Wade Bell, 1968 US Olympian died Thursday July 4 at age 79. He was a native of Ogden, Utah and came to run at the University of Oregon under coach Bill Bowerman. He remained in Eugene his working career and owned an accounting business. He was a sub 4 minute miler and won the NCAA 880 and was 1967 Pan American Games 800 champion.
Wade's autograph in my copy of "Bowerman and the Men of Oregon" by Kenny Moore
A 1964 alumnus of Ben Lomond High, Bell set Utah prep records in the 800- and 1600-meter races under the direction of Chick Hislop, eventual Weber State legend and multiple-time Hall of Fame coach. He also set American records in the 1000 yards and 1000 meters. He represented the US at the 1968 Olympics in the 800 meters, although he did not make it to the finals that year. For many years Bell served as an official at Hayward Field and was working this year's Olympic Trials when he became ill and was hospitalized.
Bell's PB for 800 meters was 1:45.17. He is a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and the U. of Oregon Hall of Fame.
Olympic Trials South Lake Tahoe 1968
Comment:
From: Jim Metcalf , member of Oklahoma State's WR 4x880 team with Dave and John Perry and Tom Von Ruden.
So sorry to hear of Wade's passing.
My senior year he won both the NCAA and AAU 880 in 1:46. and was second to Farrell in the Olympic trials. the AAU was more impressive because we had to run the prelims and semi finals on Friday night 2 hours apart. I was in the last heat of the prelims and the first heat of the semis so I ran twice in about an hour and a half. Got 7th in the finals. I had a cruciate ligament strain.
The only other runner running 1:46 was Tom Farrell. Wade ran, I think, 3:56 in the mile that year. The year before, he got 2nd in the NCAA Mile.
The AAU was Crazy. The year before in '66 they only ran 4 semi final heats and qualified 2 to the finals. The story in the NYC papers was the times of the people who did not make the final. "Strong men wept" it said.
In 1967, when I was a young track and field coach, I embarked on a track odyssey driving solo across the country from Cincinnati. I attended on consecutive weekends the NAIA championship in Sioux Falls, the NCAA championships in Provo, and the AAU championships in Bakersfield. While in Provo, I did my best to become a fly on the wall and listen to whatever bits of wisdom I might pick up from the various coaches. One day, while sitting at a table where Bill Bowerman was holding court, I overheard him mentioned that the first 200 meters, or 220 yards at the time, was the most dangerous part of the race.
Recently, it has been posted and described online how Hobbs Kessler ran a wonderful and tactical 800 in the Olympic Trials. It was pointed out that he dropped behind the group coming off the first turn, and then carefully picked his way around the crowd, among other reasons to avoid the disaster that Athing Mu had, until he was in the position that he wanted. His 200 or even 100 splits were fairly even. Folks talk about the kick that Dave Wottle had in the final straightaway at the 1972 Olympics. However, his splits were all fairly equal. It just was that the rest of the field was slowing down and coming back to him.
As I watched Bell race during that trip, it seemed to me that a trademark for him was to hang near the rear of the pack over the first lap. Then, on the backstretch of the second lap, he would accelerate, or at least pick a spot, to move into a good position prior to entering the final turn of the 800. It seemed to work for him and thereafter II always gave this bit of advice to high school 800 runners that I was coaching.
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