Richard Thomas Buerkle (/ˈbɜːrkliː/BERK-lee;[3] September 3, 1947 – June 22, 2020) was an American Olympic athlete and a world record holder for the men's indoor mile. He is known as one of the most successful walk-ons in the history of American collegiate running, due to his athletic successes while at Villanova.
Dick Buerkle
Buerkle setting world record for indoor mile (3:54.9) on January 13, 1978
Buerkle graduated from Aquinas Institute high school in 1965 with personal best times of 4:28 for the mile[4] and 10:01 for two miles.[1] He began running competitively only in his senior year of high school.
Collegiate
With no stand-out track credentials from high school, Buerkle enrolled at Villanova initially with no sports scholarship. At Villanova, he learned under the tutelage of head coach Jumbo Elliott and assistant coach Jim Tuppeny. He finally received a track scholarship in April of his junior year, after breaking the nine-minute barrier in the two-mile race, recording 8:57 at a dual meet in Knoxville.[5] Two weeks later, Buerkle lowered Villanova's two-mile record to 8:46.2.[6] He graduated from Villanova in 1970 with a degree in Spanish studies.[7]
Post-collegiate
After graduating from Villanova, Buerkle began working for a distributor of contact lenses in Buffalo, New York, although Buerkle said that the company welcomed his running goals.[1] Buerkle qualified for the 1976 and 1980 Olympics. The 1976 Games in Montreal were a disappointment for Buerkle; in the 5000 meters, he was ninth in what was, at that point, the fastest 5000 m heat in history and did not qualify for the final. The U.S. team did not compete in 1980 because of the boycott enacted by PresidentJimmy Carter.
Years before the look became popular, Buerkle's most noticeable physical characteristic was his bald head which was the result of alopecia areata by age 12. The taunts he heard at track meets helped fuel his determination to succeed.[3] He was later most thankful to Michael Jordan for shaving his head and ushering the style into the mainstream.[12]
At the time of Steve Prefontaine's death in 1975,[13] Buerkle was his chief American rival; he composed a tribute poem that was printed in the Eugene'sRegister-Guard the following day.[14]
Buerkle eventually grew tired of the winter weather in his native Rochester, New York, and relocated his family to Atlanta, Georgia, soon thereafter. Buerkle continued to live and work in the Atlanta area after retiring from world-class competition in 1981. Buerkle said that the decision was not difficult. By that point, he and his wife, Jean, whom he met at Villanova, had a son, Gabriel, and two daughters, Lily and Tera.
Buerkle tried careers in sales and teaching in tandem with his running career. In 1992, he began teaching Spanish at Dunwoody High School, where he also coached track and field and cross-country running. He finished his career at Henderson Middle School as a Spanish instructor while simultaneously training the boys' track team thus resulting in back to back county championships in 2011–2012. Buerkle retired in January 2014. He died on June 22, 2020 from multiple system atrophy.[3][12]
^ abcSandomir, Richard (July 21, 2020). "Dick Buerkle, Master of the Indoor Mile, Dies at 72". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
^ ab"Buerkle Steals TV Time Slot". UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research. Desert Sun. February 3, 1978. p. B16.
^"AN ATHLETE REMEMBERS HIS COACH, JUMBO ELLIOT". The New York Times. April 5, 1981.
^Reif, Michael (2008-01-26). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
^. 1999-01-19. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
^"Two set world marks". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 14, 1978. p. 8.
^Kristin Green Morse (January 21, 2002). "DICK BUERKLE, MILER FEBRUARY 6, 1978". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
^Putnam, Pat (February 6, 1978). "The slop and hustle take over". Sports Illustrated. p. 16.
^. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
^ ab"Aquinas grad and two-time U.S. Olympian Dick Buerkle dies at age 72". Retrieved June 22, 2020.
^Newnham, Blaine; Mack, Don (May 30, 1975). "Pre's death the end of an era". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1A.
^Buerkle, Dick (May 31, 1975). "Ode to S. Roland". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
January 10, 2023
dick, buerkle, richard, thomas, buerkle, ɜːr, berk, september, 1947, june, 2020, american, olympic, athlete, world, record, holder, indoor, mile, known, most, successful, walk, history, american, collegiate, running, athletic, successes, while, villanova, buer. Richard Thomas Buerkle ˈ b ɜːr k l iː BERK lee 3 September 3 1947 June 22 2020 was an American Olympic athlete and a world record holder for the men s indoor mile He is known as one of the most successful walk ons in the history of American collegiate running due to his athletic successes while at Villanova Dick BuerkleBuerkle setting world record for indoor mile 3 54 9 on January 13 1978Personal informationNationalityAmericanBorn 1947 09 03 September 3 1947Rochester New YorkDiedJune 22 2020 2020 06 22 aged 72 Atlanta GeorgiaHeight5 ft 7 in 170 cm 1978 1 Weight130 lb 59 kg 1978 1 SportSportTrackEvent s 1500 meters mileCollege teamVillanovaClubNYACCoached byJumbo ElliottAchievements and titlesPersonal best s Mile 3 54 93i 2 1 3000m 7 53 2 2 2 mile 8 21 76 2 5000m 13 23 20 2 10 000m 28 25 0 2 Updated on September 26 2015 Contents 1 Running career 1 1 High school 1 2 Collegiate 1 3 Post collegiate 2 Personal life 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesRunning career EditHigh school Edit Buerkle graduated from Aquinas Institute high school in 1965 with personal best times of 4 28 for the mile 4 and 10 01 for two miles 1 He began running competitively only in his senior year of high school Collegiate Edit With no stand out track credentials from high school Buerkle enrolled at Villanova initially with no sports scholarship At Villanova he learned under the tutelage of head coach Jumbo Elliott and assistant coach Jim Tuppeny He finally received a track scholarship in April of his junior year after breaking the nine minute barrier in the two mile race recording 8 57 at a dual meet in Knoxville 5 Two weeks later Buerkle lowered Villanova s two mile record to 8 46 2 6 He graduated from Villanova in 1970 with a degree in Spanish studies 7 Post collegiate Edit After graduating from Villanova Buerkle began working for a distributor of contact lenses in Buffalo New York although Buerkle said that the company welcomed his running goals 1 Buerkle qualified for the 1976 and 1980 Olympics The 1976 Games in Montreal were a disappointment for Buerkle in the 5000 meters he was ninth in what was at that point the fastest 5000 m heat in history and did not qualify for the final The U S team did not compete in 1980 because of the boycott enacted by President Jimmy Carter On January 13 1978 at the CYO Invitational held at the Cole Field House he broke the indoor mile world record with a time of 3 54 93 finishing ahead of Filbert Bayi and Paul Cummings 8 He allegedly ate nine oreos and two peanut butter jelly sandwiches only a few hours before the race 9 He then won the men s Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in 3 58 4 beating Wilson Waigwa and Bayi for a second consecutive race on Madison Square Garden s track 4 The Wanamaker victory put his image on the covers of Sports Illustrated 10 and Track amp Field News 11 Personal life EditYears before the look became popular Buerkle s most noticeable physical characteristic was his bald head which was the result of alopecia areata by age 12 The taunts he heard at track meets helped fuel his determination to succeed 3 He was later most thankful to Michael Jordan for shaving his head and ushering the style into the mainstream 12 At the time of Steve Prefontaine s death in 1975 13 Buerkle was his chief American rival he composed a tribute poem that was printed in the Eugene s Register Guard the following day 14 Buerkle eventually grew tired of the winter weather in his native Rochester New York and relocated his family to Atlanta Georgia soon thereafter Buerkle continued to live and work in the Atlanta area after retiring from world class competition in 1981 Buerkle said that the decision was not difficult By that point he and his wife Jean whom he met at Villanova had a son Gabriel and two daughters Lily and Tera Buerkle tried careers in sales and teaching in tandem with his running career In 1992 he began teaching Spanish at Dunwoody High School where he also coached track and field and cross country running He finished his career at Henderson Middle School as a Spanish instructor while simultaneously training the boys track team thus resulting in back to back county championships in 2011 2012 Buerkle retired in January 2014 He died on June 22 2020 from multiple system atrophy 3 12 See also EditFour minute mile World record progression for the mile runNotes Edit 1 The i after a result indicates an indoor performance References Edit a b c d Neil Amdur January 15 1978 Buerkle Defies the Stereotype of a Miler The New York Times p 3 a b c d e Dick BUERKLE Athlete Profile IAAF a b c Sandomir Richard July 21 2020 Dick Buerkle Master of the Indoor Mile Dies at 72 The New York Times Retrieved July 23 2020 a b Buerkle Steals TV Time Slot UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research Desert Sun February 3 1978 p B16 AN ATHLETE REMEMBERS HIS COACH JUMBO ELLIOT The New York Times April 5 1981 Reif Michael 2008 01 26 Greater Rochester Track Club Hall of Fame PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2012 04 25 Retrieved 2010 08 22 Blast from the Past Dick Buerkle 1999 01 19 Archived from the original on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2010 08 22 Two set world marks Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press January 14 1978 p 8 Kristin Green Morse January 21 2002 DICK BUERKLE MILER FEBRUARY 6 1978 Sports Illustrated Retrieved January 15 2019 Putnam Pat February 6 1978 The slop and hustle take over Sports Illustrated p 16 Track and Field News Archive Past Issues 1978 Archived from the original on 2010 01 02 Retrieved 2010 08 22 a b Aquinas grad and two time U S Olympian Dick Buerkle dies at age 72 Retrieved June 22 2020 Newnham Blaine Mack Don May 30 1975 Pre s death the end of an era Eugene Register Guard Oregon p 1A Buerkle Dick May 31 1975 Ode to S Roland Eugene Register Guard Oregon p 1B Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dick Buerkle amp oldid 1109783699, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
