Ron Delany, Villanova: Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, Class of 2022

The history of the mile struck gold with Ron Delany, who became the first of a long line of Irish talents in the event to star collegiately at Villanova. He owned a miler’s best weapon – a punishing kick.

Delany’s rise to stardom is a wonderful story. He shaved nearly six seconds off his mile PR while pushing the pace in the first sub-4 mile on U.S. soil. Still, he was understandably an underdog a month later entering the 1956 NCAA Championships 1500, as defending champ Jim Bailey of Oregon was the miler who owned the distinction of having America’s first sub-4 mile.

A memorable race of great kickers saw Delany finishing first. Later that year Delany won Olympic gold in Melbourne before following with two more NCAA mile titles, the final one part of an 880/mile double as Villanova won its first NCAA Outdoor team crown, the first – and still only – one by a men’s East Coast program.