants | 54 from 37 countries |
Going into 1968 the heavy favorite was considered to be the American Jim Ryun. Ryun had run at the 1964 Olympics while only a high schooler, but since the Tokyo Olympics, he had broken the mile world record, running 3:51.3 on 17 July 1966 at Berkeley, California. Then at the 1967 AAU Meet, he bettered that with 3:51.1. In July 1967 a dual meet between the USA and the British Commonwealth was planned in Los Angeles. Running for the Commonwealth team was Kenya’s Kip Keino, who was felt to be the best miler in the world, after Ryun. At that event, Ryun and Keino raced over 1,500 metres and Ryun shattered the field and world record with 3:33.1, Keino over four seconds behind. Ryun was felt to be unstoppable.
But the Olympics were in 1968, not 1966 or 1967, and they were held at the altitude of Mexico City. Further, early in 1968, Ryun fell ill with a mild case of mononucleosis which affected his training. He trained in Flagstaff, Arizona to try to acclimatize to altitude but his weakness from the mono made that difficult. Still he made the US Olympic team, and he had been so dominant in 1966-67 that he was considered a slight favorite for the 1,500. Ryun and Keino both passed thru to the final, but another important runner was also there, Keino’s Kenyan teammate, Ben Jipcho. Not considered a medal contender, Jipcho and Keino planned a strategic race trying to weaken Ryun’s deadly kick. Jipcho passed 400 metres in a suicidal 56.0 with Keino on his shoulder in 56.6. Ryun ran in third but was well back and the pace was felt to be far too fast for the 2,200 metre altitude. But Keino pushed on, taking the lead at 800 in 1:55.3. Ryun was 30 metres back. Keino ran his third lap in 58.1, passing 1,200 in 2:53.4, faster than world record pace. Nobody could keep up that pace, it was felt, but Ryun and the field were now so far behind that the race was over. Keino held on to win in an Olympic record 3:34.91, considered unreachable in that thin air. Ryun did win the silver medal, 25 metres back.
Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | R1 | SF | Final | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 565 | Kip Keino | KEN | 3:46.9 (1 h1) | 3:51.4 (2 h2) | 3:34.9 (1) | Gold | ||
2 | 300 | Jim Ryun | USA | 3:45.7 (1 h4) | 3:51.2 (1 h2) | 3:37.8 (2) | Silver | ||
3 | 51 | Bodo Tümmler | FRG | 3:51.5 (2 h1) | 3:53.6 (1 h1) | 3:39.0 (3) | Bronze | ||
4 | 36 | Harald Norpoth | FRG | 3:46.9 (3 h3) | 3:54.3 (5 h1) | 3:42.5 (4) | |||
5 | 433 | John Whetton | GBR | 3:53.0 (3 h5) | 3:52.0 (3 h2) | 3:43.8 (5) | |||
6 | 349 | Jacky Boxberger | FRA | 3:47.5 (5 h3) | 3:53.9 (2 h1) | 3:46.6 (6) | |||
7 | 684 | Henryk Szordykowski | POL | 3:59.3 (3 h2) | 3:54.2 (4 h1) | 3:46.6 (7) | |||
8 | 221 | Josef Odložil | TCH | 3:47.4 (4 h3) | 3:52.5 (5 h2) | 3:48.6 (8) | |||
9 | 314 | Tom Von Ruden | USA | 3:59.1 (1 h2) | 3:54.1 (3 h1) | 3:49.2 (9) | |||
10 | 564 | Ben Jipcho | KEN | 3:46.4 (1 h3) | 3:54.6 (6 h1) | 3:51.2 (10) | |||
11 | 132 | André Dehertoghe | BEL | 3:59.3 (2 h2) | 3:52.5 (6 h2) | 3:53.6 (11) | |||
12 | 285 | Marty Liquori | USA | 3:52.7 (1 h5) | 3:52.1 (4 h2) | 4:18.2 (12) | |||
7 h1 r2/3 | 495 | Franco Arese | ITA | 3:51.8 (5 h1) | 3:54.8 (7 h1) | – | |||
7 h2 r2/3 | 821 | Oleg Rayko | URS | 3:46.8 (2 h3) | 3:52.7 (7 h2) | – | |||
8 h1 r2/3 | 646 | Arne Kvalheim | NOR | 3:47.4 (4 h4) | 3:55.3 (8 h1) | – | |||
8 h2 r2/3 | 213 | Ahmed Issa | CHA | 3:53.1 (4 h5) | 3:53.2 (8 h2) | – | |||
9 h1 r2/3 | 390 | John Boulter | GBR | 3:51.6 (3 h1) | 3:56.1 (9 h1) | – | |||
9 h2 r2/3 | 745 | Hansrüedi Knill | SUI | 3:52.8 (2 h5) | 3:53.6 (9 h2) | – | |||
10 h1 r2/3 | 142 | Edgard Salvé | BEL | 3:47.1 (3 h4) | 3:58.1 (10 h1) | – | |||
10 h2 r2/3 | 177 | Norm Trerise | CAN | 3:47.6 (5 h4) | 3:57.2 (10 h2) | – | |||
11 h1 r2/3 | 836 | Mikhail Zhelobovsky | URS | 3:53.2 (5 h5) | 3:59.0 (11 h1) | – | |||
11 h2 r2/3 | 362 | Claude Nicolas | FRA | 3:59.3 (4 h2) | 4:04.4 (11 h2) | – | |||
12 h1 r2/3 | 600 | Hamadi Haddou | MAR | 3:47.0 (2 h4) | 4:01.6 (12 h1) | – | |||
12 h2 r2/3 | 25 | Arnd Krüger | FRG | 3:59.3 (5 h2) | 4:05.3 (12 h2) | – | |||
AC h2 r2/3 | 225 | Jorge Grosser | CHI | 3:51.7 (4 h1) | – (DNF h2) | – | |||
6 h1 r1/3 | 160 | Dave Bailey | CAN | 3:52.1 (6 h1) | – | – | |||
6 h2 r1/3 | 505 | Renzo Finelli | ITA | 3:59.5 (6 h2) | – | – | |||
6 h3 r1/3 | 618 | José Neri | MEX | 3:47.5 (6 h3) | – | – | |||
6 h4 r1/3 | 503 | Gianni Del Buono | ITA | 3:48.4 (6 h4) | – | – | |||
6 h5 r1/3 | 325 | Matias Habtemichael | ETH | 3:53.2 (6 h5) | – | – | |||
7 h1 r1/3 | 460 | Róbert Honti | HUN | 3:54.9 (7 h1) | – | – | |||
7 h2 r1/3 | 723 | Ove Berg | SWE | 4:00.4 (7 h2) | – | – | |||
7 h3 r1/3 | 246 | Jorge González | ESP | 3:50.4 (7 h3) | – | – | |||
7 h4 r1/3 | 115 | Peter Watson | AUS | 3:55.4 (7 h4) | – | – | |||
7 h5 r1/3 | 728 | Anders Gärderud | SWE | 3:54.2 (7 h5) | – | – | |||
8 h1 r1/3 | 118 | Rudolf Klaban | AUT | 3:59.1 (8 h1) | – | – | |||
8 h2 r1/3 | 229 | Tom Hansen | DEN | 4:01.4 (8 h2) | – | – | |||
8 h3 r1/3 | 442 | Ioannis Virvilis | GRE | 3:55.5 (8 h3) | – | – | |||
8 h4 r1/3 | 387 | Maurice Benn | GBR | 3:56.4 (8 h4) | – | – | |||
8 h5 r1/3 | 530 | Byron Dyce | JAM | 3:54.6 (8 h5) | – | – | 1 | ||
9 h1 r1/3 | 448 | Julio Quevedo | GUA | 4:03.1 (9 h1) | – | – | |||
9 h2 r1/3 | 593 | Ramasamy Subramaniam | MAS | 4:06.4 (9 h2) | – | – | |||
9 h3 r1/3 | 580 | Xaver Frick, Jr. | LIE | 4:15.3 (9 h3) | – | – | |||
9 h4 r1/3 | 342 | Pekka Vasala | FIN | 4:08.5 (9 h4) | – | – | |||
9 h5 r1/3 | 673 | Jerzy Maluśki | POL | 3:54.8 (9 h5) | – | – | |||
10 h1 r1/3 | 713 | Édouard Sagna | SEN | 4:04.1 (10 h1) | – | – | |||
10 h2 r1/3 | 698 | Miguel Núñez | DOM | 4:23.6 (10 h2) | – | – | |||
10 h3 r1/3 | 238 | Manfredo Koeningsberg | ESA | 4:32.5 (10 h3) | – | – | |||
10 h4 r1/3 | 692 | Willie Ríos | PUR | 4:14.4 (10 h4) | – | – | |||
10 h5 r1/3 | 487 | Frank Murphy | IRL | 3:54.8 (10 h5) | – | – | |||
11 h1 r1/3 | 859 | Emilio Barahona | HON | 4:56.0 (11 h1) | – | – | |||
11 h4 r1/3 | 148 | Jeff Payne | BER | 4:18.9 (11 h4) | – | – | |||
11 h5 r1/3 | 143 | Rudi Simon | BEL | 4:06.9 (11 h5) | – | – | |||
12 h5 r1/3 | 861 | Arturo Córdoba | HON | 5:18.9 (12 h5) | – | – | |||
154 | Blagoi Kostov | BUL | – (DNS h2) | – | – | ||||
373 | Jean Wadoux | FRA | – (DNS h3) | – | – | ||||
98 | Guillermo Cuello | ARG | – (DNS h4) | – | – | ||||
244 | Alberto Esteban | ESP | – | – | – | ||||
779 | Lennox Yearwood | TTO | – | – | – |
Date | 18 October 1968 — 11:00 |
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Format | Top five in each heat advanced to the semi-finals. |
Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Hand) | Time (Automatic) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 565 | Kip Keino | KEN | 3:46.9 | 3:46.96 | ||
2 | 51 | Bodo Tümmler | FRG | 3:51.5 | 3:51.59 | ||
3 | 390 | John Boulter | GBR | 3:51.6 | 3:51.63 | ||
4 | 225 | Jorge Grosser | CHI | 3:51.7 | 3:51.79 | ||
5 | 495 | Franco Arese | ITA | 3:51.8 | 3:51.86 | ||
6 | 160 | Dave Bailey | CAN | 3:52.1 | 3:52.11 | ||
7 | 460 | Róbert Honti | HUN | 3:54.9 | 3:54.95 | ||
8 | 118 | Rudolf Klaban | AUT | 3:59.1 | 3:59.11 | ||
9 | 448 | Julio Quevedo | GUA | 4:03.1 | 4:03.13 | ||
10 | 713 | Édouard Sagna | SEN | 4:04.1 | 4:04.12 | ||
11 | 859 | Emilio Barahona | HON | 4:56.0 | 4:56.08 |
Time | Athlete(s) | NOC | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
400 m | Franco Arese | 1:06.0 | ||
800 m | Kip Keino | 2:07.6 | ||
1200 m | Kip Keino | 3:04.4 |
Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Hand) | Time (Automatic) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 314 | Tom Von Ruden | USA | 3:59.1 | 3:59.15 | ||
2 | 132 | André Dehertoghe | BEL | 3:59.3 | 3:59.33 | ||
3 | 684 | Henryk Szordykowski | POL | 3:59.3 | 3:59.34 | ||
4 | 362 | Claude Nicolas | FRA | 3:59.3 | 3:59.35 | ||
5 | 25 | Arnd Krüger | FRG | 3:59.3 | 3:59.40 | ||
6 | 505 | Renzo Finelli | ITA | 3:59.5 | 3:59.51 | ||
7 | 723 | Ove Berg | SWE | 4:00.4 | 4:00.42 | ||
8 | 229 | Tom Hansen | DEN | 4:01.4 | 4:01.47 | ||
9 | 593 | Ramasamy Subramaniam | MAS | 4:06.4 | 4:06.49 | ||
10 | 698 | Miguel Núñez | DOM | 4:23.6 | 4:23.67 | ||
154 | Blagoi Kostov | BUL | – | – |
Time | Athlete(s) | NOC | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
400 m | Henryk Szordykowski | 1:06.5 | ||
800 m | Henryk Szordykowski | 2:18.2 | ||
1200 m | Henryk Szordykowski | 3:20.3 |
Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Hand) | Time (Automatic) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 564 | Ben Jipcho | KEN | 3:46.4 | 3:46.51 | ||
2 | 821 | Oleg Rayko | URS | 3:46.8 | 3:46.84 | ||
3 | 36 | Harald Norpoth | FRG | 3:46.9 | 3:47.00 | ||
4 | 221 | Josef Odložil | TCH | 3:47.4 | 3:47.49 | ||
5 | 349 | Jacky Boxberger | FRA | 3:47.5 | 3:47.55 | ||
6 | 618 | José Neri | MEX | 3:47.5 | 3:47.88 | ||
7 | 246 | Jorge González | ESP | 3:50.4 | 3:50.49 | ||
8 | 442 | Ioannis Virvilis | GRE | 3:55.5 | 3:55.57 | ||
9 | 580 | Xaver Frick, Jr. | LIE | 4:15.3 | 4:15.38 | ||
10 | 238 | Manfredo Koeningsberg | ESA | 4:32.5 | 4:32.58 | ||
373 | Jean Wadoux | FRA | – | – |
Time | Athlete(s) | NOC | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
400 m | Jacky Boxberger | 1:00.4 | ||
800 m | Ben Jipcho | 2:04.7 | ||
1200 m | Oleg Rayko | 3:06.1 |
Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Hand) | Time (Automatic) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 300 | Jim Ryun | USA | 3:45.7 | 3:45.80 | ||
2 | 600 | Hamadi Haddou | MAR | 3:47.0 | 3:47.01 | ||
3 | 142 | Edgard Salvé | BEL | 3:47.1 | 3:47.17 | ||
4 | 646 | Arne Kvalheim | NOR | 3:47.4 | 3:47.50 | ||
5 | 177 | Norm Trerise | CAN | 3:47.6 | 3:47.67 | ||
6 | 503 | Gianni Del Buono | ITA | 3:48.4 | 3:48.41 | ||
7 | 115 | Peter Watson | AUS | 3:55.4 | 3:55.41 | ||
8 | 387 | Maurice Benn | GBR | 3:56.4 | 3:56.43 | ||
9 | 342 | Pekka Vasala | FIN | 4:08.5 | 4:08.51 | ||
10 | 692 | Willie Ríos | PUR | 4:14.4 | 4:14.47 | ||
11 | 148 | Jeff Payne | BER | 4:18.9 | 4:18.92 | ||
98 | Guillermo Cuello | ARG | – | – |
Time | Athlete(s) | NOC | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
400 m | Gianni Del Buono | 1:01.3 | ||
800 m | Gianni Del Buono | 2:02.1 | ||
1200 m | Arne Kvalheim | 3:04.3 |
Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Hand) | Time (Automatic) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 285 | Marty Liquori | USA | 3:52.7 | 3:52.78 | ||
2 | 745 | Hansrüedi Knill | SUI | 3:52.8 | 3:52.87 | ||
3 | 433 | John Whetton | GBR | 3:53.0 | 3:53.04 | ||
4 | 213 | Ahmed Issa | CHA | 3:53.1 | 3:53.13 | ||
5 | 836 | Mikhail Zhelobovsky | URS | 3:53.2 | 3:53.23 | ||
6 | 325 | Matias Habtemichael | ETH | 3:53.2 | 3:53.27 | ||
7 | 728 | Anders Gärderud | SWE | 3:54.2 | 3:54.28 | ||
8 | 530 | Byron Dyce | JAM | 3:54.6 | 3:54.65 | 2 | |
9 | 673 | Jerzy Maluśki | POL | 3:54.8 | 3:54.83 | ||
10 | 487 | Frank Murphy | IRL | 3:54.8 | 3:54.85 | ||
11 | 143 | Rudi Simon | BEL | 4:06.9 | 4:06.97 | ||
12 | 861 | Arturo Córdoba | HON | 5:18.9 | 5:18.92 |
Time | Athlete(s) | NOC | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
400 m | Matias Habtemichael | 1:04.9 | ||
800 m | Matias Habtemichael | 2:11.7 | ||
1200 m | Frank Murphy | 3:11.6 |
Date | 19 October 1968 — 17:20 |
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Format | Top six in each heat advanced to the final. |
Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Hand) | Time (Automatic) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 51 | Bodo Tümmler | FRG | 3:53.6 | 3:53.66 | ||
2 | 349 | Jacky Boxberger | FRA | 3:53.9 | 3:54.00 | ||
3 | 314 | Tom Von Ruden | USA | 3:54.1 | 3:54.12 | ||
4 | 684 | Henryk Szordykowski | POL | 3:54.2 | 3:54.24 | ||
5 | 36 | Harald Norpoth | FRG | 3:54.3 | 3:54.34 | ||
6 | 564 | Ben Jipcho | KEN | 3:54.6 | 3:54.69 | ||
7 | 495 | Franco Arese | ITA | 3:54.8 | 3:54.85 | ||
8 | 646 | Arne Kvalheim | NOR | 3:55.3 | 3:55.32 | ||
9 | 390 | John Boulter | GBR | 3:56.1 | 3:56.13 | ||
10 | 142 | Edgard Salvé | BEL | 3:58.1 | 3:58.16 | ||
11 | 836 | Mikhail Zhelobovsky | URS | 3:59.0 | 3:59.08 | ||
12 | 600 | Hamadi Haddou | MAR | 4:01.6 | 4:01.70 |
Time | Athlete(s) | NOC | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
400 m | Mikhail Zhelobovsky | 1:07.6 | ||
800 m | Mikhail Zhelobovsky | 2:14.9 | ||
1200 m | Ben Jipcho | 3:14.6 |
Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Hand) | Time (Automatic) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 300 | Jim Ryun | USA | 3:51.2 | 3:51.25 | ||
2 | 565 | Kip Keino | KEN | 3:51.4 | 3:51.50 | ||
3 | 433 | John Whetton | GBR | 3:52.0 | 3:52.05 | ||
4 | 285 | Marty Liquori | USA | 3:52.1 | 3:52.17 | ||
5 | 221 | Josef Odložil | TCH | 3:52.5 | 3:52.53 | ||
6 | 132 | André Dehertoghe | BEL | 3:52.5 | 3:52.57 | ||
7 | 821 | Oleg Rayko | URS | 3:52.7 | 3:52.73 | ||
8 | 213 | Ahmed Issa | CHA | 3:53.2 | 3:53.26 | ||
9 | 745 | Hansrüedi Knill | SUI | 3:53.6 | 3:53.65 | ||
10 | 177 | Norm Trerise | CAN | 3:57.2 | 3:57.30 | ||
11 | 362 | Claude Nicolas | FRA | 4:04.4 | 4:04.47 | ||
12 | 25 | Arnd Krüger | FRG | 4:05.3 | 4:05.40 | ||
225 | Jorge Grosser | CHI | – | – |
Time | Athlete(s) | NOC | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
400 m | Josef Odložil | 1:08.0 | ||
800 m | Kip Keino | 2:12.7 | ||
1200 m | Kip Keino | 3:11.9 |
Date | 20 October 1968 — 15:30 |
---|
Pos | Competitor | NOC | Time (Hand) | Time (Automatic) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kip Keino | KEN | 3:34.9 | 3:34.91 | ||
2 | Jim Ryun | USA | 3:37.8 | 3:37.89 | ||
3 | Bodo Tümmler | FRG | 3:39.0 | 3:39.08 | ||
4 | Harald Norpoth | FRG | 3:42.5 | 3:42.57 | ||
5 | John Whetton | GBR | 3:43.8 | 3:43.90 | ||
6 | Jacky Boxberger | FRA | 3:46.6 | 3:46.65 | ||
7 | Henryk Szordykowski | POL | 3:46.6 | 3:46.69 | ||
8 | Josef Odložil | TCH | 3:48.6 | 3:48.69 | ||
9 | Tom Von Ruden | USA | 3:49.2 | 3:49.27 | ||
10 | Ben Jipcho | KEN | 3:51.2 | 3:51.22 | ||
11 | André Dehertoghe | BEL | 3:53.6 | 3:53.63 | ||
12 | Marty Liquori | USA | 4:18.2 | 4:18.22 |
Time | Athlete(s) | NOC | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
400 m | Ben Jipcho | 56.0 | ||
800 m | Kip Keino | 1:55.3 | ||
1200 m | Kip Keino | 2:53.4 |