Norman Taber
Encyclopedia
Norman Stephen Taber (September 3, 1891 – July 15, 1952) was an American
middle distance runner. He was the first amateur runner to surpass Walter George's
professional record in the mile
, set nearly 30 years previously. He also won a bronze medal over 1500 m and a gold medal in the team 3000 m at the Olympic Games in Stockholm 1912
.
championship mile for Brown University
. Missing the 1911 season, he re-emerged in 1912, finishing sixth in the IC4A cross country
, then surprising many by tying mile record holder John Paul Jones over that distance at the IC4A
championships.
He was selected for the Olympic 1500 m team and was one of the favourites for that event at the 1912 Olympics
held at Stockholm
. When the final was held 10 July, he led for part of the race and challenged leader Abel Kiviat
on the final homestretch. However, Arnold Jackson
of Britain
passed them both, and a photo-finish between Kiviat and Taber awarded Kiviat the silver medal and Taber the bronze.
Taber won the AAU
championship over the mile later that year with a 4:26 2/5 clocking, then went to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He ran for Oxford, but did not find much success.
, then won a mile at the Milrose AA in 4:17 3/5 a few weeks later.
He chose 16 July to make a special attempt to break the mile record. But not just Jones' world record - he was also aiming for Walter George's professional record of 4:12 3/4, set in 1886, 29 years previously.
The Harvard track at Allston, Massachusetts was extremely fast and the weather was perfect for the attempt. Five seasoned timers were on hand, as were three pace-setters who were given handicaps to best assist Taber in his quest.
J.W. Ryan, who was given a 10-yard lead, set a fast pace, clocking 58 s for the first lap. Then, D.S. Mahoney, who had been given a 120-yard lead, took up the pace-setting duties and pulled Taber through the half in 2:05, then 3:13 at the three-quarter mark. J.M. Burke, given a lead of 355 yards, carried Taber on through the final lap, and the crowd, sensing a record, cheered loudly. Taber passed 1500 m unofficially in 3:55, faster than the world record, and it was clear Jones' amateur record would fall.
Taber passed Burke into the homestretch and slowed, but kept his form and crossed the finish line. The official result: 4:12 3/5. Taber had beaten George's mile time by a fraction of a second and was not only the fastest amateur runner ever, he was now the fastest miler in history.
Some raised objections over the pacing involved and the lack of any "race," but the IAAF ratified the record and it stood until Paavo Nurmi
eclipsed it in 1923.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
middle distance runner. He was the first amateur runner to surpass Walter George's
Walter George (athlete)
Walter Goodall George was a nineteenth century British runner from Calne who after setting numerous world records as an amateur, went professional in part to challenge the mile record-holder William Cummings, defeating him in several highly publicized races...
professional record in the mile
World record progression for the mile run
The world record in the mile run is the best mark set by a male or female runner in the middle-distance track and field event. The IAAF is the official body which oversees the records. Hicham El Guerrouj is the current men's record holder with his time of 3:43.13 minutes, while Svetlana Masterkova...
, set nearly 30 years previously. He also won a bronze medal over 1500 m and a gold medal in the team 3000 m at the Olympic Games in Stockholm 1912
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
.
1912 Olympics
Taber emerged as a top runner in 1910 when he finished third in the IC4AIC4A
IC4A or ICAAAA is an annual men's competition held at different colleges every year....
championship mile for Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
. Missing the 1911 season, he re-emerged in 1912, finishing sixth in the IC4A cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, then surprising many by tying mile record holder John Paul Jones over that distance at the IC4A
IC4A
IC4A or ICAAAA is an annual men's competition held at different colleges every year....
championships.
He was selected for the Olympic 1500 m team and was one of the favourites for that event at the 1912 Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
held at Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. When the final was held 10 July, he led for part of the race and challenged leader Abel Kiviat
Abel Kiviat
Abel Richard Kiviat was an American middle distance track event middle distance runner.-Career:...
on the final homestretch. However, Arnold Jackson
Arnold Jackson
Brigadier-General Arnold Nugent Strode Strode-Jackson CBE DSO & Three Bars was a British athlete, British Army officer, and a barrister. He was the winner of the 1500m at the 1912 Summer Olympics, in what was hailed at the time as "the greatest race ever run"...
of Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
passed them both, and a photo-finish between Kiviat and Taber awarded Kiviat the silver medal and Taber the bronze.
The first IAAF mile record
On 31 May 1913, Taber ran again in the IC4A championships, and was up against world record-holder Jones in the mile. Taber led at the first three quarters, in 61.6, 2:09.3 and 3:16.1. But Jones launched into his drive as the bell for the final lap sounded and Taber couldn't respond. He crossed the finish line in 4:14 2/5, a new world amateur record, and the first mile record to be recognized by the new governing body of track and field, the IAAF, known then as the International Amateur Athletics Federation. Taber's 4:16 2/5 made him the fourth-best amateur over the distance.Taber won the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championship over the mile later that year with a 4:26 2/5 clocking, then went to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He ran for Oxford, but did not find much success.
Taber eclipses George
In 1915, he decided to make an attempt to break Jones' mile record, and he trained with coach Eddie O'Connor for six months to do so. By June, he was in top form. He defeated Kiviat on 26 June in 4:15 1/5 in the Eastern Trials for the AAUAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
, then won a mile at the Milrose AA in 4:17 3/5 a few weeks later.
He chose 16 July to make a special attempt to break the mile record. But not just Jones' world record - he was also aiming for Walter George's professional record of 4:12 3/4, set in 1886, 29 years previously.
The Harvard track at Allston, Massachusetts was extremely fast and the weather was perfect for the attempt. Five seasoned timers were on hand, as were three pace-setters who were given handicaps to best assist Taber in his quest.
J.W. Ryan, who was given a 10-yard lead, set a fast pace, clocking 58 s for the first lap. Then, D.S. Mahoney, who had been given a 120-yard lead, took up the pace-setting duties and pulled Taber through the half in 2:05, then 3:13 at the three-quarter mark. J.M. Burke, given a lead of 355 yards, carried Taber on through the final lap, and the crowd, sensing a record, cheered loudly. Taber passed 1500 m unofficially in 3:55, faster than the world record, and it was clear Jones' amateur record would fall.
Taber passed Burke into the homestretch and slowed, but kept his form and crossed the finish line. The official result: 4:12 3/5. Taber had beaten George's mile time by a fraction of a second and was not only the fastest amateur runner ever, he was now the fastest miler in history.
Some raised objections over the pacing involved and the lack of any "race," but the IAAF ratified the record and it stood until Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...
eclipsed it in 1923.