RQ Gallery: Jim Beatty

Today marks the 60 year anniversary of when North Carolinian Jim Beatty became the first man to run under 4:00 in the mile indoors. On February 10, 1962, Beatty lowered the previous World Record by 2.5 seconds on the 11 lap to the mile track at the Los Angeles Invitational in the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Beatty grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Central High School before attending UNC Chapel Hill, where he was an All-American for the two miles in 1955 and 1957, and for the 5,000 meters in 1956. Beatty was also the Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the mile in 1955 and 1956.

Beatty competed in the 5000 meters at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated on July 11th that Summer.

Here’s a great write up about the event from Scott Reid of the Orange County Register.

The photo that hangs in RunQuarters is from Ed Widdis (AP Photo). It captures a very different time in Track & Field, and an iconic moment in North Carolina sports history. Check out the video of the race below, which was originally broadcast on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports.”

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