Birthday: 03/07/60 Mile PR: 3:49.80 - 1986
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 3:31.01 - 1988
High School: Fenton HS '78
Hometown: Bensenville, IL
College: University of Indiana '83
Current Residence: Wheaton, IL
Over the course of his professional career, Jim Spivey won six national titles, including the 1982 USA Indoor Mile and the Olympic Trials 1500 meters in 1984 and 1992. Spivey was a three-time Olympian (1984, 1992 and 1996), his highest Olympic finish coming in the 1984 Los Angeles Games 1500 meter final when he placed 5th with a time of 3:36.07.
The 1982 NCAA 1500m champion while at Indiana was also the 1500 meter bronze medalist at the 1987 World Championships in Rome.
FUN FACT: In 1986, Jim Spivey became only the second American to break 3:50 for the Mile behind Steve Scott.
FUN FACT II: On February 9, 1980 in Louisville, KY, while at Indiana University, Spivey recorded his first sub-4 minute Mile (3:58.9 indoors), the 100th American reaching the coveted sub-4 mark.
With 200 meters to go, I want you tonight, to visualize people breaking into your house - and their names are Steve Scott, Joe Falcon, Terrance Herrington. What are you going to do? Are you going to let them come into your house, and steal everything? This is yours to be defended. Defend your...
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“Even today, I can remember that feeling of kneeling on the warm-up track at Bislett, and my eyes get moist.”
By Dave Milner, Tennessee Running
I am riding shotgun in Jim Spivey’s car, a white Volkswagen Passat in whose back window one of this three son’s has fingered the message ‘Clean Me.’...
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1978-84: First Sub-4, First Olympics
He visited Oregon, who, at the time, had Rudy Chapa and Alberto Salazar. On his visit to Eugene in the fall of his senior year, coach Bill Dellinger explained the Ducks’ training philosophy, pulled out some charts, pointed to a number and said that’s what he...
1985-89: Sub-3:50 Dream Mile, World 1500m bronze and 2000m AR
In 1985, he was crowned U.S. 1500m champion again, and but was not ranked in the world’s top 10 by Track & Field News. He was holding his own, and doing okay financially, but was still a good way from earning a medal on the world...
1990 to Present: Second & third U.S. Olympic teams, retirement and coaching
In an injury-plagued 1990, still with no green from ASICS, and not much more from racing, Jim needed another income source, but wanted to remain involved in the sport. He and friend Kevin Moore created the Jim Spivey...
The 1986 Dream Mile, Bislett Stadium, Oslo, Norway: "Truly – this feels like flying. No pain – just effortless running."
By Jim Spivey
I gave myself one week to recover from flying over to London, and then picked up only one bag and flew to Oslo, Norway.
The Dream Mile is probably the...
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Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.
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