60 years ago on this day (1965): 18-year-old Jim Ryun, coming off his senior year as a track star at Wichita East high school, achieved another historic victory, this time at the National AAU Track & Field championships in San Diego.
Ryun ran the mile in 3:55.3, the fastest mile ever run by an American; in doing so, he defeated the reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder, 26-year-old Peter Snell of New Zealand, by two feet. This was considered a major upset.
Ryun's time was not only an American record, but it stood as the high school record in the U.S. for 36 years.