3:57.6
June 5, 1964, Compton, California
On the race: San Romani remembers a crowded field at the Compton Invitational: “Coach was like, ‘Hey, I think you ran 3:57.’ It was quite an exciting day.” San Romani and a few others all broke the 4-minute mark. He said sometimes running under four minutes was what it took to make the podium. “I remember at Compton thinking, ‘We’re all under 4.’ It was quite amazing.”
On Bowerman: “He helped guide you and taught you how to do it on your own,” San Romani said. “He was more like a major or general in the army. You followed him because you knew he knew what he was doing and you respected him, but I never felt a real closeness to him.”
San Romani said Bowerman was humble as a coach, deflecting praise to his student-athletes given the chance. His workouts, San Romani remembers, were always difficult. “A lot of times he’d say, ‘If you’re going to feed the animals for the winter, there better be plenty of hay in the barn.’ That’s the way he structured our workout and training programs.”
On his life now: San Romani still lives in the Eugene-Springfield area. He’s retired from his day job, but continues to be active on the National Ski Patrol. He also enjoys aviation, and still on occasion teaches people to fly. He and his wife are “busy year-round,” exploring the mountains to camp and hike.
