[3][7] On September 20, 1879, he ran the quarter-mile in 49.5 seconds despite running the final 120 yards without his right shoe, setting a world record.

Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championships, Myers won the 220 (22.75), 440 (49.2), and 880, setting records in each event.

[2][8] Unusual distances in some of the races were a product of the fact that tracks at the time varied in length.

[2] Walter George, the top British miler, faced Myers over a series of three races in November 1882.

In the final 3/4 mile showdown, 60,000 watched George and Myers battle on a cold day on a bad track.

Myers subsequently was with greater frequency not allowed to participate in some races, as few runners wanted to compete against him.

[2] Myers came out of retirement and became a professional in 1886 to run against English champion Walter George, the world record holder in the mile.

They competed in the "Middle Distance Championship of the World", before thousands of fans at Madison Square Garden.

[7] The following year Myers faced George in the same contest in Australia at the half, 3/4 and full mile.