Santee Sets New Mile Record

Seven years ago in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, chunky little Gil Dodds set the same punishing pace he always did (like a clock wound too tightly: fast at first, then slower and slower and slower), but this time hung on through the last quarter mile, to the intense satisfaction of the big crowd, and set a new world record of 4:05.3 for the indoor mile.

Last Saturday night, Dodds' hard-earned record was finally broken. Wes Santee, the fastest miler America has ever produced, won the Hunter Mile at the Boston AA Games. He ran a fast, steady race, like a clock wound up right. His successive quarters were 57.6, 62.7, 61.8, 61.7. His time for the mile: 4:03.8, fastest ever indoors. Gunnar Nielsen, who had beaten Santee the week before, was a poor second.

It was sweet victory for Santee, with the classic Wanamaker Mile on tap, and himself clearly the favorite.