Christian Chronicle (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 53, Ed. 1 Monday, October 14, 1968 Page: 4 of 8
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CHRISTIAN
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behind liis mile record and a full
six seconds behind his 1:44.9
undoubtedly will do better in
Mexico City, where he’ll be
pressed by a field limited to four-
church of Christ, teaching that
there is only one true church,”
For JimRyun, world’s premier
miler and owner of three world
records, this meant several weeks
of complete rest, absences in the
NCAA and AAU championships
in June in California and another
possibility that he would miss the
“ultimate” in track and field.
Young Jim followed doctor’s
orders and rested. Not only did he
miss the NCAA and AAU meets,
won’t finish.”
Jim Ryun showed no signs of
genius in his early days. He was
bom April 29, 1947, the second
son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Ryun.
James Ronald’s parents are de-
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--------------------State .
Christian Benefits, Inc.
2525 E. Central, Wichita, Kansas 67214
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Announcing The Formation Of ’
BENEFITS,
mation we have received, they
were not influenced by anyone
mated. Nor is it likely to affect
performance in short-distance
events. J
Ryun’s experience at this sort
heat of the 1 500-meter trials, but
a ninth place in the semifinals
“It depressed me extremely,” he
said. “This was the lowest I had
ever been."
Now with the 1968 edition of
the storied Olympic Games near-
ing, Ry uh remembered that dis-
mal day in October, 1964. How-
A Nationwide Special Group for Church of Christ Ministers! Christian
Benefits, Inc., is operated by members of Churches of Christ to
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to groups.
ever, right along side that memory
is the dream of an Olympic gold
medal jn 1968.
“1 think the one thing that
keeps me going so much is the
Olympic Games," continued the
University of Kansas junior. “It’s
the biggest thing for me. I want to
do well. You may run well and set
world records, but there is noth-
ing like winning a gold medal. I’d
say that would have to be the
ultimate."
above sea level. Its ratified atmos-
phere, with only 75 percent of the
oxygen which is available at sea
level, will challenge the world’s - minute milers, but a world record
best athletes to deliver peak per-
formances.
High altitudes, scientists have
discovered, will represent little or
no actual danger (heart attacks,
for example) to athletes who have
in the longer event may be out of
the question.
Ryun felt his Boulder times
were “pretty good for that
altitude. When you go from sea
level to high altitude you feel
been properly trained and accli- ’ tired and heavy in the chest. You
have to be careful of your pace,
especially at 1500 meters (the
metric mile) or longer.
“At sea level you can go out
of running paid off in early May with a 56-second quarter and you
when he led Kansas to the Big might be tired at the end, but
Eight Conference championship at you’ll finish. At high altitudes, if
Boulder, Colo., 5,430 feet above you go out in 56 seconds, you
sea level.
He won both his events, but his
!
• City.
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al,.
MAIL THIS COWON
Gentlemen: Please send me information about your new
retirement plan backed by John Hancock. I understand I
am not obligated in any way whatever.
voted members of the Church of
Christ in Wichita, Kans., and they
raised their children in an atmos-
phere where moral attitudes and
high ideals are the everyday way
of life.
“They are very friendly peo-
ple,” notes coach Timmons.
“They don’t really like to Hoot
their horns.’ No one in the family
would take the approach where
they are seeking publicity. Jim
doesn’t need to. His performance
speaks for itself.”
“Even though Jim goes up
there to school (University of
Kansas at Lawrence) instead of a
Christian school, these worldly
things don’t appeal to him,” says
Jim’s father. “Temptations are
put before him all the time, but
he hasn’t even thought, about dab-
bling with them. He is still think-
ing in the Christian way he was
brought up in at home.”
“There are many fine people at
the university,” adds Jim, who
holds the world record of 3:33.1
in the 1500 meters. “My room-
mates have all been real fine peo-
ple, real helpful and understand-
ing Coach Timmons is a real fine
individual and a great coach. I
think he deserves a great deal of
credit for my success so far-as do
my other high school coaches.”
Jim believes that one of the
greatest virtues is humility. “I
learned from Jesus that humility
does not keep its seat but gets up
and plans, works, executes and
dedicates itself to accomplish
worthwhile purposes. This 1 try to
practice in my life.”
The 21-year-old world record
holder practices the virtues of
Jesus for the “ultimate” in life.
And now with his illnesses and
high altitude mastered, he is ready
for the “ultimate” in track and
fieid.Gamer Roberts
SEND TODAY!
NO OBLIGATION
CHRISTIAN
BENEFITS, INC.
2525 E. Central
Wichita, Kansas 67214 .
Attn.: Wayne Goodvin
Adapted from Teenage Chris-
tian, October, 1968.
1964 occurred when Dr. John
Barton, athletic physician for the
University of Kansas, announced
that Jim had a mild case of
mononucleosis, a highly con-
tagious disease common among
students.
It is a virus infection that in-
fects the lymph glands. Cases are
usually mild, treated largely by
rest. Many victims continue their
normal procedure, but at a slower
pace.
- -
- .
At least three other members
of the churches of Christ are on
the U.S. Olympic squad.
They are:
Wayne Wells of Houston, who
is a student at the University of
Oklahoma and a member of the
wrestling squad
George Young, an Arizona
schoolteacher, who also made the
1964 team in the steeple chase
and marathon events
Randy Matson, a graduate of
Texas AAM University and a
native of Pampa, Tex., who
competes in the shot put.
1
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Continued from page 1
Tokyo a virus hit me,” Jim
remembers. “I was down in bed
and should have stayed there, but
I would get up and run anyway.
This didn’t help any, it just made
me more tired and sapped what
little energy I had."
Ryun finished fourth in his
heat of the 1500-meter trials, but
a ninth place in the semifinals
ended his 1964 Olympic hopes. ’ but he wasn>t able to compete m
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the first round of the Olympic
trials. “I thought, after all these
years of getting ready for the
Olympics and then not to even get
a chance to try out,” he com-
mented.
As soon as he was able to
resume training, Ryun journeyed
to Flagstaff, Ariz., to run at high
altitudes to prepare for Mexico
City. He also made several trips
back home to Kansas for a little
reassurance from his family and
Miss Anne Snider of Bay Village,
to whom he was recently engaged. THE RYUNS AND SON-Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Ryun greet their famous
He ran and ran, almost un-
noticed to the track and field
world, for two months. Then in
mid-August he was ready for his
first public competition. During a
meet for Olympic hopefuls at Mt.
San Antonio College in Walnut,
Calif., Ryun recorded a 3:55.9
mile.
It was only the eighth fastest
mile by the man who holds the
world record at 3:51.1, but it
marked a milestone for Ryun,
who only a couple of months
earlier was afraid he might miss
the Olympics.
The 3:55.9 was not among his
most commanding races. Usually
when he is at top condition Ryun
stays toward the front of the pack
of runners, gradually pulling far-
ther and farther away and creating
a race for second place. His pre-
vious best 1968 mile being only time was more than 19 seconds
4:04, Ryun had to put down
Late in May, 1968, flashbacks 0^^’, Roscoe Divine in the —--------- —
O,ymp^'WT®c^in^vinJsio^-' Walnut event. But he did just that, world record in the half-mile. He
clocking a 55.1 final quarter and
winning by 15 yards.
“Jim has always made quick
recovery,” said Bob Timmons,
Jim’s coach at Kansas who has
known him since he was a sopho-
more in high school. “Another
thing in his favor is the fact that
he gets into top condition so
quickly. Even after a long layoff,
he’s ready to go after just a few
sessions.”
Ryun admitted he felt “heavy”
after the race. “When you feel
heavy, you don’t want to run a
fast time because you are not sure
whether you will be able to fin-
” He also felt tight, he re-
vealed, because he was in such
demand from the officials and
fans on the infield. “Every time I
wanted to warm up,” he stated,
“somebody grabbed my arm.”
During his mile his warmup
■ ik
IRISTIAN CHRONICLE October 14,1948
Ryun Overcomes Illness to Gain Second Olympics Try
World Title Holder Who Believes in Humility
struct where they may be teach-
ing error, they should be left to conditions they must face in Mex-
continue their work without ico City.
‘missionary interference’.” Mexico City rests 7,500 feet
Rhodesians...
Continued from page 1
In event there are those among ish.
the church who wish to marry
instead of remaining in the com-
munal property system, the
church pays a “lobola” (dowry)
so they can take a mate.
“This work was started by one , w
man and they call themselves the shoes also became the souvenir of
a Ryun worshipper. “I fed fine
about everything except the
says Mitchell. “From the infer- shoes,” Jim said.
More sure of himself now with
mononucleosis and an old foot
else until they contacted Brother injury mended, Ryun joined other
Gwini. It is our feeling that, al- United Stares track and field ath-
though we should guide and in- letes at Lake Tahoe, Calif., to
train at high altitudes, like the
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Easley, Paul. Christian Chronicle (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 53, Ed. 1 Monday, October 14, 1968, newspaper, October 14, 1968; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1320786/m1/4/: accessed June 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.