Gene Venzke
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | June 27, 1908 Leaf Valley Township, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | February 14, 1992 (aged 83) Exeter Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) |
Weight | 70 kg (154 lb) |
Sport | |
Sport | Athletics |
Event | 800 m – mile |
Club | New York Athletic Club |
Achievements and titles | |
Personal best(s) | 800 m – 1:52.5 (1935) 1500 m – 3:49.7 (1940) Mile – 4:10.0 (1932)[1][2] |
Eugene George "Gene" Venzke (June 27, 1908 – February 14, 1992) was an American
.Career
Gene Venzke had a long career, placing in the top five at the national outdoor championships ten times between 1930 and 1940.[1][3] His greatest successes, however, came indoors, as he was national champion in 1932, 1933 and 1936[1][4] and also set a number of world records.
Venzke was in excellent shape during the 1932 indoor season.
On June 18 Venzke broke the
At the 1933 indoor championships Venzke beat the Olympic fourth placer, Cunningham, in 3:55.4.[11] But again he failed to maintain his best shape into the summer; at the outdoor championships he was only third and Cunningham broke his American record.[3][12]
Venzke's main rivals in 1934 and 1935 were Cunningham and
Venzke regained his national indoor title in 1936, scoring a close win over Cunningham in a world record time of 3:49.9.
After the Olympics, he was part of a United States relay team (with Chuck Hornbostel, San Romani and Cunningham) that set a new world record of 17:17.2 in the 4 x Mile relay.[1][18] He stayed in good shape for many more years,[19] running his personal mile best of 4:08.2 in 1940.[9] Originally from a poor family, Venzke made money as an investor[9] and opened a golf range in Reiffton, Pennsylvania after finally retiring from running.[9][20]
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e "Gene Venzke Bio, Stats and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ Gene Venzke. trackfield.brinkster.net
- ^ a b c d e Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian; Track & Field News. "A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2011". Track & Field News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ "USA Indoor Track & Field Champions". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö.
- ^ "George Venzke Runs Fastest Mile in American History". The Lewiston Daily Sun. February 8, 1932. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- Berkeley Daily Gazette. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ a b "Pottstown High School Phenom Clips Over Two Seconds Off Hahn's Indoor Mark". Reading Eagle. February 28, 1932. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Gene Venzke Runs On Hard Work". Reading Eagle. January 15, 1984. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Hymans, Richard. "The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field". Track & Field News. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ "Gene Venzke Wins National 1500-Meter Title". Reading Eagle. February 26, 1933. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ "Men, 1500 m". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ "Athletics at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games: Men's 1,500 metres". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ Hill, E. Garry. "1500m/MILE" (PDF). Track & Field News. Retrieved May 19, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Venzke Runs Away From Cunningham to Set Dazzling Mark for Indoor Metric Mile Race". Spokane Daily Chronicle. February 24, 1936. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ Hymans, Richard (June 21, 2012). "Olympic Trials History Introduction". Track & Field News. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ Hymans, Richard. "The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field". Track & Field News. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ "New 4-Mile Mark". Lawrence Journal-World. August 15, 1936. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ Kobrin, Jerry (January 9, 1941). "Gene Venzke – 16 Years in Competition". Reading Eagle. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ Kobrin, Jerry (May 7, 1946). "Gene Venzke Turns to Golf; To Open Own Driving Range". Reading Eagle. Retrieved May 21, 2013.