Track and Field History: One of the Sport’s Greatest Rivalries

Episode 2 of the Track & Field History Podcast takes a look at one of the great individual rivalries not only in track & field but in all of sports: Jim Ryun vs Marty Liquori. All nine of their head-to-head matchups took place between 1967 and 1971, the last of which was known as the “Dream Mile” and had as much hype as a title fight.

Ryun was the first high schooler to ever run a sub-4:00 mile and became the world’s best as a high school senior. Few dominated the mile as he did in 1966 and ’67 — but two years later he was a mere mortal again and faced a fast-rising Liquori, who in 1967 became the third American high schooler under 4:00 and in ’68 became the youngest Olympic 1500 finalist ever.

I discuss the rivalry with John Jarvis, a central Ohio teacher and coach who guided Andrew Jordan to high school All-American status.

Recommended reading:

The Ryun vs. Liquori Duels (via Villanova Running)

Runner’s World Chat: Jim Ryun & Marty Liquori

This is the Track and Field History Podcast with Jesse Squire. Subscribe and catch all the latest episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Anchor. Got anything you’d like to hear on the show? Shoot us an email trackhistorypod@gmail.com or tweet at @tracksuperfan.

Jesse Squire

I was second in the 1980 Olympic* long jump. (*Cub Scout Olympics, Pack 99, 9-10 age group.)