Mike Roche

Miguel “Mike” Roche was third in the 1976 AAU steeplechase and finished fourth in that event three years later. He was fifth at the 1975 NCAA steeplechase. He competed for Rutgers, the NYAC, and the Greater Boston TC. Roche qualified for the 1976 Olympic steeplechase by placing third at the US Olympic Trials, but it was not that easy.

He was in fourth place until shortly before the final hurdle when he moved into third, but on the final hurdle, Roche fell, and it was subsequently determined that he broke his wrist on the fall. He scrambled to his feet and managed to just out-lean Don Timm for the third position on the team. The wrist was placed in a cast, but he had that removed before the Montréal Olympics, although the fracture was yet fully healed.

Personal Bests: Steeplechase – 8:30.17 (1977); 2 miles – 8:46.0i (1977); 5K – 13:46.1 (1979).