Michael Stember
Encyclopedia
Michael Stember is a male track and field
athlete from the United States
, who is known for competing in the middle distance events. His first international competition was winning the gold medal in the 1500 metres
at the 1997 Pan American Junior Championships. He won a silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games
in the men's 1500 metres. That same year he was fourth in the World University Games
, behind (among others) then Kenyan Bernard Lagat
. A year later, he was the third qualifier at the U.S. Olympic Trials
, but had not achieved the A Standard. He spent the summer chasing the mark, achieving it at Herculis
in one of the last opportunities before the Olympics. He ran in the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, Australia, where he qualified for the semi-finals but finished a non-qualifying 9th. He returned to the 2003 Pan American Games
and repeated his silver medal in the men's 1500 metres. In 2004 he became the U.S. Indoor 800 m champion.
Stember ran for Jesuit High School (Sacramento). As a sophomore in 1994 at the CIF California State Meet
he finished second in the 1600 metres, to future Olympic silver medalist Mebrahtom Keflezighi
. He won the race as a junior, 1995, and senior 1996. His 4:04.00 winning time in 1995 was the state record 1995 CIF State Meet 1600 see the race until it was demolished by the NFHS (national high school) record set by German Fernandez
in the 2008 state meet. However, as fast as Stember was running, he had a habit of running strategically, always finishing with a devastating kick that demoralized his opponents. As a junior, it worked well because no athlete on that level could match his kick at any pace. He carried this strategy to Stanford University
, even though Vin Lananna tried to coax him into occasionally using other strategies. He scored 13 points for the team in 2000, with a second place in the 1500 and 4th place in the 800 metres
as Stanford won the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
. he holds the school records in both the 1500 metres and 800 metres and was named All American ten times. He ran the 800 metre leg on Stanford's "world record" claiming team for the unsanctioned Indoor "Distance Medley Relay".
In 2007-2008 he was a volunteer coach at UCLA
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who is known for competing in the middle distance events. His first international competition was winning the gold medal in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
at the 1997 Pan American Junior Championships. He won a silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games
1999 Pan American Games
The 1999 Pan American Games, officially the XIII Pan American Games or the 13th Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event that was held from July 23-August 8, 1999 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Approximately 5,000 athletes from 42 nations participated at the games. The 1999...
in the men's 1500 metres. That same year he was fourth in the World University Games
Athletics at the 1999 Summer Universiade
The Athletics Tournament at the 1999 Summer Universiade took place in the new Estadio Son Moix in Palma de Mallorca, Spain from July 4 to July 9, 1999. Five Universiade records were set.-Men’s events:-Women’s events:-References:* *...
, behind (among others) then Kenyan Bernard Lagat
Bernard Lagat
Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat is an American middle and long distance champion athlete.Lagat was born in Kapsabet, Kenya...
. A year later, he was the third qualifier at the U.S. Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
, but had not achieved the A Standard. He spent the summer chasing the mark, achieving it at Herculis
Herculis
The Herculis is an annual track and field meet at Stade Louis II in Fontvieille, Monaco. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League.-World records:...
in one of the last opportunities before the Olympics. He ran in the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, Australia, where he qualified for the semi-finals but finished a non-qualifying 9th. He returned to the 2003 Pan American Games
2003 Pan American Games
The 14th Pan American Games were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 1 to 17 August 2003. The successful bid for the games was made in the mid-1990s, when this country had one of the highest growth rates in Latin America....
and repeated his silver medal in the men's 1500 metres. In 2004 he became the U.S. Indoor 800 m champion.
Stember ran for Jesuit High School (Sacramento). As a sophomore in 1994 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...
he finished second in the 1600 metres, to future Olympic silver medalist Mebrahtom Keflezighi
Mebrahtom Keflezighi
Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi is an American athlete, specializing in long distance running. He and his family were refugees from Eritrea via Italy to the United States, when he was age 12...
. He won the race as a junior, 1995, and senior 1996. His 4:04.00 winning time in 1995 was the state record 1995 CIF State Meet 1600 see the race until it was demolished by the NFHS (national high school) record set 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...
in the 2008 state meet. However, as fast as Stember was running, he had a habit of running strategically, always finishing with a devastating kick that demoralized his opponents. As a junior, it worked well because no athlete on that level could match his kick at any pace. He carried this strategy to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, even though Vin Lananna tried to coax him into occasionally using other strategies. He scored 13 points for the team in 2000, with a second place in the 1500 and 4th place in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
as Stanford won the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
The NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship is an annual collegiate outdoor track and field competition for men organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It has three divisions: Division I, II, and III. Athlete's individual performances earn points for their institution and...
. he holds the school records in both the 1500 metres and 800 metres and was named All American ten times. He ran the 800 metre leg on Stanford's "world record" claiming team for the unsanctioned Indoor "Distance Medley Relay".
In 2007-2008 he was a volunteer coach at UCLA