Venue Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Mexico City Date 18 October 1968 to 20 October 1968 | ||
These are the official results of the Men's 1500 metres event at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. The competition was held on 18 to the 20 of October. The Gold was won by Kenyan Kip Keino, who beat World record holder Jim Ryun, who struggled to adapt to the altitude of Mexico City.
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While this Olympics was the emergence of Kenyan runners, Kip Keino was not an unknown quantity, he had won the 1966 Commonwealth Games and 1965 African Championships. American fans placed high expectations on world record holder Jim Ryun. In the final, it was Ben Jipcho who took the first lap out fast, with Keino lagging to the back of the field. Keino moved up toward the front, but didn't take the lead until two laps to go. When he moved forward, he did so decisively, creating a 30 meter gap on the field. Ryun was known for his last lap kicks. He held back waiting for the bell. At the bell he took off in chase, but Bodo Tümmler was also intent on racing. Ryun was able to beat Tümmler down the backstretch but his last lap kick was no match for the still more than 20 meter lead Keino held onto the final straightaway.
First round
Top 5 in each heat advance to semifinal.
Heat one *
Heat two *
Heat three *
Heat four *
Heat five *
Semifinal
Top six in each heat advance to final.
Heat one *
Heat two *