James Edward Grelle (September 30, 1936 – June 13, 2020) was an American middle-distance runner. He had his best achievements in the 1500 m event, finishing eighth at the 1960 Olympics, winning a gold and a silver medal at the Pan American Games in 1963 and 1959, respectively.[1]
Grelle's first success was winning back to back Oregon state titles in the 880 yard run in 1954 and 1955 for Lincoln High School in Portland.[3]
In 1962 at the Mt. SAC Relays Grelle became the 4th American sub-4 minute miler.[7] He won the Mile there three years in a row. In 1965 he briefly held the American record in the mile at 3:55.4. Nine days later, Jim Ryun improved upon the record. Ryun also relegated Grelle to a non-qualifying fourth place in the 1964 Olympic Trials. Previously in 1963 he held the American record in the 2 mile run at 8:25.2.[8]
Grelle was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1981,[8] to the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame in 1991,[9] and to the Oregon Ducks Hall of Fame in 1994.[4]
Grelle died on June 13, 2020, at the age of 83.[10]
References
^ ab"Jim Grelle". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
*Distances have varied as follows: Mile (1940–2002) and 1932, 2007 and odd numbered years since 2011, 1500 meters (1933–1939), (2003–6, 2008–2010) and even numbered years since 2010