Leonard Edelen
Encyclopedia
Leonard Graves "Buddy" Edelen (born September 22, 1937 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky
– died February 19, 1997 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
) was an American
marathoner. Based in England for most of his prime competitive years, in 1963 Edelen became the first man to run a marathon
faster than 2 hours and 15 minutes when he set a world record of 2:14:28. Edelen also won the 1964 U.S. Olympic marathon trials and represented the U.S. in the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo, Japan.
in an American Record time of 2:18:57, making him the first American to run under 2:20 for the marathon. He was also the first American under 30:00 for the 10,000 m run.
On July 15, 1963 Edelen ran 2:14:28 at the Polytechnic Marathon
(run from Windsor to Chiswick, England) to establish a new World Record. That record stood
just two days short of a year, as England's Basil Heatley
ran 2:13:56 at the 1964 Polytechnic Marathon (which was held on July 13). Edelen was the first American to hold the world record since 1925, and (excepting Alberto Salazar
's 2:08:13 at the 1981 New York City Marathon
, which later proved to be short) the last until naturalized American Khalid Khannouchi
(originally from Morocco) broke his own World Record at the London Marathon
in 2002.
After his record run 1963, Edelen also won the Košice Peace Marathon
in Slovakia in a course-record time of 2:15:09; that record would stand for fifteen years.
The following year, Edelen won the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon by nearly twenty minutes, and went on to finish 6th in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympic games
.
While born in Kentucky, Edelen attended high school in St. Louis Park, MN before graduating from Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD in 1955. He then attended the University of Minnesota
.
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,014 at the 2000 census. It is the oldest city in Kentucky.-History:...
– died February 19, 1997 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
marathoner. Based in England for most of his prime competitive years, in 1963 Edelen became the first man to run a marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
faster than 2 hours and 15 minutes when he set a world record of 2:14:28. Edelen also won the 1964 U.S. Olympic marathon trials and represented the U.S. in the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo, Japan.
Marathons
Edelen's promise in the marathon was evident early in his career. In 1962, he finished 4th at the Fukuoka MarathonFukuoka Marathon
The , held in Fukuoka, Japan, is an international men's marathon race established in 1947. It is usually held on the first Sunday in December.The course record is held by Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, running 2:05:18 in 2009 to best his own record from the previous year.-Men's winners:Winners of the...
in an American Record time of 2:18:57, making him the first American to run under 2:20 for the marathon. He was also the first American under 30:00 for the 10,000 m run.
On July 15, 1963 Edelen ran 2:14:28 at the Polytechnic Marathon
Polytechnic Marathon
The Polytechnic Marathon, often called the Poly, was a marathon held annually between 1909 and 1996, over various courses in or near London. It was the first marathon to be run regularly over the distance of 26 miles, 385 yards which is now the global standard...
(run from Windsor to Chiswick, England) to establish a new World Record. That record stood
Marathon world best progression
This list is a chronological progression of record times for the marathon. World records in the marathon are now ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the international governing body for the sport of athletics. Awaiting ratification, the IAAF world record for men is...
just two days short of a year, as England's Basil Heatley
Basil Heatley
Benjamin Basil Heatley was a British athlete, who mainly competed in the marathon. He was born in Kenilworth, Warwickshire....
ran 2:13:56 at the 1964 Polytechnic Marathon (which was held on July 13). Edelen was the first American to hold the world record since 1925, and (excepting Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
's 2:08:13 at the 1981 New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
, which later proved to be short) the last until naturalized American Khalid Khannouchi
Khalid Khannouchi
Khalid Khannouchi is a Moroccan American marathoner. He was born in Meknes, Morocco. He is the former world record holder for the marathon and held the former road world best for the 20 km distance. He is one of only five men to break the marathon world record more than once, and one of only four...
(originally from Morocco) broke his own World Record at the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
in 2002.
After his record run 1963, Edelen also won the Košice Peace Marathon
Košice Peace Marathon
The Košice Peace Marathon is the oldest marathon in Europe and the second-oldest in the world .The first course was held in 1924. The marathon takes place each year on the first October Sunday...
in Slovakia in a course-record time of 2:15:09; that record would stand for fifteen years.
The following year, Edelen won the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon by nearly twenty minutes, and went on to finish 6th in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympic games
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
.
While born in Kentucky, Edelen attended high school in St. Louis Park, MN before graduating from Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD in 1955. He then attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
.
Achievements
| Representing the | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Košice Peace Marathon Košice Peace Marathon The Košice Peace Marathon is the oldest marathon in Europe and the second-oldest in the world .The first course was held in 1924. The marathon takes place each year on the first October Sunday... |
Košice Košice Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary... , Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992... |
1st | Marathon | 2:15:09 |