Tim Danielson was convicted last week in El Cajon Superior Court of murdering his ex-wife in 2011. His expected sentence of 50 years to life is pending.
I’d like to remember Danielson as the billiant runner who competed for coach Harry Taylor at Chula Vista High and set San Diego Section standards in 1965-66 that still are unequaled, 48 years later.
Danielson became the second high school runner (after Jim Ryun) to better 4 minutes in the mile in 1966 when he finished fourth in 3:59.4 behind Jim Grelle, Neil Duggan, and Dave Bailey in the San Diego Invitational of internationally-ranked runners in Balboa Stadium.
The 4-minute mile has been reached by high schoolers twice since, by New by Virginian Alan Webb, who ran 3:53.43 in 2001, and by Illinois’ Lucas Verbickas, who ran 3:59.71 in 2011.
The mile, the most famous event in the sport’s history, is seldom run. Its currency faded when the United States went to the metric system 35 years ago.
Danielson competed in the era of yards and hand-timed races, but we’ve attempted to measure Danielson’s marks as if he were competing in meters and with electronic timing.
The table below shows Danielson’s best converted efforts in his final two years at Chula Vista, including dominance of California distance aces. He won back-to-back state championships, by 10 yards in Bakersfield in 1965 and by 12 yards in Berkeley in 1966.
Today’s runners, with several evolutionary advantages, would have to hustle to keep up with him.
| Event | Mark | Meet | Site | Date |
| 400 | 49.95 | vs. Escondido | Escondido | 04/01/66 |
| 800 | 1:52.50 | Metropolitan League | Escondido | 05/13/66 |
| 1600 | 3:57.50n | Invitational | Balboa Stadium | 06/11/66 |
| 4:01.70n | National AAU | New York | 06/25/66 | |
| 4:02.30n | Police Games | Toronto | 07/23/66 | |
| 4:04.60 | San Diego Section | Balboa Stadium | 05/27/66 | |
| 4:05.40 | State | Berkeley | 06/04/.66 | |
| Golden West | Sacramento | 06/18/66 | ||
| 4:05.80n | National AAU (h) | New York | 06/25/66 | |
| 4:06.40 | State | Bakersfield | 06/05/65 | |
| 4:06.60 | San Diego Section (h) | Balboa Stadium | 05/21/66 | |
| 4:07.10 | San Diego Section (h) | Balboa Stadium | 05/22/65 | |
| 4:08.30 | San Diego Section | Balboa Stadium | 05/28/65 | |
| 3200 | 8:52.0 | Golden West | Sacramento | 06/18/66 |
| 9:01.40 | vs. Mar Vista | Chula Vista | 05/06/66 |
n–nonwinning. h–heat.
It is almost unfathomable that Danielson’s section records are still unsurpassed almost 50 years on
Even more so when considering the type track surfaces upon which he raced and the quality of equipment back in the day
He truly was a phenom – interesting to note though that his post high school achievements did not surpass his prep highlights
Any idea when the last interview with he was conducted?
Tim lived in comparative anonymity after his track career. He resided near El Cajon, I think. When I last spoke with him Tim was with the other high school milers who had beaten 4 minutes. This was at a Footlocker national cross-country meet in San Diego. He told me that he had a son who had competed in track in high school. No one could have imagined what the future held.
I’d like to remember Danielson that way, too. It’s a shame his life went south on him, but his athletic accomplishments will always stand as a matter of record.