Jack Bacheler

In high school, at 2.01 metre tall, Jack Bacheler first played basketball, but by his senior year, discovered his talent for running. He then ran at Miami of Ohio, where he was runner-up in the steeplechase at the 1966 NCAA Meet, after finishing fifth in that event in 1965. He was AAU 10K champion in 1969-70 and AAU Cross-Country champion in 1969. At the AAU Meet he also finished fourth in the 5K in 1970 and the 10K in 1972. Bacheler ran twice at the Olympics, in the 5,000 in 1968, where he failed to make the final, and the marathon in 1972, in which he finished ninth.

After college, Bacheler studied entomology at the University of Florida and ran for the Florida TC. He earned a Ph.D. in entomology and then became a professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Bacheler also coached women’s cross-country at NC State, leading the team to victories at the 1979-80 AIAW Championships.

Personal Bests: Mile – 4:01.3 (1969); 2 miles – 8:31.8 (1969); 5000 – 13:37.2 (1971); 10000 – 28:13.4 (1972); Mar – 2-15:40 (1972); 3000S – 8:55.8 (1969).