The 10,000-meter run is a slow, not very popular race, a dogged, grinding test of endurance that usually sends the track fans ambling out for hot dogs. But not last week, when the best U.S. team ever assembled met the best from Soviet Russia at Philadelphia's Franklin Field. Far ahead was Russia's tireless Alexei Desyatchikov. Yet the eyes were not on him. All heads turned toward the other three mentwo Americans and a Russianstruggling against time and tortured bodies to win honor and points for their countriesthree for second place, two for third, one for finishing.
On the 19th lap, University of...