Bannister back on track
A special athletics meeting will take place at Iffley Road sports ground today to celebrate the anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister's record-breaking sub-four minute mile, which he ran on the same track fifty years ago.
The athlete himself will be present at an event that is expected to attract around 2,000 spectators from around the country.
As well as a re-enactment of the original 'elite mile' race, in which members of the British Milers Club and the Amateur Athletics Association will compete against University athletes, there will also be a number of other races in an afternoon of competition that kicks off at 3pm.
The original meeting had been a contest between Oxford University and British AAA athletes, and several leading and international competitors are again expected to attend. Although a number of athletes have yet to confirm, British 1500m and 3000m runner John Mayock and the sprinting star Amy Spencer will both be amongst the competitors.
Sir Roger was a medical student at Oxford, and later became Master of Pembroke college.
Today he will present the Bannister Medal, a new annual award for the most promising athlete in the University. One of the original stopwatches that was used to time the historic race will also be presented to the University during the day, along with a special edition fifty pence coin from the Royal Mint, produced to mark the occasion.
The two will be added to a collection already held at the athlete's former College, a set which includes the finishing posts and tape from the race, as well as the record-breaker's running vest.
Jo Beabsworth, who is co-ordinating the event, told The OxStu that she has high hopes for today: "Even if it rains, it will be an authentic replication of the original race. A lot of work has gone into organising the event, and I hope that it will be a great success."
6th May 2004