Traffic Tip for Landy: Always Look Both Ways

When it was over, John Landy did have this distinction:

He had just become the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes . . . and finish second.

In the summer of 1954, only two men had broken 4:00 for the mile, and 45 years ago today, they were both at Vancouver’s Empire Stadium for the British Empire Games.

Four months previously, Roger Bannister, a British medical student, had become the first to go under four minutes with a 3:59.4 in a dual meet at Oxford University. Landy, an Australian, later clocked a 3:58, which was the fastest time when the two lined up for the start.

Landy said afterward he knew Bannister had a faster finishing kick than he did, that he would need both a fast race and wide lead entering the home stretch. He achieved the first part, not the second.

With 32,573 standing and cheering, Landy led at the gun lap in 2:58.4. Bannister was a stride behind.

With 200 meters left, Landy looked over his shoulder and was no doubt chagrined to see Bannister still just a step away.

Then, as both came off the final turn, Landy looked back over his left shoulder and saw no one, because at that instant Bannister passed him on the right. He won by five yards in 3:58.8, Landy second at 3:59.6

Today, outside where the stadium once stood, is a bronze statue of the two men, with Landy looking over his left shoulder as Bannister goes by him on the right.

Also on this date: In 1956, 57,000 at the Orange Bowl watched Satchel Paige, 51, lead the triple-A Miami Marlins of the International League to a 6-2 victory over Columbus. Paige was the winning pitcher and had a double.