"Now maybe I will be 'the next great American miler,' " said Pyrah.

He was of the generation that included other great British milers such as Roger Bannister, Chris Brasher and Christopher Chataway.

Many great milers have won the race, including Chatham, Gunsynd, and Super Impose, who was also a dual winner of the autumn equivalent, the Doncaster Handicap.

He was, as he put it, "the next great American miler."

Chatham raced from 1931 to 1934, becoming one of the great milers to race in Australia who won 12 out of 21 times at that distance and often while carrying very high weights.

However, he was further inspired to become a great miler by watching the 1948 Olympics.

The next great American miler started out playing high school football in Cadillac, Mich.

"A great American miler would have a galvanizing effect on the sport," said Craig Masback, a former world-class miler and NBC commentator.

Outside of the Olympics, Tait was one of the most versatile middle and long distance runners in the world, and one of the great milers of his era.

He made headlines in his country and beyond, stirring speculation that one day soon he might become one of the world's great milers.