Dick Buerkle
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Thomas Buerkle ' onMouseout='HidePop("80923")' href="/topics/Rochester,_New_York">Rochester, New York
) is an Olympic athlete and once held the world record for the indoor one-mile run.
high school in 1966 with a personal best of 4:28 for the one-mile run. He graduated from Villanova University
in 1970 with a degree in Spanish studies. At Villanova, he learned under the tutelage of head coach, Jumbo Elliott and assistant coach Jim Tuppeny. Buerkle began his collegiate career as a walk-on. He finally received a track scholarship in April of his junior year after running a two-mile race in less than nine minutes, with a final time of 8:57. Two weeks later, Buerkle lowered Villanova's two-mile record to 8:46.2.
Buerkle qualified for the 1976
and 1980 Olympics
. The 1976 Montreal Games were a disappointment for Buerkle, who competed in the Olympic 5000 metre competition
and finished 9th in what was, at that point, the fastest 5000 metre heat in history. He did not, however, compete in 1980 Olympic Games because US President Jimmy Carter
chose to boycott them.
He ran the mile in less than four minutes on six occasions in his career with a personal best on Friday January 13, 1978, when he ran 3:54.9 to break the world indoor mile record. This world record put his image on the covers of Sports Illustrated
and Track & Field News
.
, NY
, and relocated his family to Atlanta, GA
, 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 coaches track and field and cross-country running.
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
) is an Olympic athlete and once held the world record for the indoor one-mile run.
Athletic Achievements
Buerkle graduated from Aquinas InstituteAquinas Institute
The Aquinas Institute is a co educational catholic school Rochester, New York established in 1902. Aquinas Institute was founded as an all boys christian academy, but became an co-educational school in 1982. It is located within City of Rochester. It has stood at its current location on Dewey...
high school in 1966 with a personal best of 4:28 for the one-mile run. He graduated from Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in 1970 with a degree in Spanish studies. At Villanova, he learned under the tutelage of head coach, Jumbo Elliott and assistant coach Jim Tuppeny. Buerkle began his collegiate career as a walk-on. He finally received a track scholarship in April of his junior year after running a two-mile race in less than nine minutes, with a final time of 8:57. Two weeks later, Buerkle lowered Villanova's two-mile record to 8:46.2.
Buerkle qualified for the 1976
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
and 1980 Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
. The 1976 Montreal Games were a disappointment for Buerkle, who competed in the Olympic 5000 metre competition
Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's 5000 metres
These are the official results of the Men's 5.000 metres at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. The final was held on Friday July 30, 1976 after the three qualifying heats were run on Wednesday July 28, 1976.-Final:-Qualifying heats:...
and finished 9th in what was, at that point, the fastest 5000 metre heat in history. He did not, however, compete in 1980 Olympic Games because US President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
chose to boycott them.
He ran the mile in less than four minutes on six occasions in his career with a personal best on Friday January 13, 1978, when he ran 3:54.9 to break the world indoor mile record. This world record put his image on the covers of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
and Track & Field News
Track & Field News
Track & Field News is a magazine founded in 1948 by brothers Bert Nelson & Cordner Nelson, focused on the world of track and field.The magazine provides coverage of athletics in the U.S.A. from the high school to national level as well as covering the sport on an international bases. The magazine...
.
Personal life
Buerkle eventually grew tired of the winter weather in his native RochesterRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, NY
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and relocated his family to Atlanta, GA
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 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 coaches track and field and cross-country running.
See also
- Four-minute mileFour-minute mileIn the sport of athletics, the four-minute mile is the act of completing the mile run in less than four minutes. It was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister in 3:59.4. The 'four minute barrier' has since been broken by many male athletes, and is now the standard of all male professional...
- World record progression for the mile runWorld record progression for the mile runThe world record in the mile run is the best mark set by a male or female runner in the middle-distance track and field event. The IAAF is the official body which oversees the records. Hicham El Guerrouj is the current men's record holder with his time of 3:43.13 minutes, while Svetlana Masterkova...