On Tuesday, we asked our readers which Richmond runner once held 11 world records in events ranging from 250 to 1,000 yards. It was a tricky questions — ~20% of respondents got it right.
Richmond, meet Lon Myers.
Born in Richmond on Feb. 16, 1858, Myers was a sprinter and middle distance runner who competed in every event from 50 yards to the mile. He held every American record between those distances at one point or another in his career.
His personal bests included 10 seconds for the 100-yard dash, 48.6 seconds for the quarter-mile, 1 minute, 55.4 seconds for the half-mile, and 4 minutes, 27.6 seconds in the mile.
Myers was a member of Richmond High School‘s first graduating class. Inducted into the USATF Hall of Fame and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Myers was Richmond’s first international sports star.
