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Craig Virgin's personally-owned and -worn Onitsuka Tiger track spikes in blue and white, purchased by him in the fall of 1972 and worn only during his senior outdoor track season, and only on cinder tracks. His fastest race in them was an 8:46 2-mile in May 1973. The lightweight racing shoes feature light blue nylon uppers with contrasting white Onitsuka Tiger stripes along the sides, traditional lace-up closures, and reinforced leather panels at the heels. Both sets of spikes are protected by blue rubber Onitsuka Tiger–branded covers. Both shoes exhibit some wear from use, with some staining and fraying along edges. Includes a yellow carrying bag branded only by Onitsuka Tiger, carrying the slogan: "The Original Onitsuka Line, The Champion of Sports Shoes," without Blue Ribbon Sports co-branding. By this time, Onitsuka had discontinued its partnership with Blue Ribbon Sports, which then introduced the Nike brand.
Virgin notes: "The blue spikes I bought in the fall of 1972, after cross country season, because I didn't know that Nike would send me more promotional shoes. I mail-ordered them from Dick Pond in Chicago. In fact, these were the last shoes I ever purchased for myself during my competitive running career."
These spikes represent a pivotal moment in Craig Virgin's emergence as one of America's most promising young distance runners. Entering his final year at Lebanon High School in Illinois, Virgin was already attracting national attention for his extraordinary performances, and the 1973 track season would see him establish a national high school two-mile record of 8:40.9. Particularly appealing is Virgin's recollection of purchasing the shoes himself, reflecting a transitional period when the teenage running sensation was beginning to receive promotional footwear but still relied on his own resources to obtain equipment.
Per Virgin's own race log, he wore these in 15 performances across seven meets on cinder tracks in Spring 1973:
3/29/73: At Dupo, 880, 1:59.2
3/29/73: At Dupo, 440, 54.1
3/29/73: At Dupo, 440 relay leg, 55.1
4/7/73: Alton Relays, 2M, 1st, 8:50.4
4/7/73: Alton Relays, DMR, 4:17 mile leg
4/28/73: Granite City Invitational, 2M, 1st, 8:59.0
4/28/73: Granite City Invitational, 1M, 1st, 4:15.3
5/3/73: Conference, Waterloo, 1M, 1st, 4:27.9
5/3/73: Conference, Waterloo, 880, 1st, 2:01.1
5/5/73: Orphan Relays, Centralia, 2M, 1st, 8:46.5
5/5/73: Orphan Relays, Centralia, DMR (one-mile leg), 1st, 4:11.8
5/10/73: Roxana Relays, sprint medley (880 leg), 1st, 1:55
5/10/73: Roxana Relays, DMR (one-mile leg), 1st, 4:13
5/15/73: Cahokia Invitational, 2M, 1st, 8:53.9
5/15/73: Cahokia Invitational, 1M, 1st, 4:13.0
