Marty Liquori
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Martin "Marty" Liquori (born 11 September 1949) is an American middle distance athlete.
Liquori first rose to fame when he became the third American high schooler to break the four minute mile by running a 3:59.8.
He grew up in Cedar Grove, New Jersey and attended Essex Catholic High School. After high school, Liquori enrolled at Villanova University. There he was coached by the legendary Jumbo Elliott.
Liquori made the U.S. Olympic team in 1968 as a nineteen-year-old freshman. He reached the finals of the 1,500 meter run but suffered a stress fracture and finished 12th. He was the youngest person ever to compete in the final.
In 1969, he won the NCAA and AAU outdoor mile championships and finished second to Jim Ryun in the NCAA indoor meet. He repeated the AAU outdoor in 1970 and had his best year in 1971, winning the NCAA and AAU outdoor titles, and a gold medal in the 1,500 m at the Pan-American Games. In 1969 and 1971 he was ranked number 1 in the world for 1500 meters/mile. In 1977 he was ranked number 1 in 5000 meters and set a US record of 13:15.1
On May 16, 1971, Liquori lowered his personal best to 3:54.6 in the Dream Mile against Ryun.
But Liquori was injured later that year. He didn't return to competition until 1973. In 1975 he ran a personal best 3:52.2 in the mile, finishing second to Filbert Bayi, and set a United States record of 8:17.12 in the 2 mile. He has written an autobiography, On The Run , "Guide to the Elite Runner" and "Home Gym Workout". He was a founder of The Athlete Attic Footwear chain in 1971.
Liquori lives in Gainesville, Florida. He does commentary for NBC at the Olympics and at various track and triathlon events around the country. Liquori was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which is now in remission. He picked up the guitar after a 35-year hiatus and is currently a professional jazz guitarist and now performs Monday and Thursday nights with various ensembles at Leonardo's 706, a Gainesville restaurant.
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| Preceded by Lesley Bush Larry Echohawk Kwaku Ohene-Frempong Bob Lanier Mike Phipps Mike Reid |
Silver Anniversary Awards (NCAA) Class of 1996 Marty Liquori Thomas Lewis Lyons Cliff Meely Kurt L. Schmoke Joe Theismann Jack Youngblood |
Succeeded by Tommy Casanova Jack Ford David Joyner Edward B. Rust Jr. James Tedisco Herb Washington |
