How fast was Dave Wottle in high school?

This might be more than you asked for but I found it interesting:

Running legend Dave Wottle was really a Miler

December 08, 2014

1972 Olympic 800m champion with numerous national Mile titles and world class times was one of the best at the storied distance

By Rick Schnittker

I first met Dave Wottle as a 15-year-old making a trip to the Ohio JC Summer State Meet in Canton, Ohio. I had qualified for the event with my fastest Mile of 4:28 at a regional meet. I don’t know how I knew but there was a lanky guy sitting cross legged in the shade next to the field house, worried he’d be my competition, I asked him, “You a Miler?” “Yes I am, but I’m not running today.” In the extended conversation I learned I was talking with the present Ohio State HS Mile champion and that he had run it in 4:20 flat and that his name was Dave Wottle. Dave had grown up just across the street and was there just soaking in a track meet for us youngsters. I do remember his modesty in relaying the information and it made a lasting impression on me. “Wow, the State Mile champion!” Our paths would cross again 2 years later in a very big way.

As a high school senior in 1970, I came in third in the Ohio HS State Meet with a 4:16.4. While I was undefeated before that meet in NW Ohio, I was now getting calls and letters from colleges and universities all around the Midwest. I always thought of going away to college and didn’t consider Bowling Green State University, only 13 miles down Rte. 25 to be ‘away’.

BGSU Coach Mel Brodt came to our home one hot summer day and sat down with me, my Mom & Dad. I remember him saying, “Rick, you have a chance here to be a part of something very special at BGSU.” I knew of Sid Sink and Dave Wottle. Dave had just broken 4 minutes for the first time (one of his top 3 career highlights) and Sid seemed to win every event from the steeple chase to the 6 Mile. With a friend and competitor from The Toledo Road Runners, Steve Danforth just completing his freshman year there, a decision was made. I’d report to BGSU for Cross Country three weeks before classes started.

I was mostly a lone runner in high school with the exception of Jim Haxton, a good friend and runner who would go on to run at Ohio University. When Coach Brodt said I’d be part of something special, I had no idea. At our first practice, I looked around and was unable to count the number of guys coming out for Cross Country. There was more than 80 guys lacing up their shoes. I had received a little press on being the fastest high school Miler ever recruited to BGSU but then I learned among all these new guys was a New Yorker who had been in Sports Illustrated’s ‘Faces in the Crowd’, Craig MacDonald, the New York State Cross Country champion. I remember thinking, “This is going to be a challenge keeping up” and indeed it was.

The Essence of a Competitor

Our track workouts would start with a 3 Mile run at what Coach Brodt described as “at ease”. The next thing we’d do is what he called, “pick-ups”. Usually a bit over a hundred yards, we start out at a good clip and continue to gather speed and ending in a sprint. As the new guy on the block, I’d show these guys my speed. I know Dave was used to being in the lead at the end of these but I would best him here. I know he did not like this, he’d keep coming at me and we’d continue this little race daily. Turned out it’s the only thing on the track I’d ever best him in.

Sid Sink was our leader. He would assume taking the pace at whatever Coach Brodt wanted. 5 minute Mile pace, no problem, 4:45 same, Sid would be right on it and we’d fall in behind. Knowing pace was something we’d all have to learn. Inevitably, Dave would go charging into the lead at the end. It’s what he did. He did not always go without a challenge but we’d knew it would happen every time.

BGSU lies in the Black Swamp. Early American settlers would have a hard time getting around it, let alone through it. When it was drained and cleared of trees, it became some of the best farm land in the country. Ditches in the countryside can be 10 to 15 feet deep but the land up top is so flat you are able to view the curvature of earth just as if you are miles out in the ocean. This geographic feature results in wind, almost constant wind. In winter* and spring, the wind was a daily battle on the track which had no protection unless you call the 3 foot arborvitae outside the fence “protection”.

One of Coach Brodt’s favorite workouts was 3 x 2 Miles with exactly five minutes rest between. A 3 Mile warm up before and a 3 Mile warm down after. We got to look forward to this workout because of the challenge it presented. The first 2 Mile was to be 10 minutes, second 9:30 and the last to be 9 flat for all that could make it. Normally, this is exactly what we did with Sid keeping the pace right on the money. On one windy Monday in 1972, the competitive juices must have been flowing through us all. If I am recalling this correctly and not embellishing, the first 2 Mile was completed in around 9:35, Coach smiled and did not reprimand us for not staying on pace. During the 5 minute rest period, Sid pleaded for someone else to go to the front and assume some of the wind breaking duties. Craig MacDonald, Steve Danforth and Tracy Elliot helped Sid during the second 2 Mile which most of us completed in just over 9 minutes. I don’t recall if I helped, probably not, but Dave was there in the pack only to come home first in 8:50 something. Not much was said during the next 5 minutes as we were busy sucking in air. As we set out on our third and last 2 Mile, some of the guys started giving Dave grief on his drafting methods, we all joined in. Maybe a bit miffed, he takes to the lead and we all follow on or try anyway. “Dave! You’re supposed to be leading the way, not blowing us off the track”. Well, he did, he completed that third 2 Mile in 8:29. 50-60 yards back, I would run the fastest 2 Mile of my life, in practice, dang. A couple weeks later, Dave would win the 880, Sid the 2 Mile and our Distance Medley relay took the title as our team would place second at the NCAA Indoor Championships giving BGSU a team tie with Michigan State.

Mixing Marriage and Olympics

Dave’s competitive nature spilled over into everything, leisure activities too. Whether we were playing ping pong, pin ball, bowling or whatever, he was doing his best to come out on top and usually did. One thing Dave was not real good at was girls. Shy did not come close to describing him at that time. Me, I considered myself one of the best wing guys around. And there was Jan, available, having split up with another teammate many months before, beautiful, lovely and lively. Timing seemed right, I had to get these two together but I couldn’t do it without Dave’s help. He only had to ask her out. It took a couple weeks of jabbing for him to get up the nerve but eventually he did and that was all it took. They fell in love and how does a marriage in between the Trials and the Olympics hurt? Hey, there was a few weeks of a window. A wedding was planned and I was honored to be their Best Man. The experts said it was a bad idea and it would ruin his chances but love always finds a way or this instance, to not get in the way.

Munich 1972

It’s really hard to say that Dave’s best event was the Mile seeing as he tied the world record in the 800 at the Trials and then won the Gold in Munich, Germany. I still maintain that it was. The Mile is contended in ways where the winner is not always the fastest and strongest competitor in the field. It comes down to the guy that wants it the most, whether it is a blistering pace from the gun or a stroll in the park until the bell is ringing. Knowing what you have in the tank on that day determines how you approach it. Don’t get me wrong, Dave was strong and obviously fast. He could bench press 300 pounds with those seemingly skinny arms and a 47 second flat open quarter is not too shabby. Not known as a Cross Country runner but check the books. As I recall a couple top 10 finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, running 6 Mile times over hill-and-dale most anyone would be proud of on the track. [EDITOR's NOTE: memory is an elusive thing at times, Dave Wottle did finish 12th at the 1971 NCAA XC Championships and was on two teams that placed in the top 10.] But he was a Miler who also won three NCAA titles (1500 – 1972 and Mile, indoor & outdoor – 1973). I believe if the Olympic schedule called for the 1500 to be run before the 800 he would have won the 1500 and who knows how he’d then fare in the 800. As a 21-year-old with just a little international experience, the limelight of the 800 gold medal blinded him to the rest of the job. He just plain went to sleep in his 1500 semi heat.

After the Olympics, in 1973, Dave did become the second fastest American and #3 individual all-time in the Mile with Steve Prefontaine doing his pace work. He clocked a swift 3:53.3, and Jim Ryun’s world record 3:51.1 was the only American time faster, while Pre ran a 3:54.6, his PR, so all I’m saying had Pre run 3:52, well, I guess you know where I’m going here. Dave was a Miler and rarely lost one in his time.

Final Thoughts

Dave Wottle was really a Miler who happened to be also really good over two laps, but he is so much more that. Dave is great and humble guy, loving husband to Jan, and father of three successful kids, Scott, Mike and Jenny. He is also a very talented motivational speaker to high school coaches and athletes. Now that he’s retired from his Director of Admissions position at Rhodes College, he has lots of time for talking.

Wottle won the Ohio AA (large school division) state meet in 4:20.2. But remember that in 1968, the Ohio state record was 4:15.3. Training, especially for high schoolers, was a whole lot less serious than now. But he also had to be a bit under the radar to end up at a mid-major that had yet to prove itself. BG was damn good with Wottle and his teammates (they were NCAA Indoor runners-up and broke an American record in the 4xmile) but they weren't there yet in 1968.

Thanks! Yeah, this is what I was reading earlier. It's a great article, but I still find it kind of unbelievable that in four years he could go from running 4:20 to winning gold.

SAlly V wrote:

Don’t get me wrong, Dave was strong and obviously fast. He could bench press 300 pounds with those seemingly skinny arms and a 47 second flat open quarter is not too shabby.

F.

he could bench 300lbs?!?! No freaking way, Nick Symmonds and Alan Webb Couldnt even do that in there prime!

Another to compare is Clayton Murphy who broke 1:43 for his bronze in Rio. What was his HS mile?

SWAZ wrote:

Thanks! Yeah, this is what I was reading earlier. It's a great article, but I still find it kind of unbelievable that in four years he could go from running 4:20 to winning gold.

I am not too up on Clayton Murphy, but didn't he have a similar ascension to Olympic success?

SAlly V wrote:

SWAZ wrote:

Thanks! Yeah, this is what I was reading earlier. It's a great article, but I still find it kind of unbelievable that in four years he could go from running 4:20 to winning gold.

I am not too up on Clayton Murphy, but didn't he have a similar ascension to Olympic success?

I just checked, and you've got a point. He ran a respectable (although not really impressive) 1:54 in high school

SWAZ wrote:

SAlly V wrote:

I am not too up on Clayton Murphy, but didn't he have a similar ascension to Olympic success?

I just checked, and you've got a point. He ran a respectable (although not really impressive) 1:54 in high school

What about 400. What about the 400 in college even?

bullcrud wrote:

SAlly V wrote:

Don’t get me wrong, Dave was strong and obviously fast. He could bench press 300 pounds with those seemingly skinny arms and a 47 second flat open quarter is not too shabby.

F.

he could bench 300lbs?!?! No freaking way, Nick Symmonds and Alan Webb Couldnt even do that in there prime!

Agree. No way he could bench 100 pounds. I saw him at the 72 trials, concave chest.

But a fantastic athlete and a humble guy. Cheers to him.

There are lies in that long post. No way Wottle runs 8:29 at the end of a hard workout. He would have to be able to run 8:15ish in order to lead an 8:29 at the end of a workout. No way.

bullcrud wrote:

SAlly V wrote:

Don’t get me wrong, Dave was strong and obviously fast. He could bench press 300 pounds with those seemingly skinny arms and a 47 second flat open quarter is not too shabby.

F.

he could bench 300lbs?!?! No freaking way, Nick Symmonds and Alan Webb Couldnt even do that in there prime!

Agreed, no way on 300

Densix wrote:

There are lies in that long post. No way Wottle runs 8:29 at the end of a hard workout. He would have to be able to run 8:15ish in order to lead an 8:29 at the end of a workout. No way.

The world record in late 1971 was 8:17 by Emil Puttemans run in Edinborough, Scotland. For perspective, Dick Quax ran a NZ record of 8:26 earlier in 1971.

So calling kaka on another legendary training run. Why can't Scott Wottle just ask his dad and post on here like he has before????????

bullcrud wrote:

Couldnt even do that in there prime!

Their.

Go to 7:15

It turns out he actually was a 4:20 miler in high school.

That long post is taken from a book, I can't remember which one. Either way, there is no way he could bench 300 pounds. I used to believe the 829 but there is not way- I don't buy it, especially with the author saying they might be embellishing and the 300lb bs.

I never tire of watching that race. Arzhanov ran a crap tactical race, much like Coe in '80.

The narrator mentions that Wottle won the Trials, but conveniently (for the sake of drama) neglects that he tied the WR in doing so.

In those days many of the tracks were clay, grass, or cinder. In fact the tracks of the 1980s were not as bouncy as the trampoline tracks of today.

We also ran in 5 pound shoes and had uniforms so inflexible that you had to throw them away every 3 years or so!

What about the medical and scientific advances of today.

There was a "universal" weight machine that a lot of skinny guys could lift some incredibly heavy weights, but I bet Dave Wottle couldn't do more than 250 on those either. Then again for some people if you go 1/2 down that's a full rep!

Remember when rock was rock wrote:

In those days many of the tracks were clay, grass, or cinder. In fact the tracks of the 1980s were not as bouncy as the trampoline tracks of today.

You have no understanding of tracks. Bounciness would make a track slower, not faster. It is the smoothness that makes a track fast.

We also ran in 5 pound shoes and had uniforms so inflexible that you had to throw them away every 3 years or so!

Wrong. Shoes fit better, were lighter and more durable then.

Bob Schul was just an average high school miler (4:36 or so) from West Milton, Ohio who ended up being the only American to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the 5,000meters run on the track. He accomplished this in the rain at the 1964 Olympics and defeated the favored international runners. He credits and became an advocate of Mikhail(sp?) Igloi's training methods and philosophy. I trained under Coach Schul one summer between my freshman and sophomore year in college. I believe I was on track to run a 4:10 mile or faster (4:38 my senior yr HS) before destroying my ankle in a fall down two flights of stairs. I had just come from the track where I'd completed the Frank Shorter mile test workout which consists of 10x400m w/ 2 mins jog in between. Average time xfour equals what you're physiologically capable of running. I'd averaged 62.4. In my excitement to call my coach, best friend, and the girlfriend​, etc. I went running up the seven flights of stairs to my dorm room as was my habit. As I attempted to jump up onto the 7th floor landing taking steps two and three at a time, I missed. I fell backwards down two flights after bouncing off the wall in between floor six and seven shredding tendons and ligaments in the process on my right ankle. I never ran that strong ever again.