Sept. 17, 2004

By Michael Ashford Kansas State Collegian

Manhattan, KS (U-WIRE) -- Running royalty visited Ahearn Field House on Thursday. Jim Ryun, one of the sport's greatest figures, visited K-State to speak with members of the Wildcat cross country team.

As the first high school athlete ever to break four minutes in the mile, Ryun addressed Coach Michael Smith's team about how he got into running and the experiences he had along the way.

Currently a U.S. congressman representing Manhattan and the rest of the 2nd District, Ryun said his goal was to inspire K-State runners and tell them any goal they set can be achieved.

"I hope these runners have a dream," Ryun said. "I want them to know that they never have to listen to the doubters, and that they can exceed, whatever expectations they have of themselves."

Ryun spoke to the runners for about 20 minutes and shared stories of his running career and memories of the days when he first began running.

Ryun said when he first started running, he was not an immediate success. It was his high school coach's support that gave him the desire to improve, he said.

"My coach always challenged me to set my goals high," Ryun said. "He believed I could get better, and that made me want to get better."

While in high school in 1964, Ryun became the first high school runner to break four minutes in the mile when he posted a time of 3:59.

In 1965, as an 18-year-old senior, Ryun ran in San Diego against the defending Olympic gold-medalist in the mile, Peter Snell.

Ryun beat Snell, and in the process set a new high school-mile record in a time of 3:55. Ryun's record stood until 2001 when Alan Webb ran 3:53.

Smith said he hoped Ryun's talk inspired the team.

"It helps to have an athlete of that caliber talk to our runners," Smith said. "Most of our runners are from Kansas, and so they can relate to him. It raises the bar for our athletes after hearing what he said."

In college, Ryun ran at the University of Kansas and raced several times in Ahearn against K-State.

Ryun said he never thought of the Wildcats as enemies, and he holds Ahearn close to his heart.

"I have some fond memories of this building, even when it was a dirt track," Ryun said. "I liked the runners at K-State, and even though we ran against each other, we were companions."

After he spoke, Ryun signed autographs for team members and answered questions.

"It was inspiring to hear him talk," junior Joe Moore said. "We aren't down and out or anything, but it was good because it could really pump us up."

Ryun travels to colleges and universities around the country, speaking to runners about what it takes to be successful in athletics and beyond.

Ryun said the runners must realize the importance of setting high goals in athletics and in life, as well as listening to the guidance of their coach.

"I listened to my coach and he pushed me to become better, and you all should do the same," Ryun said. "Set goals in running and in life that are extremely high, and never listen to the people in the balcony that say you can't do it.

"Don't limit what your possibilities are."

(C) 2004 Kansas State Collegian via U-WIRE