Bob Wheeler
{{distinguish|Bobby Wheeler (disambiguation){{!}}Bobby Wheeler}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Bob Wheeler
| image =
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| birth_name =
| fullname = Robert Tomlinson Wheeler, III
| nickname =
| nationality =
| residence =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|1|11}}
| birth_place = Timonium, Maryland, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2010|11|19|1952|1|11}}
| death_place = La Jolla, California, U.S.
| height =
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| website =
| country = United States of America
| sport = Track & field
| collegeteam = Duke University
| club =
| team =
| turnedpro =
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| retired =
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| worlds =
| regionals = ACC champion, mile (1971, 1973)
| nationals = NCAA champion, 1,000 yards (1971)
| olympics = Semifinals, 1972
| paralympics =
| highestranking =
| pb =
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}}
Robert Tomlinson Wheeler, III (January 11, 1952[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418050644/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wh/bob-wheeler-1.html Bob Wheeler at Sports Reference] – November 19, 2010) was an American athlete in track & field who specialized in the mile. Born in Timonium, Maryland,{{Cite news
| last = Amdur
| first = Neil
| title = Wheeler Captures I. C. 4 - A Run; Duke Star 15-Yard Victor -- Villanova Earns 6th Title
| newspaper = The New York Times
| date = 1971-11-16
}} he went to Dulaney High School in Baltimore County, Maryland, and attended Duke University. He represented the United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, where he ran the 1500 metres.{{Cite web
| title = Bob Wheeler Biography and Olympic Results
| publisher = Sports-Reference.com
| url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wh/bob-wheeler-1.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418050644/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wh/bob-wheeler-1.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 2020-04-18
| access-date = 2009-11-21}} He is still the Duke record holder at the mile (indoor), the 1500 metres (outdoor), and the 1000 metres (indoor), records he ran between 1971 and 1973.
College career
Wheeler attended Duke between 1971 and 1973. He won the 1,000-yard run at the 1971 NCAA Indoor Championships (his 2:07.4 was an NCAA championship record until 1976{{Cite web
| last = Painter
| first = John
| title = National Collegiate Championship Records; Indoor Track, Division I
| publisher = NCAA
| date = November 2000
| url = http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/champs_records_book/1999-00/m_idtrack.pdf
| access-date = 2009-11-23}} p. 285.) and was ACC Champion in the mile in 1971 and 1973,{{Cite web| title =ACC Releases 50th Anniversary Men's Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field Teams| publisher =Atlantic Coast Conference| date =2002-09-17| url =http://www.theacc.com/sports/c-itrack/spec-rel/091702aaa.html| access-date =2009-11-21| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120404184628/http://www.theacc.com/sports/c-itrack/spec-rel/091702aaa.html| archive-date =2012-04-04}} with winning times of 4:05.9 and 4:03.2.{{Cite web
| title = 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field
| publisher = Atlantic Coast Conference
| url = http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/c-track/auto_pdf/ind-track-records-men.pdf
| access-date = 2009-11-23
| archive-date = 2012-11-12
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121112091609/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/c-track/auto_pdf/ind-track-records-men.pdf
| url-status = dead
}} p. 106. He won ACC titles in cross country and indoor and outdoor track. In 1971, he won the 1000 metres event at the Millrose Games, the oldest athletics invitational in the United States, and at least until 2004 was the only Duke athlete to win at the Millrose Games.{{Cite web
| title = Duke Track Teams Prepare for Busy Weekend: Blue Devils in Action at Millrose Games, Carolina Classic and USATF Jr. XC Championships
| publisher = GoDuke
| date = 2004-02-05
| url = http://www.theacc.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/020504aae.html
| access-date = 2009-11-23
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120404184644/http://www.theacc.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/020504aae.html
| archive-date = 2012-04-04
| url-status = dead
}}
Wheeler is still the fastest miler in Duke history, having run 3:39.00 on the 1500 metres outdoor in 1972.{{Cite web
| last = Roth
| first = John
| title = Roth: In Hot Pursuit Of Duke's Best Milers
| publisher = GoDuke
| date = 2009-06-03
| url = http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=3746081
| access-date = 2009-11-21}} His indoor record of 4:00.70, which he set in 1973, is a full second faster than the second-best Duke time, 4:02.06, run by Ryan McDermott in 2011.{{Cite web
| title = Records
| publisher = GoDuke
| url = http://www.goduke.com//pdf5/418133.pdf
| access-date = 2009-11-23}}
He also holds the Duke record at 1000 metres indoor at 2:22.20 (1971) and the record in the 4x mile relay at 16:22.34 (1973), and has the second-best time at the 800 metres outdoor at 1:47.70 (1972). In 2002 he was voted, as one of 50, into the ACC's 50th anniversary team for indoor track and field. In November 25, 2010, he died in Mountain View, California, at the age of 58.
1972 Olympic appearance
Qualifiers for the 1500 metres race at the Olympics were held at the 1972 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) in Eugene, Oregon. On the first day in Oregon, Wheeler impressed with the best time, 3:42.7,{{Cite news
| last = Amdurs
| first = Neil
| title = Wheeler Leads Qualifiers With a 3:42.7 in 1,500
| newspaper = The New York Times
| page = Sports, 31
| date = 1972-06-02
| url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70D12FF345A137B93C0A9178DD85F468785F9
| access-date = 2009-11-21}} though favorite Jim Ryun went on to win the title.
Before the actual Olympics started, there was considerable controversy over the proposed participation of Southern Rhodesia; in the weeks before the Olympics, a number of African countries (including Kenya, home of later 1500 metres Gold medal winner Kip Keino) threatened to withdraw from the event. The American track and field delegation composed a statement asking the International Olympic Committee to reconsider their decision to invite the former British colony; Wheeler spoke out in support of the African athletes who threatened to withdraw: "Everyone is in sympathy with this situation. It's going to be a matter of individual conscience what each is going to do."{{Cite news
| title = Track Team Asks IOC: Reconsider
| newspaper = St. Petersburg Times
| page = 1-C, 3-C
| date = 1972-08-21
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7AUNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W2EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3557,421881&dq=bob+wheeler+1500+olympics+-thorpe&hl=en
| access-date = 2009-11-21}}
In Munich, Wheeler reached the semifinals in the 1500 metres,{{Cite news
| last = Levin
| first = Dan
| title = Jonathan Livingston Liquori
| newspaper = Sports Illustrated
| date = 1973-01-22
| url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1086966/index.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121025165541/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1086966/index.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = October 25, 2012
| access-date = 2009-11-21}} a competition which proved disastrous for the American delegation after Jim Ryun, one of America's best milers ever, fell during qualifications.{{Cite news
| title = For U.S. Team, Olympics Turn into Disaster
| newspaper = The Bulletin
| page = 5
| date = 1972-09-09
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3qgSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g_cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1777,4955594&dq=bob+wheeler+1500+munich&hl=en
| access-date = 2009-11-21}} Like Dave Wottle, the other remaining American, Wheeler failed to make it through his heat; it was the first time since 1956, and only the second time ever, that the 1500 final was run without an American in it.{{Cite news
| last = Amdurs
| first = Neil
| title = Disputed Basket Halts Streak; Soviet Five Ends U. S. Olympic Reign With Disputed Last-Shot 51-50 Victory IBA FILES PROTEST IN EARLY MORNING Defeat Is First in 64-Game Olympic History for U.S. -- Ruling Due Today
| newspaper = The New York Times
| page = S1
| date = 1972-09-10
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3qgSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g_cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1777,4955594&dq=bob+wheeler+1500+munich&hl=en
| access-date = 2009-11-21}}
References
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Bob}}
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Category:American male middle-distance runners
Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States
Category:Duke University alumni
Category:People from Timonium, Maryland
Category:Sportspeople from Baltimore County, Maryland
Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners
Category:Duke Blue Devils men's track and field athletes