London Street Mile 1985 - Steve Ovett v Steve Cram

This race took place on the streets of London at the end of the 1985 season.
Steve Cram was at the peak of his powers, having broken 3 world records that summer, while Steve Ovett, probably past his peak over that distance, had been having a quiet year, adjusting to the problems he had faced at the LA OLympics of 1984.

[@shanegill5091]

Ovett somewhat past his prime beating Cram in Cram' s golden year. There was still some fight in the old dog.

[@johnmc3862]

He was well happy with that result.

[@johnnydev9318]

Yeah but he had to cut off Cram to get the win - Cram could have shouldered Ovett way up into the bleachers, but was too much of a gentleman to do so - because races such as this were only exhibitions, TBQH

[@martinhill9261]

Steve is one of the greatest middle distance guys in history.

[@mathematics5573]

i'd rank him amougst the top 3 or 4 in history. Ovett, Coe, Herb Elliot, Peter Snell. maybe Jim Ryan? not Morceli?

[@djangorheinhardt]

I always think Herb Elliot vies with anyone for the Goat spot .Read his history and give some allowances for the tracks,diets, shoes and....er..... " payments " and through all that ,in 1958 he took three whole seconds off the then mile record,then 2 years later he won the 1500 mtrs by many yards for the gold medal at the Rome Olympics. By the time he was 22 years of age after Rome he retired from Ultra competitive racing ,sttled down to academia at Cambridge University and still kept in touch with athletics from afar,but still kept himself fit ..He was 100% focussed when racing .

[@nigelparish2631]

I worshipped ovett as a kid. He was sensational. All done by old fashioned hard graft. Met him a few times since and he's a top fella. A great Co commentator too.

[@_Tp__]

Idk why every here is listing old british guys, what about Hicham El Guerrouj and other athletes???

[@nigelparish2631]

@_Tp__ it's a video of coe and ovett. For a time they were untouchable. In the uk the rivalry sparked an interest in middle distance running. They were quickly followed by cram, another sensational middle distance runner. Peter Elliot was in the mix with Tom McKean a decent 800 runner. Throw in 3000 world record holder Dave Moorcroft and its hardly surprising we love that period of athletics, particularly middle distance male runners. My personal favorite was Said Aouita. An incredible athlete with a huge range. Yes the current 1500 world champion is British. So was the onr before him however the coe ovett rivalry was unique. One a posh middle class northerner, the other a working class southerner. One steeped in sports science, the other simply training ridiculousy hard. One incredibly eloquent the other keeping it simple. We're a tiny tiny country but for a brief moment we dominated mens middle distance running.

[@robertboyle2573]

When Ovett kicked the result was never in doubt.

[@mathematics5573]

One of Ovetts weapons, is over 100m to 400m, he had far more power than Cram. Ovett was a sprinter. Cram wasn't a sprinter.

[@rodneyallister9877]

I was a club runner for 30 years now 80 years old veteran Road runner marathon and alter Distance I loved the spot AAA These men are special I raced against Steve cram in the national cross country not in there class

[@samhardy6319]

Cram really caught for speed here, which is a bit strange given he ran a 25.5 last 200m in his mile world record earlier in the season. Great run by Ovett who'd had an up and down season after his breathing problems at the LA Olympics.

[@damienabbott9805]

1985 belonged to Steve Cram, but Steve Ovett proved in this race that he still had something to offer. Looking back now, Steve Ovett should have employed exactly the same tactics in the 1983 World Championships.

[@markbunce3405]

Ovett was underrated - to me a true legend 👍💪💪💪

[@PaulVickers-i4b]

Ovett was the best

[@classicalgreekintroductory6045]

Come on, Ovett was at least not UNDERrated...

[@FenceThis]

there’s always an “….was so underrated” idiot in the comment section no matter what topic

[@markfox1545]

Oh dear, another fuckwit saying someone massively successful and popular was underrated. Do you even know what underrated means? Think you'll ever have an original thought?

[@seanscanlon9067]

Not really sure how a Commonwealth Games, European Championships, Olympic Games and World Cup gold medallist and someone universally rated as one of the greatest middle distance athletes ever can be considered to be underrated.

[@thesanddancerwarrior3503]

Really good race this, great comeback by Ovett after many setbacks and disappointments.

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Ovett was alot better then he got credit for.

[@GordHerrema-rs1rj]

Awesome talent. He beat a lot of world class runners for a long period of time.

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

Great to see this race at last Dean. Ovett got himself into the perfect position going into the last 200M. It looked like Cram was going to overhaul him but he seemed to suddenly give up and resign himself to defeat.

[@mathematics5573]

what a surprise. Expected Cram to win, given all his world records. Yet Ovett beats him. Ovett at his best was better than Cram.

[@mathematics5573]

Ovett got his revenge on Cram's defeat in 1983!

[@bigboxerable]

Cram never had a kick over 100m to match Ovett. Cram’s strength was he could run the fastest last 400m.

[@krakhour2]

Ovett only beat him in this meaningless street mile. @@mathematics5573

[@tedallison6112]

​@@mathematics5573just NO he's def NOT! They're historical records prove it.

[@jontyarnold8522]

Wow, been wanting to see this for years, great stuff for uploading it…. Ovett looking strong again…

[@redd605]

Same l heard overt and Coe had given cram his two defeats in 1985, this is the one I wanted to see .

[@nickpilgrim1966]

What a great video. This race was made for Steve Ovett. Mano a mano with a big crowd.

[@mathematics5573]

commentors says 2 of the greatest milers in British history. COREECTION: 2 of the greatest milers in world history

[@CorfeCastle.]

Ovett was our greatest ever middle distance runner. Never ever got the credit he deserved. Easy win for the goat.

[@marcgraham412]

London looks very different today. Can it even be thought of as the same city.

[@craigsimons817]

The transformation of a once great city is painful to witness.

[@jimclawley9117]

Imagine how fast these guys would run with modern shoes, tracks etc

[@peterh1353]

Ovett the greatest middle distance talent I have ever seen. ❤

[@glywnniswells9480]

I agree better than Seb Coe too

[@krakhour2]

El G the best ever.

[@redrum4100]

@@krakhour2 El G era the height of EPO. Five full seconds faster than Ovett over a mile. FIVE. Do the maths.

[@PaulJohnson-zk1yr]

@@redrum4100 different era and different shoes, track etc. Can't compare. El G was also a far stronger 3k / 5k than ovett.

[@redrum4100]

@@PaulJohnson-zk1yr Nope, the shoes and tracks were largely very similar. "El G was also a far stronger 3k / 5k than ovett" Quicker times only because of his EPO taking. I might also add that unlike the EPO-user El G, Ovett never tried to break these records. His world record over 2-miles (3.2K) came during a race. On the other hand El G, tried desperately to break the 2-mile world record and failed miserably.

[@jamiem8680]

Great to finally see this uploaded, it did look like a cram pulled something there and pulled up but still great to see Ovett winning in style .

[@wildernesstraining1957]

Yes Steve! Brilliant Steve👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@mathematics5573]

We didn't appreciate Ovett enough when he ran. Britain has never has anyone since of his calibre. He set multiple WRs.

[@carlpeterkirkebo2036]

You had Steve Cram.

[@mathematics5573]

@@carlpeterkirkebo2036 he wasn't quite an Ovett. But he was brilliant.

[@simonround2439]

@@mathematics5573 He wasn't quite Ovett but his best times for the 1500m and mile were both faster than Ovett's.

[@mathematics5573]

@@simonround2439 that's because he aimed for faster times. Heard him explaining once.

[@barrygreen9341]

Think Ovett unbeaten over 1500 for 3 years from 1977 onwards.

[@simonround2439]

Such a wonderful era fro British middle-distance running. Steve Cram's European record for the mile stood until last week when it was broken by Jacob Ingebrigsten

[@Stripeyperch]

Classic Ovett. 🙌

[@dbc806]

Could they have designed a slower road mile course? I’ve never seen a road mile with this many turns and hills!

[@cliffbennett4595]

Ali,best,sheene,hunt,ovett,coe,,cram, some of the amazing people I,ve been lucky to witness .Great great times

[@kimbellard4860]

Thanks for uploading -- loved watching! Yeah, as others have said, Ovett seemed to cut Cram off a bit near the end, but (a) Cram had plenty of time to recover, but didn't (he obviously wasn't at 100%), and (b) Ovett always had aggressive tactics (e.g., the 1980 800 roller derby...).

[@stoolpigeon4285]

didn't cut him off. Check the kerb, and perspective

[@downtherabbithole1353]

Haven't heard of this race, great to see Steve Ovett winning.

[@Mike-H_UK]

Although not relevant to this video, but very relevant to the era and my personal interest, I often wonder what speed Coe would have run for the 800m if he had 2010s or 2020s training including diet, shoes, track etc., had a good race with better pacemaking than in his 1:41.73 record and also focussed solely on the 800m. I'd like to think that he would be sub-1:41 and have given Rudisha a real run for his money. Of course, we'll never know, but it is an interesting thought experiment.

[@deano27671]

Very interesting thoughts! When he ran 1:41.73 he ran approximately 1.5 - 2m extra to pass the pacer on the 3rd bend. While that is not a lot in a normal 800m race, for record purposes it isn't ideal and would have cost him at least 0.2secs. That brings it down to 1:41.5. It was not expected to be a WR attempt as it was very early season (June 10) and he had already earmarked an attempt on his own 800m WR for a month later in Oslo. I spoke to him at a book signing in 2012 and asked him what he thought he could have run in 81 had he had a few more attempts at it rather than attacking the 1500 and mile WRs. He felt that he could have run 1:41.2. I then asked what that would be on the recent mondo laid track for the London Olympics, to which he replied, "Oh, then a few tenths faster." That brings him to sub 1:41, and on a par with the current WR. Give him the even faster tracks there are now, with the faster spikes used the past 5 years, and the lightwave pacing, and I think a vintage Coe was capable of 1:40.5.

[@Mike-H_UK]

@@deano27671 Thanks for replying. I was a teenager during the era of Coe, Ovett & Cram and just didn't appreciate quite how short-lived their time at the very top would be.... Innocence of youth, I guess. There has been no comparable British replacements for at least 45 years and quite possibly another 45 years. I agree that Coe could have been sub 1:41, for the reasons you give and also his relative standing. Coe is still the third fastest 800m runner after 42 years. Out of runners born in the 1950s the closest 800m runner to him in terms of fastest time is Juantorena who is placed 80th. So Coe was, in his day, by far the fastest of the decade, just as Rudisha was, by far, the fastest of his decade. Another factor that would help the Coe of 2020 is diet. Although Peter Coe was very scientifically minded, I don't think that diet was taken as seriously then as now. You may well know more about this. In his documentary, Coe talks about celebrating with a couple of beers! I think that is very frowned upon these days. And as for 1:40.5 - I can't disagree with that, but wow!! Thanks again for replying!

[@carlpeterkirkebo2036]

@@deano27671 I think equally interesting would be thoughts on how Coe would progress if he did not get sick after the 81 season. Has Coe expressed any thoughts on that?

[@mathematics5573]

Heard Coe saying he needed 1500m speed to give him 800 confidence. So in the modern era, he'd have still run 1500s and miles. Also his 800m speed gave him 1500m and mile confidence

[@liamg353]

You could go back even further and say "what time Peter Snell" of New Zealand would post in this day and age. Snell in my opinion was the greatest 800 and 1500 metre runner of the lot.

[@Golfgtiguy]

Well done Steve .A great race .

[@kadiummusic]

The greatest athlete in the world? In 1985? Steve Cram? 😲😲😲😲

[@Blue-Red-Blue]

Fabulous performance from Steve Ovett.

[@chrisbourne4040]

I ran this event at the time finished 3rd in an age related race

[@RobertLund-d7d]

Ovett was the greatest human running machine ever. All the others look ponderous.

[@jeffallinson8089]

Wow, thought that would be a one horse race (Cram) but boy was I wrong!! No quit in Ovett.

[@RobertJones-w3r]

Great memories from the golden era ❤

[@Chigleybus]

Two great English runners running in London as it used to be. Serves more now as a historical document of what's been lost. Or given away I should say.

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

WHEN IT WAS STILL BEAUTIFULLY WHITE AND NON DIVERSE. BEAUTIFUL 😍 DAYS ❤

[@colmpatrick]

Ovett..was as was cram and coe.. simply amazing..

[@paulwilliams8389]

Great days for British middle distance running. We took it for granted that they would last forever.

[@bennevis21]

I ran against Ovett in Irvine x-c

[@redrum4100]

Ovett was running for Annan & District AC

[@laurencew2029]

Going into LA 84 he was the man in form was unfortunate the heat was to much for him

[@leonmcrae3460]

What a superb video!

[@colinbrown7310]

Cram thought he had him but the kick was still there! The greatest.

[@Mike-H_UK]

Thanks for this - it's a treat so see that group again in a race that I had forgotten about or maybe missed because of being a student!

[@nicolajanerandall9653]

Yes! Steve Ovett::::

[@r.crompton2286]

Cram looked like he had made his move perfectly. He must have thought, "I've got him!" when he slid around Ovett. How Steve managed that late kick at his age shows just how great a runner he was.

[@njd2342]

When London was looking great.

[@mattgray3703]

Steve Ovetts, hairline and face..the way it looks, he could claim Alan Webb as his kid.😮

[@andre1987eph]

1985 was one of the last years The World was a wholesome place.

[@Anthony-Testicali]

Apart from the Iran-Iraq War....apart from the USSR's war with Afghanistan....the Liberian war...Souty African apartheid...all of eaatern europe tyranised by communism.....than again i issnae gonnae argue with you...back than shit hole countries kept their problems confined to their shit hole and didnt bother us with mass illegal economic migration and there was no woke dark ages or globalisation abd social media trolls were mute.

[@jeannotschumacher1024]

Last years of good music too

[@ccuuuuu669]

Things you do for a 1.2l burgundy talbot samba 😂

[@TG-pd3ft]

Better days... If only we could go back to '85

[@GeoAce777]

Phoenix singlet, quite appropriate😏🔥

[@WithBACON]

Thank you for posting this! I'd read about it, but never thought I'd actually SEE it.

[@Posark]

5:16 poor showing by “Seiko Timing” 😂

[@ChristopherCudworth]

This era sure wasn’t afraid to compete

[@stephendunwoody4994]

Great to see this. I’d only ever seen photos.

[@keshoasubuhi]

What a field for a street run!!

[@jamescarpenter6585]

He was so great!…such a class runner

[@chrisbourne4040]

Still got the T shirt

[@zeeren9039]

Great Dutch runner😂

[@kenyamendez7710]

Muchas gracias por compartir

[@peterba854]

Do they still do this

[@samspade2399]

i don't think so. As part of the Great North Run weekend this year they had 1 mile & 5000 m races on the Saturday, with all British fields

[@Baskerville22]

I think that Sydney Maree held the world mile or 1500m record at one time

[@redrum4100]

It was 1500, quickly broke back by Ovett in 1983. Maree still holds the record for the fastest 5th avenue mile. Superb runner.

[@Baskerville22]

@@redrum4100 Thanks, Red Rum. Crisp was very unlucky to run 2nd to you in the Grand National. Particularly as Crisp carried around 23 lbs more weight and the jockey rode an ill-judged race.

[@redrum4100]

@@Baskerville22 Brilliant horse Crisp. I actually believe the only thing the jockey did wrong was pull his whip through near the end, causing Crisp to veer off a true line. I personally think that would have just made the winning margin much closer, as I would have caught Crisp no matter what. Several people were urging the jockey to go even faster during the race, to be even further ahead at the half way stage, so the jockey actually was holding Crisp back. As for the weight difference, I finished with loads of energy left in the tank so believe I would have ended in that time had I been carrying the same. You will note that the following year I carried the same weight as Crisp and walked it. I also won the Scottish National that year, the only horse ever to do so. Top weight is no problem to me as long as the ground is okay.

[@Baskerville22]

@@redrum4100 Weight will stop a train.

[@redrum4100]

@@Baskerville22 Can't argue with that

[@garetht9666]

Great upload, but perhaps you ought to have mentioned in the description that Cram had unfortunately picked up one of his niggles again after his epic performances on the track. After destroying Cruz over 800m, he had intended to attempt to take back his 1500m WR from Aouita, and in the form he was in, he surely would have gone sub 3:29. However, his calf niggles returned and he had to curtail his season, other than this road race 3 weeks later. Excellent win and return to form for Ovett, but I doubt if Crammy was at the peak of his powers in this race. More like his 87/88 form when his training was constantly interrupted.

[@mathematics5573]

garethturner9666 That isn't fair. Cram had come off a WR breaking season. Ovett was way past his best, but got fit enough to beat Cram. Ovett won. Ovett outsprinted Cram. I think at Ovetts peak years, he was better than Cram. he set more WR and won the Olympics

[@garetht9666]

@@mathematics5573 Not sure why you think I'm being unfair. This was a great win for Ovett, who as you say was past his best. But Cram was almost certainly not in the same shape he was a month earlier, and it's unfair not to point that out. Ovett said himself that he was doubtful he could live with Cram in 85/86, which is why he moved up to the 5000m. Deano does tend to diminish a little the greatness of Cram, and from reading the description and watching the video, you would get the impression that even an aging Ovett could easily beat Cram at his best, which is of course not true. However, from the reactions of Ovett and Cram at the end of the race, it's clear how much this race meant to both of them. It's a shame Ovett wasn't in the Dream Mile race that season. I think he would have finished second and pushed Cram to an even faster time.

[@Dontworryaboutanything]

Muhhhhh diversity is a strength

[@tonymcgrath700]

Not even a shake of the hand with Cram. Ovett Coe and Cram like spoilt kids back then, took the shine off everything they achieved 🤔

[@jamesc7019]

Ovett cut him up. Dirty

[@ZarpSterr]

After re-winding that last bit, several times,Ovett clearly moves toward the barrier and into the path of Cram, breaking his rhythm....OBVIOUS FOUL.

[@stevemercedes3692]

You are joking aren’t you, tactics not a foul..

[@ZarpSterr]

@@stevemercedes3692....tactics ? Forcing the gap closed, so Cram had no choice, but to crash into him or back off....go LOOK again. I re-winded several times. No doubt.

[@stevemercedes3692]

@@ZarpSterrOvett was just too quick for him, it looked like Cram gave up…

[@ZarpSterr]

@@stevemercedes3692OK....I concede.

[@Gardener7]

Cram got crammed into the side by Ovett 😂

[@hugojames85]

Why was the video quality so shit? I though that this was supposed to be 1985, not 1885....

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

We also have shit quality for greater races than this around the same era or even later. If the only source is a VHS tape which some good soul happened to record when the race went out live then that is the quality we will have. Be thankful for that. I would settle for any decipherable quality on some races which have not surfaced - such as Don Paige's defeat of Coe in 1980.

[@hugojames85]

@@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929 That's me telt....

[@deano27671]

@@hugojames85 lol. I could try and upload on a higher quality but don't think it will make much difference. Sorry!

[@hugojames85]

@@deano27671 TBH, Deano, I was expressing surprise that TV production was as crap as that in 1985, rather than the specific footage that you uploaded. But then, again, it was nearly 40 years ago....

[@Anthony-Testicali]

Steve would be a great runner today cos he always had tae bit o arsehole in his work. He was a crafty runner with a murderous kick..even at his peak times he'd beat todays runners if he had the same tracks,shoes and diet.

[@jameswalkden7499]

@Mike-H_UK Yeah, no doubt stuffed with pizza and flaked out on lager at 4 in the afternoon in your bedsit.