Running at altitude Lee Evans(43.86 WR) leads home Larry James (43.97)and Ron Freeman(44.41) in a USA 1-2-3.Evans WR stood for 20 years until broken by Butch Reynolds.
I'm inclined to agree with you. In my humble opinion that is without question the toughest lane to run a 400...which makes Freeman's run all the more impressive.
Evans (43.86), James (43.97), Freeman (44.41), Gakou (Senegal, 45.01), Jellinghaus (West Germany, 45.33), Bezabeh (Ethiopia, 45.42), Badenski (Poland, 45.42), Omolo (Uganda, 47.61). Interestingly, Omolo beat Evans in the Quarterfinals Heat 2, where Omolo ran a 45.33 and Evans 45.54. Of course, Evans may have been holding back running only fast enough to advance. Evans then went on to win his semifinal Heat 2 with a 44.83 time, and Omolo placed fourth in that same heat (45.52). Also, interestingly, you don't see many sprinters from Eastern Africa nowadays but this 400m Final had sprinters from Ethiopia and Uganda.
Still the golden spike in my book with all due respect to Van Neikert, Johnson and Reynolds who I admire greatly. He set a standard that really won't be reset until someone breaks 43.00. Michael Johnson is still my favorite sprinter to watch however. Ultimate beast.
Incredible time. At the time Freeman was coached by Evans. Just imagine how much faster these guys could have run if they did weight training like modern sprinters. Back then the science of power training was not popular.
We were doing little weight training back then. Plus in ‘69, a group of young athletes from the Nationals, trained at the ‘68 Olympic Los Alamos facility under coach Mal Andrews of USC. There as a long jumper, I trained on weights, ran stairs while at home I practiced with a hurdle at the end of the runway. Lee Evans was a raw, natural talent and an inspiration to my brother, Bob Wisdom, back in the day. RIP
@@WithBACON I don’t know since I was not involved or associated with drugs administered in a team setting yet it was widely believed that Russia, Germany did, allegedly.
Good paperback for those who want to learn more about Evans in 1968 (his 400m, race relations, Olympic politics, etc), titled "The Last Protest: Lee Evans in Mexico City". Author is Frank Murphy.
Thanks for the excellent information. He was a nice guy. As a kid I followed him to the top of the stands in Fresno during a break in the relays there. He turned, smiled, and signed my program.
Last time I saw Lee Evans in the news, it was unfortunately bad news. He was helping coach a female sprinter in Nigeria, and was suspended for 4 years for giving her a PED.
@@htcmrahim That's good. Now that I was notified of your reply, I had to look up Lee Evans today (5/16/21) and I see there is some bad news about Lee's health. He suffered a stroke last week and is in a Nigerian hospital.
@@ddenuci Hi John, Yes Lee’s situation is very concerning. I believe he’s non responsive awaiting a possible ambulance flight back to USA for hopefully life saving treatment. It appears his friends and colleagues in Africa are doing all they can. Praying for this Olympic Champion and great human being.
@@htcmrahim Always sad to hear when one of the heroes of your youth passes away. Reading the articles today, it seemed like he had a good life and was doing what he loved to do.
What is you point? Other races have been run at high altitudes and no one broke his record. Also, of the individual running records set in 68, his lasted the longest. Apology accepted...lol
Rest in heavenly peace Mr. Evans! Hero, civil rights icon, and 400M savant!
He was my track hero throughout high school. That 43.86 stood for 20 years!
You were one of my heroes when I was in High School. R.I.P. brother.
Rest in Power, Lee Evans.
RIP to an absolute legend. My 400M hero as a budding track and field kid in high school.
Yeah, he was my hero also. I ran the 440. I got his autograph at the 1970 Millrose games at The Garden.
Lee Evans was one of the most competitive runners we've ever had.
RIP to this Olympic Legend he was 74 heard of his passing on ESPN today!!!!!!
Lee Evans: Legend and Inspiration
The great Lee Evans.
Sad news on his passing. Took the 400m to another level. I remember his name seemingly set in stone on the record books when I was growing up.
Freeman ran one of the best races I have ever seen from lane one!
I don't believe anyone has run a better time in lane one
I'm inclined to agree with you. In my humble opinion that is without question the toughest lane to run a 400...which makes Freeman's run all the more impressive.
RIP fella. True legend.
Imagine breaking the World Record, coming in second place, and having nobody talk about you. (Larry James) Track is a rough sport.
God knows.
Rip Larry James
Nobody in the stands. What a shame for them to miss Evans
Evans (43.86), James (43.97), Freeman (44.41), Gakou (Senegal, 45.01), Jellinghaus (West Germany, 45.33), Bezabeh (Ethiopia, 45.42), Badenski (Poland, 45.42), Omolo (Uganda, 47.61). Interestingly, Omolo beat Evans in the Quarterfinals Heat 2, where Omolo ran a 45.33 and Evans 45.54. Of course, Evans may have been holding back running only fast enough to advance. Evans then went on to win his semifinal Heat 2 with a 44.83 time, and Omolo placed fourth in that same heat (45.52). Also, interestingly, you don't see many sprinters from Eastern Africa nowadays but this 400m Final had sprinters from Ethiopia and Uganda.
Well explained
insane i saw Evans on my school plaque. He went to my highschool. How special😊
i had his pic hangig over my bed
me too, with Tommy Smith's.
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mr Evans
RIP Lee Evans 1947-2021
Rest In Peace 400m sprinter an Olympian.
LEE EVANS IS MY IDOL
Still the golden spike in my book with all due respect to Van Neikert, Johnson and Reynolds who I admire greatly. He set a standard that really won't be reset until someone breaks 43.00. Michael Johnson is still my favorite sprinter to watch however. Ultimate beast.
Vincent Lewis same :D
Incredible time. At the time Freeman was coached by Evans. Just imagine how much faster these guys could have run if they did weight training like modern sprinters. Back then the science of power training was not popular.
We were doing little weight training back then. Plus in ‘69, a group of young athletes from the Nationals, trained at the ‘68 Olympic Los Alamos facility under coach Mal Andrews of USC. There as a long jumper, I trained on weights, ran stairs while at home I practiced with a hurdle at the end of the runway. Lee Evans was a raw, natural talent and an inspiration to my brother, Bob Wisdom, back in the day. RIP
@@inawisdom3658 How prevalent were anabolics at the time among sprinters?
@@WithBACON
I don’t know since I was not involved or associated with drugs administered in a team setting yet it was widely believed that Russia, Germany did, allegedly.
Good paperback for those who want to learn more about Evans in 1968 (his 400m, race relations, Olympic politics, etc), titled "The Last Protest: Lee Evans in Mexico City". Author is Frank Murphy.
Thanks for the excellent information. He was a nice guy. As a kid I followed him to the top of the stands in Fresno during a break in the relays there. He turned, smiled, and signed my program.
Lee Evans is my cousin’s grandpa and he currently lives in Africa pretty cool huh
Relaxed form....Quincy Wilson reminds me of Evans a bit in this regard.
Incredible! We could use a couple of Lee Evans to team with LaShawn Merritt if we want to truly dominate in Rio.
the best Olympiad.
Last time I saw Lee Evans in the news, it was unfortunately bad news. He was helping coach a female sprinter in Nigeria, and was suspended for 4 years for giving her a PED.
Nigerian courts have cleared Lee of any wrongdoing in the doping case.
@@htcmrahim That's good. Now that I was notified of your reply, I had to look up Lee Evans today (5/16/21) and I see there is some bad news about Lee's health. He suffered a stroke last week and is in a Nigerian hospital.
@@ddenuci Hi John, Yes Lee’s situation is very concerning. I believe he’s non responsive awaiting a possible ambulance flight back to USA for hopefully life saving treatment. It appears his friends and colleagues in Africa are doing all they can. Praying for this Olympic Champion and great human being.
@@ddenuci Damn just heard Lee died.
@@htcmrahim Always sad to hear when one of the heroes of your youth passes away. Reading the articles today, it seemed like he had a good life and was doing what he loved to do.
WTF i didnt know he went to my highschool
First to break 45 and 44 seconds in the 400 using electronic timing...
HOJE, QUALQUER TEMPO DESSES ATLETAS, SERIA CONSIDERADO UM "TEMPAÇO"!
Marita Koch's world record of 47.6 would have seen her place 7th in this race. Drugs, drugs and more drugs.
当時中学生だったので学校と部活で、リアルタイムで観られなかったが翌年ＮＨＫ教育テレビの、テレビスポーツ教室のフィルム映像で観て感動＆興奮しました。この記録が高地で達成されたと云う一言で片付けられ、偉業がほぼ忘れられているのは、エヴァンス、ジェームス、フリーマン等に対して失礼です。空気の薄さを考えたら、平地より条件は厳しい筈で、天才達が揃ったから世界新記録が出たのです。勘違いしている人が多すぎるから、一言言いたくなりました。
That is an unbelievable time even by today's standards!
That has to be one of the fastest last 100 meter segments by Evans.
lee evans. cool brutha!
Two supplant Lee Evan’s achievement, the next 400m runner will have break 43 seconds.
RIP 🙏🏾
Americans, come back!!
why was it removed? follow the $.
It's called high altitude. Many records and PB's were set. Let's hold the Olympics at Machu Picchu.
What is you point? Other races have been run at high altitudes and no one broke his record. Also, of the individual running records set in 68, his lasted the longest. Apology accepted...lol
He was probably a drug cheat. In later years he was caught giving steroids when coaching.
GREAT ENGLISHMAN WINS BY A STREET