FBI Project

The two-mile run is a grinding test of stamina, almost a question of mind over matter. Last week, at the New York Athletic Club games in Madison Square Garden, two FBI men, Fred Wilt and Horace Ashenfelter, put their minds on a matter which had long concerned them: Ashen-felter's chances of breaking Wilt's world indoor record. Wilt, now 33 and a little past his prime, set the record (8:50.7) two years ago. Ashenfelter, 31 and about at his peak, set the Olympic 3,000-meter (almost two miles) steeplechase record two years ago.

The two FBI men, working together in a way to warm the heart of J. Edgar Hoover--as well as the 11,000 track fans present--decided on a plan. With Wilt not competing but calling out the times for each lap from positions in the infield, Ashenfelter would try to run eight evenly paced quarter miles of 66 sec. Thumbs down from Wilt meant Ashenfelter was behind schedule, up meant ahead, palms level meant on the button.

Ashenfelter, a lean, long-legged (5 ft. 10 in., 145 Ibs.) runner, was almost on the button after the first mile: 4:24.5. But then he began to lag. At a mile and a quarter, as the crowd was already clapping him along with urging applause, Ashenfelter was more than 2 sec. behind. At trackside, Wilt gave him the thumbs-down signal. For the final lap, Ashenfelter never even bothered to look at Wilt. He just put his head down and ran as hard as he could.

When the time was announced, the Garden burst with applause, and the two FBI men hugged each other. Ashenfelter had broken the record by two-tenths of a second. Said the new champion, tapping his forehead: "It's partly in the mind. And it's also partly plain good luck.

But I never could have done it without Fred." Said the old champion, arm on his friend's shoulder: "I didn't have anything to do with it. Horace did it himself."

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