Dave Hunter tells whole story behind the first sub-4 masters mile

Dave is a veteran announcer, too.

Dave also is a veteran track announcer.

Dave Hunter joins my pantheon of great track writers. He basically did the interview with Eamonn Coghlan that NOBODY has done until now. Dave asked Eamonn about the run-up to his legendary sub-4 mile of 1994, which stood as the M40 indoor record until Bernard Lagat ran 3:54.91 this year at Millrose. Dave writes: “Had Coghlan decided then to call it a career, his legacy as one of the best middle distance racers would have been secured. But the Irishman had one more trick up his sleeve. ‘I had given up running pretty much for about a year – from 37 to about 38 and half. But there was a lot of talk around the first master to run a 4:00 minute mile. Would it be a Coe? Ovett? Wesssinghage? John Walker? Particularly John Walker – there was a lot of talk that he would get it. So I decided that I would go back and do a marathon in New York,’ explains Coghlan.”

Dave continue his eye-opening story:

“So I spent 6 months doing nice easy training for a marathon – for charity more than anything else. So if I could get the motivation and the slow easy work in over 6 months, that would give me enough background mileage in my legs so by 39 years of age I’d know whether I wanted to pursue it or not. That’s exactly what happened. Out of nowhere, after not running for over a year, I ended up with 6 months training and running 2:25:13 in New York. That’s what gave me the foundation.” And after a pause, the Irishman adds, “And I was only running it for fun.”

After that, the man who had racked up 82 sub-4:00 miles began the push for one final one – #83 – to become the first master to break 4:00 “John Walker ended up getting hurt – his Achilles,” explains Coghlan of the New Zealander’s ill-fated 40th birthday assault on the 4:00 barrier in January of 1992. “He had to withdraw from competing and even trying to go for the 4 minute mile. One year later, I turned 40. I got hurt and I had to recover from a foot injury. And my hamstring was injured. I could hardly even stand on it, it was so sore. I ran the indoor season because of my obligations with meet promotors and sponsors. I broke the world record . But I missed the 4:00 mark. I basically came back the following year and I said, “I’m going to give it one more shot. I’m 41. If I don’t do it while I’m 41, I ain’t going to go back there anymore.’ So I went up to Boston and set up a master’s mile on Harvard’s 220 yard track in conjunction with the Massachusetts indoor state high school meet,” he states.

“Stanley Redwine was supposed to help me through the first half mile, but just before the half mile mark he pulled out. I just my head down and ran. I didn’t quite hear the three-quarter mile split, and the guy said ‘He’s on pace for the record.’ Coghlan details. “I didn’t want a record,” he scoffs. “I wanted sub-four! With two laps to go, I just said to myself, ‘Run this second to last lap as fast as you can and the let the last one take care of itself.’ I ended up running 28 for the 7th 220. On the last lap, my legs were gone from underneath me. But the noise from the kids was wild – it was bursting my eardrums. And I basically just ran all the way through the line and I had a feeling that I got it when I hit the tape.” The time: 3:58.15. As the first master to break 4:00 in the mile, Eamonn Coghlan had successfully completed his middle distance curtain call. He never raced again.

Wonderful work, Dave! Keep up the great geezer work!

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September 17, 2015

One Response

  1. Mike Fanelli - September 17, 2015

    outstandingly well done Mr Hunter…thanks for the great insight

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