1968 Mexico City Olympic Games -1500 Meters- Jim Ryun vs Kip Keino
By Slicethelife
The most anticipated track and field event at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games was the match up in the 1500 meters with Jim Ryun taking on Kip Keino of Kenya.
Jim Ryun was an incredible runner. As a junior in high school in Kansas he was the first high schooler to run a 4 minute Mile. He still to this day holds 5 of the top 6 fastest Miles of any high schooler. He was so outstanding that ESPN would name him the Greatest High School Athlete of All-Time. Pretty heady stuff when you consider ESPN always wants to name someone current the ‘Greatest of All Times” on their lists. Jim Ryun at one time held the world record in the one Mile, the 800 meters and the 1500 meters. Going into the 68 showdown with Kip Keino he was unbeaten in the 1500 for 3 years. But he had a couple things going against him. In June of 68 he had mononuclosis. Also going against him was the high altitude of Mexico City. Kip Keino would have an advantage here, he trained in the high altitudes of Kenya.
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