nice clip - fancy being robbed of a WR because the track was short.
That was a great video to watch. I met Woodruff many years ago when I was a youngster competing in the John Woodruff 5K in Connellsville. I won my age group and he presented me with my award and gave me an autograph. I still have it over 20 years later. I had seen numerous still pictures of Woodruff's gold medal race but I had never seen any video of it. People always talked about his long stride but this is the first time I've seen it. His gold medal was alongside Johnny Lujack's Heisman trophy at Connellsville High School. I think his school record for 880yd held until about 1990 or so. The last time I ran there the track was still cinder and I believe it was the same track that was there when Woodruff was in high school. It was the crappiest stadium and track I think I ever ran on ... thank God they finally tore it down and replaced it.
Woodruff has fallen on some hard times in recent years. Both of his legs were amputated at the kness but I can't remember what the reason was. He was a champion both on and off the track. Served his country as an officer in the Army during WWII and was very successful in life. He was my running hero in middle school and still is today.
Nice vid!
This is a good article from last summer on the 70th anniversary of his win
CarolinaRunner:
Poor circulation and complications from a broken hip caused the amputation.
Are you originally from the Fay-West region?