By Walt Murphy
Walt Murphy's News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)
(c)Copyright 2011-all rights reserved. May not be reprinted or retransmitted without permission
NYU senior Matt Turlip ran 3:45.76 for 1500-meters at the Last Chance meet at Swarthmore on Saturday(May 14) to break the 44-year old school record of 3:46.6, which was set by Byron Dyce at the 1967 Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Canada(Dyce was 5th).
When informed by Eastern Track that his record had been broken, Dyce, a math professor at Sante Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, said, “You are the first one telling me. That’s great! That means NYU track and field is advancing, and I’m certainly glad to hear of that”.
NYU coach Nick McDonough said, “I still find it weird to be taking the Dyce name off our record board”. That’s understandable, since Dyce, a legend in NY City T&F circles, was a 2-time NCAA Champion at 800m/880y(1968,1969), and his 1:45.9y winning time in 1969 still stands as the NYU record. As McDonough said, “I think that’s pretty safe for him”.
Dyce was also the 1969 U.S. Champion at 880-yards and was a 2-time Olympian for his native Jamaica.