The Greatest of All Time. It's not even close. What Jim Ryun accomplished during his high school career is hard to believe. Stick around until the end to learn about his greatest high school race. Thanks for watching!
He hosts (not sure if he still does) a cross country meet down in Lakeland, Florida. He's super nice and still into running, I was lucky enough to talk with him and take a picture with him.
Jim Ryun was a hard working and gifted athlete. He had to overcome asthma and those snail-sand tracks of the era. He inspired me to join my High School Track Team in 1967. I am grateful that he appeared on the scene when he did. It's been one helluva ride. Thank you, TRP. Keep them coming.
I got to meet this guy at his meet in Florida, the Jim Ryun Invitational, and I won it, and the winner got a 1 on 1 with him, such and nice down to earth guy.
Jim Ryun had an INSANE progression in the mile. Here are all of his mile PBs: 5:38 - 05.09.1962 4:48 - Early 1963 4:45 - Early 1963 4:32.4 - March 1963 4:26.4 - March 1963 4:21.7 - 06.04.1963 4:19.7 - 24.04.1963 4:16.2 - 03.05.1963 4:16.2 - 18.05.1963 4:08.2 - 25.05.1963 - Kansas City, MO 4:07.8 - 08.06.1963 - Houston, TX 4:06.4 - 16.05.1964 - Manhatten, KS 4:01.7 - 23.05.1964 - Modesto, CA 3:59.0 - 05.06.1964 - Compton, CA 3:58.3 - 15.05.1965 - Wichita, KS 3:58.1 - 29.05.1965 - Modesto, CA 3:56.8 - 04.06.1965 - Los Angeles, CA 3:55.3 - 27.06.1965 - San Diego, CA 3:53.7 - 04.06.1966 - Los Angeles, CA 3:51.3 - 17.07.1966 - Berkeley, CA 3:51.1 - 23.06.1967 - Bakersfield, CA
My grandfather was on the same team as Jim Ryun in high school, he keeps telling me stories about how he practiced and told me about that state meet where he went 3:58. It’s really interesting
@Troy Faulkner Jim Ryun ran 40 x 440yd intervals with 1minute rest in between each one Other days Coach Timmons had the team run 880 x 24 with 90 sec rest in between each one. And other days he would run 10 x mile intervals with 90 sec rest in between each one. Jim ran 100 miles/wk and he trained twice /day. He ran between 5-8 miles every morning. Jim lifted weights and did swim workouts as well!
Webb blew the doors off Stember and Ryun would've destroyed Stember with his unbelievable kick. Stember could never even have come close to Ryun in a High School Race! Ryun would've beaten Webb with the improved tracks, training, running shoes!!
First off love the videos. Secondly, have you ever thought of doing a video about Louis Zamperini? His story is absolutely amazing for anyone that doesn't know it. I highly recommend the book Unbroken if you haven't heard it before.
The kid has 2 European champion brothers, and has trained like a pro since he was 11, his program is insanely detailed and high quality. And his coach is a training knowledge genious. If you add this up, its absolutely possible that he achieved this without drugs. And that's what hes done
Every time a runner does something amazing or breaks a record, people are suspicious. I understand why, but I think it is very difficult to cheat today because of all the testing. Call me a believer, but I just want to believe in Jakob’s accomplishments as that of a phenom but without any PEDs. If I believed Kipkoech, Bekele and Ingebretsin were all on the juice, I wouldn’t want to watch the sport at all any more.
It's hard to even compare the two. I would really like to see a world class meet today on a track comparable to the tracks that were commonly used in the 60s. Just have world class 100 meters runners do it, so there is no argument about pace and tactics. I would love to see the difference in the times that were run on the different surfaces.
Absolutely. It's hard to compare the 2 of them, as there's a 53 year age difference, but both are the GOATs of their own generation. Ryun was an 800/1500 specialist, while Jakob is a 1500/5000 specialist.
I disagree....the single fastest kicker in Europe was Bodo Tummler...a big fast German. As Ryun just turned 20, he and Jim Grelle raced Tummler n Harold Norpoth in a 1500m race in Dusseldorf...RU-vid this race.... Ryun won by 4 sec when tied w Tummler w 300m left...36.4 last 300m or about 50.1 final 400 3:38 to 3:42 for the other 3 athletes.... So Ryun beats best in world at time by 4 sec over 300m....not done!
@@michaeladrian2210 Jim Ryun's kick over the last 100m was 11.6 and that's even faster than Seb Coe's best kick for the last 100m 0f 12.2!! Ryun was a complete animal and who knows how much faster he would've kicked if he was ever challenged!!! Ryun was untouchable from 1966- 1967! Ryun outkicked the Olympic 1500m, Gold Medalist and World Record Holder, Peter Snell and there is no way in hell that Jakob would've beat El G in the mile, let alone outkick him!! Ryun was less than 2 seconds from the world record, when he set the USA High School 1 mile record! That was well over 50 years ago when Jim set the record on a cinder track and he had been running less than 2 years at the time. With today's technology he would've blown the doors off Jakob!! Not even close!! Ryun is still the GOAT High School Athlete in the World!!
Excellent video as usual! One minor note -- in the race against Snell in '65, it was American Jim Grelle who attempted to pass Ryun with 1/2 lap remaining, not Odlozil. Grelle ended up third in that race and can be barely seen (obscured by Ryun/Snell) in that famous finish line photo.
As a Track athlete in Kansas, everybody here is obsessed with Jim Ryun. Going to KU relays, or state as a distance runner isn't the same because you know that no one is breaking any of the records. Definitely a legend.
I used to run summer track in Wichita when Jim Ryun was active. He was from East High School, and I from Southeast. He would have been a couple of years my senior I believe. He worked out at the track many of us used, along with two other gifted track athletes from East High....sprinter Bob Hansen and middle distance runner Joe Henderson. All excellent....Ryun just remarkable, especially considering the primitive tracks and training in those days.
I was a big Jim Ryun fan growing up. He had intense migraines after his races from the effort. One quick correction to your narration of the race against Snell: the guy in the white shirt who Ryan held off around the curve and eventually finished third was American Jim Grelle.
Yes, At one point, Grelle had run more 4 minute miles than any other US athlete, We were in a math class together in app. 1958 at the U of Oregon. He was proud to tell me he had just run three laps in 3:06!
I’ve learned so much about field and track since I started watching and it got me inspired to start running again last week. I’ve run the last 7 of 8 days and I never felt better.
@@MrSupernova111 I feel you bru, for me running is like passion that calms me down when I'm in my bad days, my dream is to make it in the Olympics one day.
Jim Ryun was really something else. I'm Norwegian, so it's an absolute joy to watch Jakob Ingebrigtsen progress. Jim and "Jake" had pretty similar times the year they turned 17: Jim when he turned 17 (1964): 3:39.0 in the 1500m, and 3:59.0 in the mile Jakob when he turned 17 (2017): 3:39.92 in the 1500m and 3:56.29 in the mile What's also cool is that their fastest mile as a junior/U20 runner is the EXACT SAME time (!) 3:51.3 for Jim (in 1966), and 3:51.30 for Jakob (in 2019) Talents like these come by only once or twice in a lifetime.
Wrong Jacob ran a crazy 3:31 1500 meters as a 17 year old not 3:39. (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yAHCXtsQuHM.html) Jacob is the GOAT of high school age runners/athletes in history.
@@lanagorgeous9485 It's not wrong. I wrote the year they TURNED 17. Jim is born in April, while Jakob is born in September. When Jakob ran his 3:31.18, he was indeed only 17, but he turned 18 later that year.
Henry star he could high jump 6’7, bench 500 pounds according to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and had a 40+ inch vertical jump. easily one of the most insane athletes of all time
@@blakedannion9232 Rookie Jordan is the greatest athlete. Unfortunately, he injured his foot in 1985. Jordan had a 48 inch vert during his rookie season in practice. Rodman is not even a top 20 athlete in the NBA. Jordan also ran less than 4.4 in 40 yards in college at 6'6. It's either Jordan, Lebron and Wilt. Just because he's the Goat doesn't mean he's overhyped. I cringed everytime someone said Jordan is not all that.
@@kingdinodragonite3470 Sorry, I farted in your church of Jordan. Jordan had an amazing vertical and huge hands, I cry "Bullshit" on the 4.4 40 yard dash. I know that Roy Williams claims Jordan ran a 4.38 but I was a track guy and that's bull shit. I am not claiming Rodman to be a better basketball player, but he is a better athlete. Just watch a game, he is clearly faster than Jordan. He was a beast on a weight stack, probably almost twice as strong as Jordan. Jordan does have a better vert. It's been awhile since I watched the above video but if you are talking about in high school then you are right. Rodman is the most " Late bloomer" athlete in history. He grew 7 inches after high school and did not get playing time in high school. I am talking about as an adult. The fact that Rodman had such a career as a late bloomer is amazing. He never had top flight coaching coming up yet because of his freakish athletic ability, he became the greatest rebounder in history. The greatest NBA athlete in the Jordan era is Allen Iverson, Jordan isn't even in Iverson's area code. Again Jordan has a better game but as he proved when he tried to play baseball, he is great at basketball and nothing else. Hell, when it comes to all around, Danny Ainge was the only person in history to be "All American" in three different sports, Ainge actually made it to Major League Baseball.
@@kingdinodragonite3470 Your like the people of North Korea that believe their dear leader can shoot 18 holes in one at golf. Again, I am sorry to fart in your church of Jordan but I am from Virginia and watched Iverson play high school football. He also ran a confirmed 4.3 40. As I said, I have a track back ground and I have seen him run in person. Small world/ I ran a prison unit at the state farm in 97 and had his football center was doing a short sentence. He had grown up with Allen and said Allen was even awesome at baseball (he was named national player of the year in both basketball and football). Again, I am not claiming Iverson to be a better basketball player than Jordan but I am saying he is by far the better athlete. Clearly, you need to switch from meth back to ganja because you are "Tweekin". Jordan is one of the greatest one sport guys of all time. If he were truly a great all around athlete, the Hispanic players in the White Sox organization would not have called him "Senior crappy"
How does Steve Prefontaine compare? He was undefeated for his entire junior and senior year in any distance he raced, and held the national high school record in the 2 mile.
Pre's 2 mile record was actually slower than the national indoor record at the time set by Gerry Lindgren and lasted only 4 years when beaten by Craig Virgin in 1973, though it still ranks among the top 10 times.. Ryun defeated an Olympic Champion + Silver medalist, set a record that lasted 35 years (and is still the second-fastest ever by a high school athlete), ran multiple sub-4 miles as a senior, in addition to being undefeated. Ryun is hands down the best high school athlete.
Ever hear of a guy named Danny Ainge? He's the only guy to ever be name 1st team all American in football, baseball and basketball. The video dealt with athletes in all sports, not just track.
The day following Ryan's first sub 4 my high school track coach announced to the team that a 'high school kid' had just broken 4. I was the best we had and was working hard to break 4:30. I was stunned. Still am.
A sensational miler and one of very best of all time (difficult to compare eras - and use of drugs/doping from the 1980s makes comparison almost impossible).
Sasha zhoya is one of the most talented high school athletes I’ve seen. Holds u18 world records in both the pole vault and 110m hurdles. Also has pb’s of 10.41 and 20.90. Who have you seen with that kind of range ever let alone at 17. He recently broke the u20 60m hurdles world record, again at 17, although he had already graduated from high school when he broke it
Jim Ryan was an incredibly dominant and elegant runner, but who unfortunately never won a global title. In 1968 because of 2000m altitude and in 1972 because he was felled. Saw Ryan live at Bislett 800m where he won easily in 1.45.0. Jim Ryan in a 2024 edition would have been hard to beat.
Make a video about Dathan Ritzenhein , he was a beast in high school. Made cross country nationals all his 4 years Ritzenhein PR'S 1,500 m - 3:42.99 (2002) 3,000 m - 7:39.03 (2007) 2 miles - 8:11.74 (2007) 5,000 m - 12:56.27 (2009) (former American Record) 10,000 m - 27:22.28 (2009) Half-Marathon - 1:00:00 (2009) Marathon - 2:07:47 (2012)
Those records were set on rock hard cinder tracks and the shoes had hardly any cushioning. No soft all weather tracks and custom running shoes. I can remember going to the barber shop and getting a haircut to look like Jim Ryan. Didn’t work, and I couldn’t run any faster.
Jim Ryun also anchored both hiz 4 by 440 & 4 by 220 ( yards teams) hiz splitz wer very good 21.6 in the 220 which iz probably under 21.4 n the 200 & sumwhere definitely 47 or under n the 440...he held the world jr record n the 800 for a while & hiz u s jr record was broken justa few yrz ago by Donovan Brazier.. it stood for 50 yrz & az many have pointed out it wuz run on cinder trackz......
Rhonda Brady outtuv Gary Indiana qualified 4 the 1976 olympics b4 her 17th birthday’...she was probably 17 yrz & 2 weekz old when she competed in the heats in Montreal 76....
Double check your facts about him being the youngest member on the 1964 Oly team. Janell Smith, also a high school junior from Kansas, was an Oly team member at 400m.
Gene Rynkewicz Check out Kyle Snyder, also undefeated in HS wrestling in the heavyweight division at 179-0, won 3 NCAA championships and was runner-up his Freshman year while at Ohio State, the 2016 Olympic gold medal in the heavyweight division, and also won the 2016 World Championship (all in the same year). Still the only wrestler to hold the NCAA Championship, World Championship, and Olympic Gold Medal in the same 12 month period and all at the age of 20.
Youngest male to OQ in T&F age 17 ,very impressive. I know Sydney Mclaughlin was 16 for the '16 Olympics, was that the youngest ever for an American female in T&F ?
I'm sure we can all come up with "best HS athletes of all time." I'd put this in just track.... not all time. I'd put Marcus Dupree as the best HS athlete of all time.
Danny Ainge was a greater all-around H.S. athlete than Mathias. Bob is the greatest track & field athlete of all-time!! Ainge was a HS All-American in Football, Basketball and Baseball! The only HS athlete close to that is the incredible Jim Thorpe!
Ummmmm, Michael Phelps was too frickin awesome to swim in high school.......he made his first Olympic finals at age 15, and was crushing world records at 16 and by his 17th birthday was obviously going to be the greatest EVER, and when you're destroying the world's best swimmers, there's not much point in high school meets.
Excellent TRP. But keep the claim to Running/Track and Field. To cover ALL SPORTS is too wide (Gymnastics/Swimming) and seldom touches on European athletes. So, YES, I would also class Jim Ryun as number one re Track Athletics. He could possibly be beaten or matched by Jakob Ingebretson BUT the two time periods are so far apart that they can't really be compared. Advances in Tracks, Shoes, Athletic clothing, Pacing etc. make a large difference. Great video mate. Keep up the good work. Cheers.
I’m just watching this right and all of a sudden I see his white tank top and it says WIchita. I looked up where he was from he is from my hometown. Wichita,Kansas
I love your videos, but you really need to have someone proof read the script. There's always 1 or 2 small errors in every single video that really bring the quality down.
Jim Ryun was an outstanding athlete but his performances at 1500m and the mile have been overtaken by several African runners aged 17, 18 and 19 etc and also Jakob Ingebrigtsen. The data is on-line. Perhaps the reference to 'greatest' only applies to the US?
Mary_Decker - Unable to attend the 1972 Olympics as she was too young(junior high athlete), the pigtailed 89 pounds (40 kg) 14-year-old nicknamed "Little Mary Decker," won international acclaim in 1973 with a win in the 800 meters at a US-Soviet meet in Minsk, beating the reigning Olympic silver medallist, Nijolė Sabaitė.......A junior high athlete doesn't qualify?..btw...time of 2:02.43!....btw#2.... 7th grade at Portola Junior High in 1971. It was immediately clear she had talent and ran 5:04.8 for the mile by season’s end.
