MATT Wood enjoyed the experience of a lifetime when he appeared at a unique meeting on the 50th Anniversary of Roger Bannister's first sub four minute mile last Thursday.
The venue was the same Iffley Road track in Oxford, still much as it was all those years ago.
The 17-year-old England Junior International from Blackburn Harriers was in the presence of guest of honour Sir Roger and many of the all time greats of middle distance running.
Chris Chataway the pacer for Bannister in his record breaking run, Australian John Landy who was to beat Bannister's record only weeks later, and Derek Ibbotson, who was the last to break the World Record in this country, were all there.
Seb Coe, representing the next great era of British middle distance running was also present.
Just for the record, Wood finished fifth of 16 in the under 20 race in a time of 4:21 in his first ever mile race.
Having only recently turned 17 he was one of the youngest athletes and was only five seconds behind winner Mark Buckingham.
Australian Craig Mottram obliged with his own sub four minute mile when he won the senior race in 3:56.
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