Jim
Ryun

Jim Ryun
In the latter part of the 1960s, a new star emerged at KU. Little did Jayhawk fans know that Jim Ryun would become one of the most prolific track figures in history. In 1964, at the age of 17, Ryun became the first high schooler to run a sub-four-minute mile. In fact, his high school mile mark of 3:55.3 stood for 31 years. Later in his collegiate career, he would shatter that record and many others. In his spectacular stint at KU from 1965 to 1969, he owned world records in the 880, 1,500, mile and two-mile runs. Outdoors, he established new marks in the 880 yards, 1,500 meters, mile, two-mile, three-mile and the 5,000 meters. At the NCAA Championships, he captured five titles (four indoor, one outdoor). To this day, he still holds 13 Jayhawk school records. Ryun, who was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1966, was a three-time Olympian. During the same year, the Wichita, Kan. native, was named the winner of the AAU Sullivan Award for the top amateur athlete in America. He won the silver medal in the 1968 Olympic Games in the 1,500 meters. In 1972, he was tripped up in the 1,500 and did not qualify for the finals. A winner of three U.S. titles in the mile, Ryun was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1982.

Teams:
Track & Field (Men's) 1966
Track & Field (Men's) 1967
Track & Field (Men's) 1968
Track & Field (Men's) 1969

All-American
1967 - Track & Field (Men's)
1967 - Track & Field (Men's)
1967 - Track & Field (Men's)
1968 - Track & Field (Men's)
1968 - Track & Field (Men's)
1969 - Track & Field (Men's)
1969 - Track & Field (Men's)

Olympian
1964 - Track & Field (Men's)
1968 - Track & Field (Men's)
1972 - Track & Field (Men's)

National Champion
1967 - Track & Field (Men's)
1968 - Track & Field (Men's)
1969 - Track & Field (Men's)

Conference Champion
1967 - Track & Field (Men's)
1968 - Track & Field (Men's)
1968 - Track & Field (Men's)
1969 - Track & Field (Men's)

National Hall of Fame
1980 - Track & Field (Men's)

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