1975 Miracle Mile Filbert Bayi vs Marty Liquori

[luisraulsantos]

La pista era de material volcanico.

[zinzam88]

Amazing race! This Tanzanian is my man!

[kajimakajima2]

You made us proud Bayi.Still remember reading the daily news in Tanga with a smile on my face.

[20pregreatrun16]

from WIKIPEDIA

It was hoped that the Bayi-Walker clash would continue but, because Tanzania boycotted the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, it never materialized. However, since Bayi was suffering from a bout of malaria shortly before the Olympics, he may not have been able to challenge Walker even had there been no boycott.

Bayi won a silver medal in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. He ran 8:12.5 behind Bronislaw Malinowski.

[VLombardi01]

amazing! I would have liked to see him against Ryun.

[tonespinner]

He (Bayi) never got to participate in the 1976 olympics due to a boycott by several African nations. What a crime to ruin the careers of great athletes over petty political points. I don't remember hearing of him after that.

[tonespinner]

PS: because of this (the boycott), the much anticipated duel between Bayi and New Zealand's John Walker (the other top man at 1500 and who won gold) never took place. Sad

[yellcarreon]

technically, bayi ran "solo", so his time of 3.51 was outstanding way back in 1975!

[mr1lover]

Had never heard of Bayi but will never forget his performance

[FinnMove]

Filbert Bayi really deserved W. R. in 1973

with 1500 metres. A man who likes to run.

Sometimes the tactic works sometimes doesn´ t.

Brendan Foster made this very great tactic

in 1974 European Championships in 5000 metres.

It is these pages. Recommended !

[dahby79]

Is anyone defeat Baye ?

[geogwalsh]

Good race, awful commentating.

[SantaFeJohn]

I thought the commentating was fantastic....especially when he said 2 laps and a straightaway to go. That's an astute comment. He must of been a runner too.

[DJBeesley23]

@SantaFeJohn

Actually there was a straightaway and 2 laps to go so it wasn't really a comment describing the end of a hard fought race being decided in the last 100 meters.

[knightsxc06]

Give the commentating a break... no one will ever hold a candle to the great David Coleman.

[rytkonen]

No pacemakers and rabbits! Good old style run!

[papmjny]

@rytkonen Maybe not good old style. The Britons ruined the good manners of sportsmanlike already in 1954, when organized Roger Bannister's mile unde 4.00 minutes. Anyway, Bayi was absolutely of of the best ever.

[FullMontyUK]

@papmjny Well, both Chataway and Brasher felt they were in good enough shape to run under four minutes. They weren't just pacemakers for Bannister even if Bannister was the man most likely to do it. But Bayi's ability to set off fast and then accelerate at the end of the race is quite extraordinary. I believe that at the Commonwealth Games in 1974 he only adopted that front-running tactic because he didn't think he had the closing sprint to match the race favourites.

[papmjny]

@rytkonen 

[jimbojimjimbo]

A lot of people don't realise this, but eamon Coghlan of Ireland set a European Record in this race with 3.53.3, beating Micel Jazy's 10 year old record of 3.53.6. This record lasted for 15 months. A great run.

[broom2000]

eskio hin colla tay....hatski!!!

[basilcruncher]

that was such an incredible run. amazing to take it from the front like that and surge when the pack closed down on him. not knowing the result i was willing bayi to win round the last bend.

[kalcom2]

Great clip, filbert bayi was a great athlete

[ww1313]

it is the dream mile, not the miracle mile