Jim Beatty

Jim Beatty’s main claim to track fame came in February 1962 when he became the first man to run a mile under 4 minutes indoors at the Los Angeles Times Meet. For that effort, he won the 1962 Sullivan Award. Beatty ran for the University of North Carolina but moved to California after college to train under the Hungarian coach, Mihály Iglói. Beatty won the AAU mile in 1962 and was AAU indoor mile champion from 1961-63. In 1963 he won a silver medal in the 1500 at the Pan American Games. Beatty did not qualify for the 1964 Olympics after finishing fifth in the Final Trials 5000 metres. He later returned to Charlotte, North Carolina and served several terms in the North Carolina legislature.

Personal Bests: 880y – 1:49.6 (1961); 1500 – 3:39.4 (1962); Mile – 3:55.5 (1963); 2 miles – 8:29.8 (1962); 5000 – 13:45.0 (1962).