Sport: New Man, New Standards

By the time the great Gunder Hägg had finished his eighth and last U.S. race at the Triborough Stadium of New York City last week, the lean, blond Swede with the quick flash of mordant wit and the flawless leg action had done something to U.S. track performances. Without apparent exertion he had lowered the old standards that once meant championship running.

By Hägg standards his last race was a failure. Competing with two top-flight U.S. runners he did no better than 4:06.9, far short of the still unattainable mark of four minutes flat...

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