Wes Santee
Encyclopedia
David Wesley Santee 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.
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 .
Story regarding of Santee belonging to Acacia Fraternity:
"Once, after a session of heckling from his Acacia fraternity brothers, Santee said he could beat them all in a race from Tonganoxie along Highway 10 to their house. He said each of the 28 house members could run half a mile, relay style, for the 14 miles, while he ran the entire length.
He beat them with plenty of time to spare."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
middle distance runner
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
and athlete who competed mainly in the 1,500 meters
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
and mile events.
Born in Ashland
Ashland, Kansas
Ashland is the largest city in and the county seat of Clark County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 867.-History:...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Santee was nicknamed the "Ashland Antelope." Santee attended high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Ashland, where he set a state record in the mile run. He later attended the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
where he set records in Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
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
Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics
At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, 33 athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 9 for women. There were a total number of 963 participating athletes from 57 countries.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:...
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
Athletics at the 1955 Pan American Games
The Athletics Competition at the 1955 Pan American Games was held in Mexico City, Mexico.-Men's events:-Women's events:A = affected by altitude-Medal table:-References:*...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
.
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
Four-minute mile
In 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...
. His chief competitors were Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
's Roger Bannister
Roger Bannister
Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, CBE is an English former athlete best known for running the first recorded mile in less than 4 minutes...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's John Landy
John Landy
John Michael Landy, AC, CVO, MBE is an Australian former Olympic track athlete. He was the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run, and he held the world records for the 1500 metre run and the mile race...
. 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
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(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
Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics
At the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, 33 athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 9 for women. There were a total number of 720 participating athletes from 61 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:**...
at Melbourne, Australia.
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
Neal Bascomb
Neal Bascomb is an American journalist and author. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Miami University with a B.A. in Economics and English Literature . After graduation, he worked as a journalist in London, Paris, and Dublin. He was an editor for St. Martin's Press, and in 2000, he began writing...
's 2004 book The Perfect Mile
The Perfect Mile
The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It by Neal Bascomb is a non-fiction book about three runners and their attempts to become the first man to run a mile under four minutes. The runners are Englishman Roger Bannister, American Wes Santee, and...
. A film based on Bascomb's book is currently under development.
He died of cancer in Eureka
Eureka, Kansas
Eureka is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,633.-History:...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
on November 14, 2010 .
Acacia Fraternity
David "Wes" Santee became a member of the Acacia Fraternity during his stay at the University of Kansas. His accomplishments and successes are recognized by the fraternity as seen on the fraternity's website.Story regarding of Santee belonging to Acacia Fraternity:
"Once, after a session of heckling from his Acacia fraternity brothers, Santee said he could beat them all in a race from Tonganoxie along Highway 10 to their house. He said each of the 28 house members could run half a mile, relay style, for the 14 miles, while he ran the entire length.
He beat them with plenty of time to spare."