1. Tom O'Hara (left), the first ever Illinois resident to break four minutes in the mile, doing so on Feb. 15, 1963, was stuck in traffic en route to the ceremony but arrived just in time to be honored by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. "Sorry I'm late," said O'Hara. "It's the story of my life, except for on the track."

2. Ken Popejoy, now a Circuit Judge in DuPage County, recalled the first time he broke the four-minute mile, on June 9, 1972, against Jim Ryun. "I was standing on the line next to Jim Ryun and he looked down at me, slapped me on the butt and said, 'Good luck, Popejoy.'" Ryun treated him to a steak dinner for his accomplishment.

3. Jim Spivey (right), now the track and cross country coach at Vanderbilt University, is the fastest Illinois miler, having run 3:49.8 in 1986. Spivey stressed the importance of mentors, noting that three of his former coaches were in attendance: fellow sub-four milers Mike Durkin and Ken Popejoy, and high school coach John Kurtz. "I don't care how fast they run," said Spivey, "I want my athletes to say, 'I'm a better person for being coached by you,'"

4. Fourteen Illinoisans have broken four-minutes in the mile, and nine were able to convene at the Thompson Center for the 50th anniversary celebration of the first sub-four mile, run by Englishman Roger Bannister. "These are role models, these are real heros," said Lt. Gov. Quinn. "They accomplished what some thought was impossible and we are all better for it."

For more information, go to www.4minutemile.il.gov.