Herb Elliott trivia

[rhymans]

Which Australians beat HE between 1958 and 1960? Without looking it up see if you can name them - their times and HE's times in those races.

[dukehjsteve]

It was an 800/880, he was 3rd, that's all I remember. I think there was a photo of the finish in T&FN.

[paw]

he lost in the British AAA the 12th of July, 1958 to the two english runners Brian Hewson (1.48.3) and Michael Rawson (1.48.6) in a 880y race, but 10 days later he won the 880y title in the Empire Games in Cardiff and beat the same two runners.

I think that race in London was the only time he got beaten: he went unbeaten everywhere, also in Australia in 1958 to 1960

[KDFINE]

Tony Blue?

[Conor Dary]

I don't suppose it could be Ron Clarke.

[Per Andersen]

Tony Blue?

That's right Tony Blue beat him in the 800 in early 1960. Time? Probably around 1.49 or so.

[KDFINE]

Sometimes I am amazed at the trivia lurking in the recesses of my brain.

[rhymans]

That's part of the answer - Blue beat him 1:49.2 to 1:49.8 over 880y on Feb13, 1960 in Melbourne. You're 1/3 there.

[KDFINE]

Albie Thomas too? I know its a really big drop down in distance for him but somehow I think it may have been him.

[Per Andersen]

Pure guesswork now. Dave Power and Albie Thomas in 2mile races.

[rhymans]

I think you have it -

The day after Elliott ran his 3:54.5 WR in '58 he helped Albie Thomas set a WR of 8:32.0, and finished in a pretty good 8:37.6.

A couple of weeks after Rome '60, Elliott ran a half mile in Dublin. In his only race against Peter Snell he ran 1:48.4y for 4th, behind Snell 1:47.9, Delany 1:48.2 and Tony Blue 1:48.2