FROM THE ARCHIVES: Séamus Devlinwrote this account of the night in August 1958 when Herb Elliott led five runners through the four-minute barrier and set two world records
SANTRY STADIUM, scene of Albert Thomas's world three-mile record recently, was again the stage for a fantastic athletic performance last night, when, in one of the greatest mile races ever run in this or any other country,Herb Elliott, the Australian running machine, led five runners through the four-minute barrier, and in the process set two world records.
In a breath-taking finish Elliott streaked to a 3 mins. 54.5 secs, victory over his fellow-contryman, Merv Lincoln, with Ireland's Ronnie Delany filling third place in front of Murray Halberg, of New Zealand, and Albert Thomas, both Delany and Halberg being aredited with the same time.
Lincoln, 3 mins. 55.9 secs, and Delany and Halberg, 3 mins.57.5 secs., were also inside the previous world record of 3 mins. 58 secs, set up by John Landy, while Delany was only .3 secs, outside Derek Ibbotson's 3 mins. 57.2 secs, a performance that has yet to be ratified.
And, as if to add further laurels to an athlete who has now broken through the four-minute barrier on eight occasions, Elliott was clocked at 3 mins. 39.6 secs, for the 1,500 metres, and this, again subject to ratification, is a world record for the distance.
Wee Albert Thomas set the pace for this wonder mile when, from the gun, he streaked to the front to be followed by Lincoln and Halberg, with Elliott tucked in fourth place and Delany content to lie sixth behind the leader.
The first quarter was timed at a sizzling 56 seconds and the field remained in much the same order through to the half mile, which was accomplished in one minute, 58 seconds.
Going into the third lap, Thomas was still leading from Elliott and Lincoln , but then Lincoln moved to the front and Delany started to close the gap between himself and the leaders.
The time for the three-quarters was 2mins. 59secs. and at the bell Elliott moved to the front and started a fantastic run that brought the huge crowd to its feet. He steadily drew away from Lincoln and Thomas and was well clear rounding the last bend.
Meanwhile, Delany had been making his effort, and in a tremendous race with the New Zealander, Halberg, was closing the gap gradually. It was obvious, however, that he could not possibly catch Elliott or Lincoln, but he did manage to get the better of Halberg, to finish in third place.
It was then that the whispers started about the possibility of a world record. Few among the large crowd, however, had visions of an "announcement" which gave the Australian such a fantastic time or that the first five runners would have, broken through the four minute barrier
When the time was made known the packed stadium broke into a crescendo of cheering, and as each of the first three times were announced, the cheering broke out with renewed vigour.
It was some time before the remainder of the programme could get under way, and, in its own way, this "mile of the century" overshadowed some other magnificent performances in a meeting that will be spoken about for years to come.
The final of the 100 yards produced a new all-comers' record, M Agostini being clocked at 9.5 secs, when beating Keith Gardner of Jamaica and T Robinson of the Bahamas, both of whom were clocked at 9.7 secs.
Robinson, in his heat, had equalled the 9.6 secs credited to the American, A Stanfield; so, too, had Agostini, but with a slight following wind.
Another all-comers' record to go by the boards was the hop, step and jump and again it was an Australian, I Tomlinson, who performed the feat. His 50ft 4ins bettered, by 1ft 4ins, the previous record held by E Fitzgerald.
Two records were equalled at this momentous meeting. In the high jump C Porter of Australia cleared 6ft 7ins, while in the 120 yards hurdles K Gardner of Jamaica returned 14.2 secs, to equal that of Eamonn Kinsella.
