On This Day: Arkansas Sets World Best, Haley Splits 43.5 400m on Distance Medley

Of the 15 Championship of America distance medley relay titles the Razorbacks captured at the Penn Relays, the 1986 Arkansas victory, which established a world best and collegiate record time of 9:22.6, came about in a very surprising way.

On this day, April 25, 1986, the Razorbacks claimed a fourth consecutive title with a crew of Gary Taylor, Roddie Haley, Espen Borge, and Doug Consiglio. Arkansas’ winning time bettered the previous world best of 9:24.2 set by Villanova in 1980.

However, in an event that usually relies on a strong anchor leg covering the final 1,600m distance, the 400m leg ended up being the key factor this particular year.

Haley, a sophomore, gave the Razorbacks a 10-meter lead through the second leg of the race with a blistering split of 43.5 seconds.

It marked the second year Haley had been part of the winning distance medley, splitting 44.2 as a freshman when the Razorbacks won in 9:28.2. Haley, named the meet’s 1985 Outstanding Male Athlete, was also part of Arkansas victories in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays that season as the Razorbacks totaled four relay titles, adding on the 4×1500.

The opening leg of the distance medley relay in 1986, covering 1,200-meters, was impressive on its own. The second, third and fourth fastest splits in Penn Relays history were established by Mount St. Mary’s Kip Cheruiyot (2:50.3), Villanova’s John Keyworth (2:51.1) and the Razorback’s Taylor (2:51.2) as they waged a battle for the early lead.

Taylor also ran on Arkansas’ winning 4×1500 relay of 14:55.31 in 1986 with the fastest split in meet history, a 3:35.5 carry on the second leg to better the previous best of 3:38.6 he set on the second leg in 1985.

In a preview for the 4×1500 relay that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the following was noted regarding Taylor.

The sun may now set on the British Empire, but you would hardly figure as much from the radiant delight this congenial Londoner brings to his distance-running duties for the University of Arkansas. The Penn Relays similarly are a labor of love for Gary Taylor.

Taylor’s personal bests include a 3:58 mile and a 3:40.17 for the open 1,500 meters. More important, as he showed in the Texas Relays three weeks ago, his finishing kick can be devastating. But whatever the degree of his success, Taylor is certain to come out of competition with his smile intact.

Following are excerpts from two articles that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Ron Reid and Joe Juliano on April 26, 1986.

Haley pushes Arkansas to record
A sprint fueled a win in distance medley

Before Roddie Haley came along, the distance medley relay at the Penn Relays used to be the domain of 1,600-meter anchor runners straining to reach the finish line first while a roaring crowd cheered them home.

After all, it is called the distance medley relay – 4,000 meters in length from the starting gun to the finish – and it was only fitting that the distance runners decided it.

But then Haley, who specializes in the 400-meter sprint, came along after choosing to matriculate at Arkansas. The carnival’s distance medley relay hasn’t been the same since.

Last year as a freshman, Haley ripped off a 44.2 second leg for 400 meters to lead the Razorbacks to victory in the event. Later, it was he – not anchorman Paul Donovan, an NCAA champion and winner of five Penn Relays watches – who was the prime topic of conversation after the race.

Incredibly, Haley topped himself yesterday before 17,110 spectators on a gorgeous afternoon.

The fastest 400-meter leg ever run at the Penn Relays propelled Arkansas to a world-best performance at Franklin Field. The key to the Razorbacks distance dominance and the school’s fourth consecutive victory in the event was as sprint – which is precisely what Haley made of the 400-meter leg he ran in an awesome 43.5 seconds.

Haley went to the afterburners when he got the baton from Gary Taylor, the lithe Londoner who got the Razorbacks off and running with a 1,200-meter lead leg in 2:51.2. Haley began in third place, but left Mount St. Mary’s Fred Owusu and Villanova’s Chip Jenkins behind as he scorched the Versaturf surface.

For a few minutes, Haley ran dead even with Jenkins, who is no slouch as a quarter-miler. But then Haley moved away from the Wildcats senior as though he had shifted into another gear. He blazed into the final curve and came roaring out of it with a 10-meter lead.

Espen Borge took over from Haley and contributed an 800-meter leg in 1:48.7 before Doug Consiglio anchored with a 3:59.0 over the final 1,600 meters.

The Razorbacks could not be caught by second-place Villanova as they finished in 9:22.6.

“It felt slow over the first 200,” Haley said. “but as we went into the second turn, I started my kick and I managed to hold on. It felt like I came through the first 200 in 21.9, but then I heard someone say 20-point.”

Haley’s split was the fastest ever run at sea level for the metric distance, although North Carolina Central’s Larry Black ran 43.8 for the longer, 440-yard distance in the 1972 Penn Relays.

The only faster time for the distance came in the 1968 Olympics, held in the helpful 7,000-foot altitude of Mexico City. That’s where Ron Freeman was timed in 43.2 for the second leg of the 1,600-meter relay that set the world record of 2:56.16.

Villanova ran 9:24.3 – only .10 of a second off its 6-year school record which had been the former world best.

Jenkins must have been shaking his head because his 44.9 split, Gerry O’Reilly’s 3:55.8 anchor and John Keyworth’s 2:51.1 for 1,200 meters each was a personal best mark.

“It’s not very often in the distance medley where the quarter is the crucial leg, is it?” asked Villanova’s Keyworth, with a proper note of wonder in his voice.

Villanova’s Sean O’Neill, who split 1:52.5 on the 800m leg, added: “The way we figured it was that Chip and Roddie would be even, and it would come down to the half [800-meter] and the mile [1,600-meter leg]. But 43.5 … What can you do?”

When asked about Haley superlative effort, Arkansas coach John McDonnell replied: “I think it’s one of the all-time great legs because of the type of people in it. I mean, Chip Jenkins is no slouch, and he ran away from him. But Roddie has run away from a lot of people. He’s talented and he’s very tough and works very hard.

“Roddie knows that when he hooks up with these guys on the distance medley relay, he can do some damage.”

Haley, a slender 5-foot-11, 145-pound sprinter from Texarkana, Texas, worked so hard he had to stretch out on a couch in the interview area for 3 or 4 minutes before catching his breath.

“We came here this year to break the record,” stated Haley, who was named the meet’s Outstanding Male Athlete in 1985. “We did, and it feels great.”