Jim Grelle

Birthday: 09/30/36 Mile PR: 3:55.4 - 1965
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 3:38.9 - 1964
High School: Lincoln HS '55
Hometown: Portland, OR
College: University of Oregon '59

Jim Grelle finished 8th at the 1960 Olympic Games in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:45.0. He was the 1963 Pan Am Games 1500 meter gold medalist and the silver medalist in 1959. Grelle won the NCAA Mile title in 1959, the AAU crown at 1500 meters in 1960 and the AAU indoor Mile titles in 1965-66.

At the 1962 Mt. SAC Relays, the Oregon grad became the 4th American to break 4 minutes for the Mile (3:59.9), and on June 15, 1965 in Vancouver, Canada, he ran his Mile PR of 3:55.4 to set the U.S. record that teen phenom Jim Ryun broke 12 days later in San Diego.

Grelle also held the U.S. indoor Mile record (4:03.6 in 1961) and tied the 2 Mile outdoor record (8:25.2 in 1966), also Jim Ryun.

On June 13, 2020, Jim Grelle passed peacefully at his house in Portland, OR.

FUN FACT: Grelle was coached by two legends: Bill Bowerman (Oregon) and Mihály Iglói (Los Angeles Track Club).

News

Oregon Mile Legend & Olympian Jim Grelle Passes Away

June 16, 2020

"My father had a 'laser focus'. He was humble, gracious, gregarious and he took what he had from running and used it in his life. There was this balance of instruction and a quiet voice."

By Peter John L. Thompson

The world of Track & Field Athletics is deeply saddened by the news that...

Read More comments

Oregon Legend Jim Grelle Ran with the Best

November 30, 2012

Runner started at Lincoln High, went to UO, then all the way to the Olympics

By Gary Henley, The Daily Astorian

GEARHART, Ore. — He’s the North Coast’s own running legend.

And while Jim Grelle takes as much pleasure nowadays playing and talking about golf, he still loves reminiscing about...

Read More comments

Return the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.

ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.

CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.

NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance,
to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.

Become a Mile Maniac member or a BBTM sponsor today! Join us, and go Mile!

Join Us

Thanks for joining the movement and being a Mile Maniac. We'll keep you up to-date with our Mile wires as well as exclusive contests and opportunities. Help us spread the word by sharing our site and joining us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!