Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres


The men's 1500 metres was the third-longest of the seven men's track races in the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo. It was held on 17 October, 19 October, and 21 October 1964. 50 athletes from 34 nations entered, with 7 not starting the first round. The first round was held on 17 October, with the semifinals on 19 October and the final on 21 October.

Results

First round

The top four runners in each of the 4 heats advanced, as well as the next two fastest runners from across all heats.

First round, heat 1

PlaceAthleteNationTime
1Witold Baran3:45.3
2John Davies3:45.5
3Dyrol Burleson3:45.6
4Ergas Leps3:46.4
5Bill McKim3:46.8
6Hansrüedi Knill3:47.2
7Denos Adjima Beche3:53.5
8Basil Clifford3:54.9
9Neville Myton3:57.0
10R. Subramaniam3:59.4
—Ahmed IssaDid not start
—Nguyet Van LyDid not start
—J. G. Neira CarvajalDid not start

First round, heat 2

PlaceAthleteNationTime
1Michel Bernard3:44.1
2Jurgen May3:44.2
3John Whetton3:44.2
4Jim Ryun3:44.4
5Karl-Uno Olofsson3:44.8
6Olavi Salonen3:46.8
7Francesco Bianchi3:47.9
8Ebrahim Yazdanpanah3:54.8
9Albie Thomas3:54.9
10Tira Klai-Angtong4:08.7
—Muharrem DalkilicDid not start
—Jean RandrianjatovoDid not start

First round, heat 3

PlaceAthleteNationTime
1Kipchoge Keino3:45.8
2Wolf-Dieter Holtz3:46.6
3Tom O'Hara3:46.7
4Peter Snell3:46.8
5Stig Lindback3:47.1
6Volker Tulzer3:49.0
7Rolf Jelinek3:51.2
8Michel Medinger3:51.8
9Chung Kyo Mo3:53.0
10Hugo Walser3:53.3
11Anar Khan3:56.7
—Michel JazyDid not start
—Manuel OliveiraDid not start

First round, heat 4

PlaceAthleteNationTime
1Alan Simpson3:42.8
2Jean Wadoux3:43.0
3Josef Odložil3:43.2
4Eugene Allonsius3:43.3
5Simo Važić3:43.7
6Siegried Valentin3:44.9
7Sebsibe Mamo3:45.8
8Ivan Belytskiy3:46.7
9Attila Simon3:49.1
10Toichi Yamaguchi3:56.7
11Eric Amevor3:58.4
12Patrick Field4:02.6

Semifinals

The fastest four runners in each of the two semifinals and the fastest remaining runner qualified for the final.

Semifinal 1

PlaceAthleteNationTime
1Peter Snell3:38.8
2Witold Baran3:38.9
3Josef Odložil3:39.3
4Michel Bernard3:39.7
5John Whetton3:39.9
6Wolf-Dieter Holtz3:42.3
7Karl-Uno Olofsson3:44.8
8Ergas Leps3:51.2
9Jim Ryun3:55.0

Semifinal 2

PlaceAthleteNationTime
1Dyrol Burleson3:41.5
2Alan Simpson3:41.5
3John Davies3:41.9
4Jean Wadoux3:41.9
5Kipchoge Keino3:41.9
6Eugene Allonsius3:41.9
7Tom O'Hara3:43.4
8Jurgen May3:46.8
9Simo Vazic3:48.3

Final

World and Olympic record holder, Herb Elliott was not back to defend his title, having retired from the sport at 24 years of age. 1960 800 metre champion Peter Snell entered the Olympics with the intent of duplicating his feat, doubling over similar distances at the previous 1962 Commonwealth Games. He had already lowered Elliott's mile world record by a tick two years earlier. Snell had already successfully defended his 800 metre title.
As had been his typical strategy, Snell chose to stay in a marking position behind the leaders. Splits were recorded at 400 metres, 800 metres, and 1200 metres. Michel Bernard led after the first lap, Josef Odložil and John Davies were in front after two. Wary of being boxed in as he was in the 1960 Olympic 800, at the bell his countryman Davies held the lead while Snell was boxed in by Dyrol Burleson. He slowed then decisively moved to the outside to be in a position to run. Others were also scrambling for position, Witold Baran made his move and had the lead at the end of the third lap but Davies again assumed the lead down the backstretch. With about 220 metres to go, Snell accelerated, blowing past Baran and Davies, the others would now be racing for second place. Snell extended his lead to almost 10 metres, crossing the finish line 1.5 seconds ahead of anyone else. Through the turn, Alan Simpson got around Davies and Baran, behind them Burleson was moving to the outside. Even further back, Odložil began his final sprint around the outside of Burleson. Davies was able to get barely ahead of Simpson, holding him off at the finish line but that would only be for bronze as Odložil came roaring down the home stretch, catching both before the finish to grab silver.
PlaceAthleteNationTimeLap 1Lap 2Lap 3
1Peter Snell3:38.10:58.82:00.72:59.5
2Josef Odložil3:39.60:59.22:00.52:59.7
3John Davies3:39.60:59.02:00.52:59.3
4Alan Simpson3:39.70:58.92:01.03:00.0
5Dyrol Burleson3:40.00:58.32:01.12:59.6
6Witold Baran3:40.30:58.72:00.82:59.4
7Michel Bernard3:41.20:58.02:01.32:59.7
8John Whetton3:42.40:58.52:00.72:59.9
9Jean Wadoux3:45.40:59.32:01.53:00.3