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Former Duke Track Standout Bob Wheeler Passes Away
11/25/2010 12:00:00 PM | Track & Field
DURHAM, N.C. – Bob Wheeler, a member of the Duke Sports Hall of Fame who participated in the 1972 Olympic Games, passed away late last week in Mountain View, Calif. He was 58.
A native of Timonium, Md., Wheeler was a three-time All-America honoree at Duke in 1971, 1972 and 1973. At the 1971 NCAA Track & Field Championships, he captured an individual title in the 1,000-yard race with a then-national collegiate record 2:07.4 time. A two-time ACC indoor champion in the mile run, he also earned two conference cross country individual championships along with league crowns in the 880-yard and 1,500-meter events.
Inducted into the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, Wheeler also was a member of the U.S. Olympic team, competing in the 1,500-meters at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. In 2002, Wheeler was voted to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team, earning the distinction in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. He continues to hold Duke records in the outdoor 1,500-meters (3:39.00), indoor one mile (4:00.70) and the indoor 1,000-meters (2:22.20).
Wheeler graduated from Duke in 1974 with a degree in management science.
A native of Timonium, Md., Wheeler was a three-time All-America honoree at Duke in 1971, 1972 and 1973. At the 1971 NCAA Track & Field Championships, he captured an individual title in the 1,000-yard race with a then-national collegiate record 2:07.4 time. A two-time ACC indoor champion in the mile run, he also earned two conference cross country individual championships along with league crowns in the 880-yard and 1,500-meter events.
Inducted into the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, Wheeler also was a member of the U.S. Olympic team, competing in the 1,500-meters at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. In 2002, Wheeler was voted to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team, earning the distinction in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. He continues to hold Duke records in the outdoor 1,500-meters (3:39.00), indoor one mile (4:00.70) and the indoor 1,000-meters (2:22.20).
Wheeler graduated from Duke in 1974 with a degree in management science.
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