Tom O'Hara

Tom O'Hara was the first native of the U.S. state of Illinois to break the four-minute barrier for the mile run. He accomplished this feat in 1963 when he ran the mile in 3:59.4. He also held the record for fastest mile in indoor track, which was set when he ran the mile in 3:56.6 on February 13, 1964. He later beat that record on March 6 of the same year with a time of 3:56.4.

O'Hara was a member of the Loyola University Chicago track, cross country, and indoor track teams. He was the individual champion of NCAA Division I men's cross country in 1962, and he participated in the 1500 m at the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he qualified for the semi-finals.

External links

* [http://www.luc.edu/loyolamagazine/images/o'hara1964.jpgNewspaper clipping of O'Hara's record setting indoor track performance]
* [http://www.chicagoaa.com/news/watnmay03.html Article about runners who have broken the four-minute mile]
* [http://www.chicagoaa.com/news/ltgovsub4milersMay04.html Article concerning the honoring of Illinois' sub-four-minute miler runners]
* [http://www.4minutemile.il.gov/event.htm Illinois government site on the ceremony]
* [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1075685/index.htm Sports Illustrated coverage of O'Hara's first indoor record]
* [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1075751/index.htm Sports Illustrated coverage of O'Hara's second indoor record]