Roger Bannister, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, has died at the age of 88. In May of 1954, he became the first man to break the 4 minute barrier for the mile with a time of three minutes 59.4 seconds.
A statement from his family said: "Sir Roger Bannister, died peacefully in Oxford on 3 March, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them."
John Walshe of Ballycotton sent on the following article...
MILE CONNECTION
A low-key 10km road race in a small Irish village was the unlikely setting for a meeting between two people with historic miling connections, writes John Walshe
Ballyhooly in North Cork has, for the past number of years, staged an annual race in honour of its most famous son, Olympian John Hartnett.
Winner of the International (now World) Junior cross-country title in 1970, Hartnett went on to have a chequered career at Villanova University where he broke Ronnie Delany’s Irish mile record with a time of 3:54.7 in 1973.
The following year he set an Irish 1500m record of 3:38.1 as well as running 3:56.3 for the mile on grass at the Cork City Sports.
Now living in New Jersey, Hartnett was home to start this year’s race and present the prizes and in a unique coincidence he met up with Julius Bannister - grandson of Sir Roger Bannister - who was on holiday in the area.
In his first-ever road race,15-year-old Julius from Notting Hill recorded a time of 50:39 which won him the junior award.
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| Julian Bannister & John Hartnett |
Links...
1) 6th May 2014...60th anniversary of the first sub 4 minute mile
2) Bannister recounts the first sub 4 minute mile...
3) Unique Meeting at Ballyhooly by John Walshe
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