Jeff Nelson (runner)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Nelson was an American long distance runner. He was a high school phenom at Burbank High School (Burbank, California), where he set the national high school record in the 2 mile run, the predecessor to today's 3200 meter run, at 8:36.3. He set the record before a national television audience, running in open competition at the Pepsi
Invitational, May 6, 1979 at the University of California, Los Angeles
.
The record would stand until June 20, 2008, when it was surpassed by German Fernandez
from Riverbank High School
, who ran an 8:34.40 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Fernandez had run an 8:34.23 for 3200 meters three weeks earlier at the CIF California State Meet
, which was a faster time for the slightly shorter distance. The CIF mark is the current NFHS national record at the official distance. Nelson's mark was set before the event became the 3200 meters. Converted, Fernandez' mark was equivalent to about an 8:37.5 2 mile (slightly slower than Nelson).
Nelson was also on the United States
team at the 1979 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, finishing 4th overall, handily besting future star Steve Cram
in the process.
As a precursor to the record, he ran an indoor 2 mile at the Sunkist Invitational in 8:55.1. A few weeks later, in an open race in the Jack in the Box
Indoor Invitational in San Diego he ran an outstanding 8:42.7, which was narrowly behind Gerry Lindgren
's all time high school best, set indoors in 1964. He won the CIF California State Meet
twice in 1978 and 1979. He went undefeated his senior cross country season, 14 for 14 while setting 14 course records in the process, including the famed Mt. SAC course. Prior to the cross country season, Nelson was reportedly running 100 miles a week, peaking at 142, inspired by (among others) the success of local runner Mark Covert
winning the Division II NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship.
After his success in high school, Nelson went to the University of Oregon
on full scholarship, joining top runners Alberto Salazar
, Rudy Chapa
, Art Boileau
and Jim Hill. There he sustained an injury, which eventually drove him from the university. The following year he showed up healthy at Glendale Community College (California)
, where his individual victory led his team to the State Community College Championships in Cross Country
. But Nelson was injured again, twice. By 1982, he decided not to continue running.
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
Invitational, May 6, 1979 at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
.
The record would stand until June 20, 2008, when it was surpassed by German Fernandez
German Fernandez
German Fernandez is an American collegiate runner from Riverbank, California, known for his performance in high school cross country and track and field. He is most well known for running the CA Cross Country State Meet course record , as well as running a new American high-school record, 8:34...
from Riverbank High School
Riverbank High School
Riverbank High School is located on Claus Road in Riverbank, California, and is one of the two high schools in the Riverbank Unified School District along with Adelante High School.-Athletics:The school's sports teams are known as the Bruins...
, who ran an 8:34.40 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Fernandez had run an 8:34.23 for 3200 meters three weeks earlier at the CIF California State Meet
CIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
, which was a faster time for the slightly shorter distance. The CIF mark is the current NFHS national record at the official distance. Nelson's mark was set before the event became the 3200 meters. Converted, Fernandez' mark was equivalent to about an 8:37.5 2 mile (slightly slower than Nelson).
Nelson was also on the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
team at the 1979 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1979 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 7th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on March 25, 1979 in Limerick, Ireland.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
, finishing 4th overall, handily besting future star Steve Cram
Steve Cram
Stephen "Steve" Cram MBE is a British retired athlete. Along with fellow Britons Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, he was one of the world's dominant middle distance runners during the 1980s. Nicknamed "The Jarrow Arrow", Cram set world records in the 1500 metres, 2000 metres and the mile during a...
in the process.
As a precursor to the record, he ran an indoor 2 mile at the Sunkist Invitational in 8:55.1. A few weeks later, in an open race in the Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box is an American fast-food restaurant founded by Robert O. Peterson in 1951 in San Diego, California, where it is still headquartered today. In total, the chain has 2,200 locations, primarily serving the West Coast of the United States...
Indoor Invitational in San Diego he ran an outstanding 8:42.7, which was narrowly behind Gerry Lindgren
Gerry Lindgren
Gerald Paul Lindgren is an American track and field runner who is widely recognized as having been the best high school long distance runner in the United States at the time....
's all time high school best, set indoors in 1964. He won the CIF California State Meet
CIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
twice in 1978 and 1979. He went undefeated his senior cross country season, 14 for 14 while setting 14 course records in the process, including the famed Mt. SAC course. Prior to the cross country season, Nelson was reportedly running 100 miles a week, peaking at 142, inspired by (among others) the success of local runner Mark Covert
Mark Covert
Mark Covert is an American runner. He is believed to maintain the second-longest streak of running every day in the world. Covert's running streak began on July 23, 1968, and continues to the present. His is the longest streak recorded by the United States Running Streak Association, followed...
winning the Division II NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship.
After his success in high school, Nelson went to the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
on full scholarship, joining top runners Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
, Rudy Chapa
Rudy Chapa
Rodolfo Chapa is a Mexican-American businessman who had a successful school career as a runner. He is the son of Mexican immigrants. His father Rodolfo Sr. came to the U.S. as a mechanic through the Bracero program...
, Art Boileau
Art Boileau
Arthur Boileau is a long-distance runner, who represented Canada at two consecutive Summer Olympics in the men's marathon. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California he finished in 44th and four years later in Seoul, South Korea he placed 28th. He is a two-time winner of the Los...
and Jim Hill. There he sustained an injury, which eventually drove him from the university. The following year he showed up healthy at Glendale Community College (California)
Glendale Community College (California)
Glendale Community College is a community college in Glendale, California, USA. It was founded to serve the needs of the people in the Glendale Union High School District which at the time included La Crescenta, Glendale, and Tujunga...
, where his individual victory led his team to the State Community College Championships 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...
. But Nelson was injured again, twice. By 1982, he decided not to continue running.