Elliott Sets World Record in 1960 1500

by Marc Bloom

The Race

Though only 22 at the Rome Games of 1960, Herb Elliott of Australia was considered so superior to the opposition that a bit of the mystery of Olympic racing was absent in the 1500-meter final. In 1958, at 20, Elliott had set a world of 3:36.0 and run the four fastest 1500s ever. Though he took '59 as a down year-taking time off from running, getting married, losing motivation, even smoking-Elliott re-grouped in 1960 and appeared to have the Olympic 1500 to himself. Two prospective contenders, Murray Halberg (New Zealand) and Ron Delany (Ireland), chose other events in Rome. Halberg won the 5,000. Delany, the 1956 Olympic 1500 champion who'd set a world indoor mile record in '59, ran the 800 in Rome, and was eliminated in the qualifying heats.

In Rome, Elliott breezed through his 1500 heat in first-place in 3:41.4, only .02 off the Olympic record set by Delany at Melbourne. Three days later, on the day of the final, Elliott went to church, did some light jogging and tried to nap. But he was edgy and was quoted later as saying, "My nerves and muscles were screaming for action."

But if Elliott hungered for racing, when the gun cracked for the final, he hung back, letting others set the pace. Speaking now of his approach, Elliott said, "I usually settled into the field in 3rd or 4th, getting the feel of the race. I didn't think I had a particularly fast finish and so from the halfway point, my objective was to burn the others off."

Elliott was being modest about his kick. In '58, in his 3:36.0 world record, he'd run the last lap in 56-flat. That same summer, in a 3:55.4 mile, the second-fastest ever, Elliott's last lap was 55.6. Elliott was so strong he could kick from midway. Elliott was feared; after all, how do you race a guy who can sprint for close to two laps?

In the 1960 1500 final, Michel Bernard, the French record holder who at 28 had good experience, tried the only logical tactic against Elliott: he went out hard. Bernard led the 9-man field through a brisk 58.2 400 and 1:57.8 800. The leaders were bunched and Elliott, in 4th, was timed in 1:58.0. Two Americans from Oregon, 20-year-old Dyrol Burleson and the veteran Jim Grelle, were back in the field. Just then, with 700 to go, Elliott surged to the lead, running the next 100 meters like a rocket in 13.2. Elliott's move strung out the field and he passed the 1200 in 2:54.0. His third 400 was a breathtaking 56 flat. Istvan Rozsavolgyi of Hungary, who'd chased Delany in U.S. indoor races and was ranked number-one in the world in '59, moved into 2nd with Michel Jazy of France, a future world mile recordholder, in 3rd.

Elliott had 300 meters left and the gold medal in his pocket. Still, he would not let up. Rallied by his coach, Percy Cerutty, who'd caused a commotion by racing to trackside where the Italian police converged on him, Elliott poured on speed that he and he alone had, opening a 15-yard lead on Jazy, now in 2nd. Elliott maintained crisp running form and utter control while many of the men behind sagged with arms wide and facial grimaces. Elliott hammered home the winner by 2.8 seconds, the 2nd-biggest victory margin in Olympic 1500 history. His time was 3:35.6, breaking his own world record. Jazy held 2nd in a French record 3:38.4. Rozsavolgyi took the bronze medal in 3rd. Dan Waern of Sweden, the '58 European 1500 titlist, ran 4th in 3:40.0. Burleson was 6th, setting an American record of 3:40.9. Grelle, who'd looked tired in the heats, placed 8th in 3:45.0.

After the Games, Elliott went on a European tour, running 11 races in 19 days. He won every 1500 and mile, continuing his career unbeaten streak. The following spring, Elliott ran a few races but his heart wasn't in it. By then a student at Cambridge, in England, Elliott, still a mere 22, decided to retire. He said that he had lost interest in track and was content with a career that lasted barely five years. He ran his last race on May 13, 1961. In senior-level competition, Elliott never lost a 1500 or mile, collecting 44 victories, a record of perfection unmatched by any other athlete in the sport.

Eyewitness: Elliott on Elliott

When as a young athlete I met my coach, Percy Cerutty, I was expecting him to do a sales pitch on me. I was a pretty good schoolboy runner. But he said to me, "Why do you want to be a good athlete? You just run around in circles. What's the point?" Cerutty answered his own question. He told me, "You have an aptitude that you shouldn't waste. Your sport is a device by which you grow into a fuller, more compassionate, stronger, more self-reliant, self-respecting person. To accomplish all that, you must train outside your comfort zone." That was probably the guiding philosophy for all that I did in track and field. My training was exceptionally intense. I felt training was wasted if I wasn't at the absolute limit of my ability.

Cerutty's words would stay with me, but it took me awhile to trust his judgment. When I ran a 4:22 mile at 17, Cerutty told me I would run sub-4:00 in two years. I thought he was crazy. At that time, my horizons did not extend to a 4-minute mile. Two years later, I did it, running 3:59.

When the Rome Olympics approached, I did not concern myself with the opposition. I believe that intellectually there are two approaches to take in competition. One is to know everything about your competitors, to study them and know their weaknesses; the other is to know nothing about them. I chose the second one. I had decided to deal only with my own weaknesses.

Before the 1500 final, Cerutty told me where he'd be positioned in the stands and that I should look for him. He said, "In the last lap, if you've got somebody on your shoulder, or if you have the possibility of a world record, I'll wave this towel." In the race, when I was on the back straight of the bell lap, I saw Percy waving the towel. I was confused, thinking, "What the hell does that mean-that I will break a world record or that someone will pass me?" Whichever it was, I knew I had to run faster.

Elliott, 67, lives in Perth, the city of his birth. He is a semi-retired business executive. For fitness, he bicycles and plays golf.

Eyewitness: Dyrol Burleson, 1960 Olympic 1500 finalist

I have vivid memories of Herb Elliott's dominance that day in Rome. It was an incredible show. When Elliott raced ahead after the first half, we all thought he would come back to us. It never happened. We were just out it compared to Elliott's level at that time. It was probably the most dominant performance in any race I ever ran.

Dyrol Burleson, at 20 the youngest man in the Rome 1500 final, placed 6th. In 1961, he succeeded Elliott as the number-one ranked miler in the world.

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