V12 N. 86 Sir Murray Halberg R.I.P.

 

                                                     Sir Murray Halberg  (1933-2022)    

                                                   Source:  National Library of New Zealand

One of my earliest running heroes, Sir Murray Halberg has passed away at age 89 on November 30, 2022.

Murray ran with a severely injured shoulder earned on  a rugby pitch, and it affected his style noticeably.  He kept his left arm tucked in as he ran.  Nevertheless he was able to become New Zealand's first sub four minute miler.  He ran in the legendary Bannister Landy duel in Vancouver in 1954 though he was not a major factor in that race, but six years later he was on top of the world 

                                              The Finish at Rome   (from Stuff.co.nz)

I still remember first reading of his incredibly courageous race, the 5000 meters in the Rome Olympics of 1960.  He was among the pre-race favorites but not a guarantee shoo in for the gold medal.  On the day of the race the weather was very hot, in the 90's F, so it would be a really tough race held not in the evening but in the blazing heat of the day.  Pace was good, but not a world record pace, but with three laps to go, Murray threw in a blazer 57 second 400 meters and broke the field.  He was able to hold on to the gap he had opened with the seldom seen move and crossed the finish line not in triumphant joy but near mortal pain.  

Rome 5000 meters  Link      Looking at that finish now it is clear he was able to hold his form right through to the end.  The legs never weakened.  

A year or two later I shared a meal with Mike Lindsay, Scottish shot put champion and 5th in the 1960 Olympics.  He told me he had met Murray in the athletes' village before the race and asked him if he thought he could win next day.  Murray's answer was,  "I don't know about winning, I just plan to set the world record."  Though he did not set the WR, he did not lack in confidence.  

Halberg was one of Arthur Lydiard's protegees and 30 minutes after his teammate Peter Snell had won the 800 meters at Rome, Murray stepped on the stage and won his 5000.  It was termed the golden hour of New Zealand track and field.  

In his later years he was instrumental in running a foundation for helping disabled people to participate in sport in his country.  More about that and his life and exploits can be seen in the article below from Radio New Zealand.  

Murray Halberg RNZ Report

                                                      Peter Snell's WR in the Mile in Wanganui, NZ

 Alex Shaw, Albie Thomas , Peter Snell, Bruce Tulloh, Murray Halberg, Ernie Cunliffe, Barry Cossar

(From Ernie Cunliffe)

So I am the last survivor of the Snell World Record in the mile set in Wanganui.    Six  of the seven runners have died, and I think I am still alive and kicking.

Halberg was a marvelous runner.   I saw his Olympic Gold race in Rome.  In early 1961 he came through Stanford for a workout and prep for a 2 mile race a few days later during the US indoor season. The famous photographer Joe Rosenthal (Iwo Jima Flag raising photo) came to the meet and took pictures of Halberg's race.  Halberg set an American All Comers record in the two miles that day.   I ran my first 1000 yards race to see what it felt like, but Joe didn't take a picture of me although it was a best mark in the seldom run distance, but it did count as an American record.

In 1992 when the reunion of the WR and the dedication of an official 400 meter track was held Murray and his wife invited me to dinner but our group was leaving and I couldn't go, which was a disappointment of course as he had been knighted well before then and was SIR Murray by title.   The WR track was 4 and a half laps to the mile, so the official 400 meter track was quite an improvement from the original, and it had been a grass surface.

Sad to hear of his death, as he was one of the all time great ones.

Ernie

Halberg was one of my hero’s!

I got to meet him in person in New Zealand in Jan. Of 1962!

RIp, Murray!

John Bork

  

He also set the WRs in 1961 at both 2 and 3 miles with times of 8:30.0 and 13:10.0.   Richard Mach

Dear George:

I don't know if you are a golfer or not, but Murray Halberg was not the only athlete with a withered left arm to achieve prominence in sport in 1954.  That same year professional golfer Ed Furgol won the United States Open.  Furgol had a childhood accident that damaged his left arm.  Based on the photos of Halberg, Furgol's arm was in worse shape.  Whatever the incentive, he developed a unique golf swing and had a fairly long, successful career as a professional golfer.

Take care,

Tom Coyne

George,

Thank you very much for sending that along. Sir Murray Halberg was a hero for many of us. 

Jerry McFadden