Mike Fanelli commented on this.
NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME in the one mile run...he won the California State Meet mile in record time (4:24) while at Cathedral High in 1946 and then, 2 years later while at Glendale JC, made the Olympic team that competed in London at 3000 meter steeplechase.
But Oxy alum, Bob McMillen's real claim to fame came from his performance at Helsinki in 1952. He entered the final lap of the 1500 meters way back in 8th place before making his move. Coming out of the final turn he was in 4...th and charging hard. He missed catching winner Josy Barthel by a foot and a half although was awarded the same time at 3:45.2...a new Olympic record...oh, and a new American record to go along with his shiny metric mile silver medallion...fourth place in this race? A Brit named Bannister...yeah, THAT Bannister.
But Oxy alum, Bob McMillen's real claim to fame came from his performance at Helsinki in 1952. He entered the final lap of the 1500 meters way back in 8th place before making his move. Coming out of the final turn he was in 4...th and charging hard. He missed catching winner Josy Barthel by a foot and a half although was awarded the same time at 3:45.2...a new Olympic record...oh, and a new American record to go along with his shiny metric mile silver medallion...fourth place in this race? A Brit named Bannister...yeah, THAT Bannister.
...and BTW in a track nerd trivia slant, winner Josy Barthel remains Luxembourg's only ever Olympic gold medalist to this very day.
...just a little circa 1952 TnF somethin' somethin' to geek out about on a chilly January afternoon.
See More...just a little circa 1952 TnF somethin' somethin' to geek out about on a chilly January afternoon.
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