In general, the British performers were suprisingly inept in the field events. England's two discus men, Arthur Perry and G. R. Northern of Oxford were great hulks of men, but they had trouble coming within 20 feet of the winning toss by Pyle of Yale. On the other hand, the wispy English distance runners ran circles around their larger American opponents. The two-mile was originally planned as a three-mile test, but was shortened out of courtesy to the Americans. Even so, Benjamin, the best American two-miler, was 11 seconds behind Oxford's Gilligan. While the Americans religiously abstained from alcohol and tobacco before the big meet, the British, deception aside, showed no aversion to a few puffs or a small snort. Gilligan made a great show just before the start of the two-mile, parading up and down the track with a cigar clenched in his teeth.
Another interesting feature of Oxford-Cambridge track was the fact that the alumni of the two schools had formed, not two, but one organization to aid and supervise the teams. This was the Achilles Club, composed of holders of Blues, half-Blues, and Relay Colours in track. Although the Achilles carried on its affairs in an aura of accord, there was no slackening of rivalry between the two universities on the athletic field. The former athletes simply felt that preservation of Oxford and Cambridge track was more important than preserving either Oxford or Cambridge alone. It is an attitude that Harvard and Yale alumni may be forced to contemplate in the near future.
The American left London in triumph, but there were more laurels to win. The next stop was Dublin's famed Santry Stadium, scene of Herb Elliott's 3:54.5 mile in 1958, and it was there that Dyke Benjamin established himself as perhaps the greatest runner in Harvard history and a candidate for the 1960 Olympic team.
On the evening of June 16, Benjamin faced Irish record holder Bert Massett in the four-mile, the Crimson ace's first flat race at a distance greater than two miles. Messett won in 18:40, but Benjamin took second, eight seconds behind. A check with the record book showed that Benjamin's 18:48.4 was nearly 29 seconds better than the listed American four-mile mark, a 19:17.3 effort by Don Lash, one of the U. S.'s all-time greats, in 1937. Benjamin's performance was immediately submitted to the A.A.U for official recognition.
There is little doubt that Benjamin's time could have been faster. Unfamiliar with the four-mile grind, he saved himself so well that he covered the last 440 in a blazing 64.0. He ran consecutive two miles of 9:23 and 9:25, an amazing performance from a runner whose best two-mile at the start of the 1959 outdoor season was 9:25.4.
Nor were the fireworks over. The next evening, after considerable discussion, Benjamin entered the two-mile against Graham Everitt, Scotland's 4:03 miler. Excitement began to grow as Benjamin led the field through the first mile in 4:29. As Everett fell behind, Benjamin kept up his withering pace. With a last 440 of 63.0, he hit the tape in a sensational 8:55.2, a new Harvard record and the best performance this season by an American runner.
Benjamin's second mile was three seconds faster than his first. Again, this race demonstrated his remarkable development in a short period of time. Until the Army meet on April 18, he had never run a mile as fast as his 4:26 second leg at Santry. And his time for the race was nearly 13 seconds faster than his best previous effort. It will be a long time before a runner with Benjamin's dogged determination and competitive pride wears a Crimson uniform.
Other Harvard performers excelled at Santry's international gathering, too. Joel Landau won the 220 June 16 with a 21.8 clocking around a turn. That evening Tom Blodgett cleared 13 feet to take the pole vault, John de Kiewiet went over 6ft., 1 in. for a win in the high jump, and Pat Lilies finished first in the broad jump with a leap of 21 ft., 10 1/2 in. Lilies also was second in the pole