David Wesley Santee Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
David Wesley Santee (March 25, 1932 – November 14, 2010) was an American middle distance runner and athlete who competed mainly in the 1,500 meters and mile events.Born in Ashland, Kansas, Santee was nicknamed the "Ashland Antelope." Santee attended high school in Ashland, where he set a state record in the mile run. He later attended the University of Kansas where he set records in Cross Country and the mile and two-mile events. He was the Individual NCAA Cross Country Champion in 1953, while leading his team to the overall championship.Santee competed in the 5,000 meters in the 1952 Summer Olympics at Helsinki, Finland, but did not win a medal. Three years later, Santee won the silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City.During this period, Santee was one of the top milers in the world, aspiring to become the first man to run a four-minute mile. His chief competitors were Great Britain's Roger Bannister and Australia's John Landy. On May 6, 1954, Bannister became the first to break the barrier with a time of 3:59.4. Seven weeks later, Landy surpassed Bannister's mark.In early 1955, Santee came close to a four-minute mile of his own, with a time of 4:00.5, but he would never surpass this time. Shortly afterwards, Santee was suspended by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in a dispute over his amateur status. AAU rules at that time limited amateurs to $15 per diem expenses to cover food and lodging, and the costs of air travel. For three track meets over a nine-day period in May, 1955, Santee had been paid $1,127.85 of expenses In 1956, Santee was permanently barred from amateur events, ending his chance to surpass Bannister and Landy and also costing him a place in the 1956 Summer Olympics at Melbourne, Australia. Santee had previously been banned from competing internationally because of early questions surrounding his status as an amateur.During his abbreviated career, Santee set world records in the 1,500 meter run, indoor 1,500 meter run and indoor mile.Santee's track career, including his rivalry with Bannister and Landy and his troubles with the AAU, is chronicled in Neal Bascomb's 2004 book The Perfect Mile. A film based on Bascomb's book is currently under development.He died of cancer in Eureka, Kansas on November 14, 2010 .
Inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2005.
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Member of the 1952 and the 1956 US Olympic track team, but was banned by the AAU from running in the 1,500 meters in the 1952 Games because he made the team in the 5,000 meters, then was banned by the AAU from the 1956 Games for allegedly accepting too much expense money from meet promoters.
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Set the world record in the outdoor 1,500 meters (1956), the indoor mile (1954, 1955), and the indoor 1,500-meters (1955).
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Four Minute Mile
2004
TV Movie documentary
Himself
U.S. Olympic Champions
1952
Documentary short
Himself - U. S. Olympic Team-Member
Known for movies
U.S. Olympic Champions 1952 as Himself - U. S. Olympic Team-Member
$900,000