Wes Santee facts for kids
Wedding of Wes Santee and Anna Lou Denning on April 19, 1954
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | March 25, 1932 Ashland, Kansas, U.S. |
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| Died | November 14, 2010 (aged 78) Eureka, Kansas, U.S. |
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| Height | 185 cm | ||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg | ||||||||||
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| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||
| Event(s) | 800–5000 m | ||||||||||
| Club | Kansas Jayhawks, Lawrence | ||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 800 m – 1:47.8 (1955) 1500 m – 3:42.8 (1954) Mile – 4:00.5 (1955) 5000 m – 14:32.0 (1952) |
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Medal record
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David Wesley Santee (born March 25, 1932 – died November 14, 2010) was an American runner. He was known for his amazing speed in middle-distance races. Wes Santee mainly competed in the 1,500 meters and mile events.
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Early Life and School Years
Wes Santee was born in Ashland, Kansas. People often called him the "Ashland Antelope" because he ran so fast. He went to high school in Ashland. There, he set a new state record in the mile run.
Later, Wes attended the University of Kansas. He continued to break records there. He set new best times in cross country, the mile, and two-mile races. In 1953, he became the individual NCAA Cross Country Champion. His strong performance also helped his team win the overall championship.
Competing on the World Stage
Wes Santee competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. He ran in the 5,000 meters race. Although he ran well, he did not win a medal at those Olympics.
Three years later, Wes showed his talent at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City. He won a silver medal in the 1,500 meters race. This was a big achievement for him.
The Race for the Four-Minute Mile
During the 1950s, Wes Santee was one of the best milers in the world. He had a big goal: to be the first person to run a mile in under four minutes. This was a huge challenge for runners back then.
His main rivals were Roger Bannister from Great Britain and John Landy from Australia. They were all trying to achieve this historic feat. On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister made history. He became the first to break the four-minute barrier. His time was 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds. Just seven weeks later, John Landy ran even faster than Bannister.
In June 1954, Santee set a world record in the 1,500-meter race. His time was 3:42.8. He beat Olympic champion Josy Barthel in that race. However, he slowed down a little at the end of the mile. He finished the mile in 4 minutes, 0.7 seconds. This was incredibly close to the four-minute mark.
In early 1955, Wes Santee came very close to his own four-minute mile. He ran it in 4 minutes, 0.5 seconds. This was his fastest mile time ever. However, he never managed to run faster than this.
Career Challenges and Legacy
Soon after his fastest mile, Wes Santee faced a challenge. He was suspended by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). This was due to rules about amateur athletes. At that time, amateur athletes could only receive a small amount of money for expenses. This money was meant to cover food, lodging, and travel costs.
For three track meets in May 1955, Santee had received more money than the rules allowed for his expenses. In 1956, he was permanently stopped from competing in amateur events. This meant he could no longer try to beat Bannister and Landy. It also cost him a chance to compete in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
Despite his career being cut short, Wes Santee set several world records. He held records in the 1,500-meter run, the indoor 1,500-meter run, and the indoor mile. In 2005, he was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Wes Santee's running career, including his rivalry with Bannister and Landy, is told in a book. It is called The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb.
Later Life
Wes Santee passed away from cancer on November 14, 2010. He was at his home in Eureka, Kansas.
