Bill McKim

Early in his career Bill McKim earned a trial to play football for Leicester City but opted to focus on track and field athletics where he specialised as a middle-distance runner. McKim soon joined Kettering Town Harriers where he became an exceptional runner, winning national and county titles. His first success came in 1959 when he won the youth title before winning his first senior title in 1961. In 1964 he broke the four-minute mile at a meet in London, becoming the first athlete to run a under four minutes at an event that had been organised by the British Milers Club. This performance earned McKim a place on the British Olympic team for the 1964 Tokyo Games. Once in Japan, however, he suffered due to the required inoculations and was eliminated in the heats of the 1,500 metres.

In 1965 McKim ran another sub-four minute mile with his aim to again represent Great Britain at the Olympics. He was in strong contention to run at the 1968 Mexico Games but was ruled out of selection due to a foot injury. In the late 1960s he joined Staffordshire Police before working as a manager at a company in Northampton. A decade later he was still competing in races, including running 2.26.24 in the New York Marathon in 1978. Even when he retired McKim remained active, with him trekking in the Himalayas.

Personal Best: 1500 – 3:42.8 (1964).