August 7th 1958 a new day in Santry and a new World Record is set! 24 hours after Herb Elliott`s Mile World Record brought day 2 of the ‘August International Sports’. The feature event on the programme for day 2 was the 2 mile open. Tonight Herb Elliott way to pay back Albie Thomas for pacing the mile by pacing the 2 mile for Thomas.
The crowd was smaller tonight, approximately numbering 8000. From the off Elliott took on the pace making duties reaching the mile in 4.22 with Thomas on his shoulder. On hearing the split Thomas though the pace was too slow and the opportunity was gone :
“When I heard the mile time I said to myself bang goes our hopes of a record, but I decided to have a go. It was tough going and in the second quarter of the last mile I felt like turning it in. Then came that wonderful Dublin cheer. I felt I was running for the crowd as much as for myself and I just ran as hard as I possibly could. When I heard I had actually beaten the record I could hardly believe it. Imagine I ran the last mile in 4 minutes 11 seconds’. (Albie Thomas)
A new World Record 8.32.0. The second in 2 days, and Albie Thomas` second of the Summer of `58 in Santry (to add to his World 3 Mile set on July 9th)
(Above, start of the 2 mile open, Aug 7th 1958)
(Above, Elliott (note missing number) paces, Thomas (no. 38) waits)
(Above, Albie Thomas breaks the World Record!)
Morton Games is proud to preserve the memory of Ablie Thomas with the annual Albie Thomas Memorial Race as a key event in the annual international event. Fittingly this year`s was won by Australia`s Brett Robinson with the presentation made by Albie`s family: wife Nola, daughter Robyn, son in law Gary and grandsons Liam and Thomas.
(Above 2018, Albie Thomas Memorial Race)