Who was first to break 1:47.0 in the 880?

[lovetorun]

Simple trivia question...who was the first to break 1:47.0 in the 880? But, also when and where and the time?

[dukehjsteve]

Tom Courtney, 1957 ? in 1:46.8. Don't know where. California somewhere I think. Compton ? West Coast Relays ?

Edit to add a few days later:

Just looked it up... I was on the money. It was at the Coliseum Relays.

[huntinwr]

Of course, as we all know, Roger Moens ran a WR 1:45.7 800 in 1955, with Boysen right behind him in 1:45.9, both intinsically superior to 880y in 1:46.8...

[lovetorun]

dukehjsteve...right.Tom Courtney, Coliseum Relays, May 24, 1957.

[Per Andersen]

And of course Courtney himself also ran faster than 1.46.8y about 2 months later at Bislett when he ran American record 1.45.8.

[aaronk]

Of course, first to break 1:47 for 800 METERS was Germany's Rudolph Harbig in 1939 with his 1:46.6.
However, that converts to about 1:47.3 for an 880!!

[Conor Dary]

dukehjsteve...right.Tom Courtney, Coliseum Relays, May 24, 1957.

Then destroyed by Snell's 1:44.3 on a grass track in 1962....still a decent time these days.

[kuha]

dukehjsteve...right.Tom Courtney, Coliseum Relays, May 24, 1957.

Then destroyed by Snell's 1:44.3 on a grass track in 1962....still a decent time these days.

The 880 time was 1:45.1, wasn't it?

[dukehjsteve]

dukehjsteve...right.Tom Courtney, Coliseum Relays, May 24, 1957.

Then destroyed by Snell's 1:44.3 on a grass track in 1962....still a decent time these days.

The 880 time was 1:45.1, wasn't it?

I'll confirm that one.

[Tuariki]

dukehjsteve...right.Tom Courtney, Coliseum Relays, May 24, 1957.

Then destroyed by Snell's 1:44.3 on a grass track in 1962....still a decent time these days.

Especially on grass. I wonder how many of today's 800m runners could run 1:44.3 on grass

[catson52]

Snell was at the top of his form in Jan-Feb of 1962. In his 3:54.4 mile at Wanganui, the splits and manner of racing, suggest he could have been sub 3:53 that evening. That would place it at the same level as Elliott's 1500m WR from 1960.

[runforlife]

Especially on grass. I wonder how many of today's 800m runners could run 1:44.3 on grass

Your statement sems to indicate that you believe grass is slower than cinders or the modern tracks. But is that really true for a top first class grass track?

[Conor Dary]

Especially on grass. I wonder how many of today's 800m runners could run 1:44.3 on grass

Your statement sems to indicate that you believe grass is slower than cinders or the modern tracks. But is that really true for a top first class grass track?

We will probably never know. But somehow I find it kind of doubtful Bolt could run 19.19 on a grass track.

[Tuariki]

Especially on grass. I wonder how many of today's 800m runners could run 1:44.3 on grass

Your statement sems to indicate that you believe grass is slower than cinders or the modern tracks. But is that really true for a top first class grass track?

I have run on a lot of top grass tracks including the Christchurch track Snell set his record on. My opinion only, but I believe the rubberised tracks of today are faster than grass.