BY THE TIME the 213 runners had crossed the finish line in the inaugural race in 1973, the Charleston Distance Run already had distinguished itself as something worth remembering. On reflection, we can look back now and call it a historic day.
The race's grand marshal was Jesse Owens, quite a runner himself and, in fact, the most celebrated figure in U.S. track and field history. The previous day, Owens had spoken at a Civic Center luncheon, where he reminisced about an old adversary, Adolph Hitler, and had conducted a track clinic at the Daniel Boone Hotel, a few blocks down the street.
Another notable was Dave Wottle, a former Bowling Green University runner who had won the Olympic 800 meters a year earlier, rallying dramatically in Munich and finishing in 1:45.6. Wottle joined Owens for an appearance at the Daniel Boone.
