Van Nelson
Encyclopedia
Van Nelson is an American former long-distance runner. An Olympian in 1968, he won long-distance track doubles at both the 1967 World Student Games and the 1967 Pan American Games
.
Born in Minneapolis, Nelson attended Washburn High School
and began competing in middle distance events there. He broke the school record for the mile run
and was ranked fifth nationally as a high school runner in 1964. He graduated that year (later being inducted into the school's hall of fame) and went on to study at St. Cloud State University
. He competed collegiately for the St. Cloud State Huskies
in NAIA
competitions. He was the team's captain in both track and field
and cross country
and won seven titles and 12 All-American honours during his four years representing the institution. He was inducted into the St. Cloud Hall of Fame in 1983, featuring in the second group of athletes to be given the honour.
At the Drake Relays
, he won both the three-mile and six-mile races three times consecutively from 1966 to 1968. The 1967 season was the peak of Nelson's career. He won the Amateur Athletic Union
six-mile title then completed a 5000 meters/10,000 meters track double at the 1967 World Student Games
. He repeated this feat at the 1967 Pan American Games
in Winnipeg
, becoming the second man to complete the long-distance double after Argentina's Osvaldo Suárez
.
Nelson made his Olympic debut in the 10,000 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
. He was not used to the hot conditions and his performance suffered as a result. In spite of being ranked eighth in the world for that event, he finished in 29th place with a time of 31:40.2 minutes. Although, he had not performed well, he was pleased to have represented his country at the competition.
Nelson returned to his studies at St. Cloud State in 1969, but the year after he suffered a serious back injury due to heavy lifting and the surgery that followed impaired his running ability. He made his last international appearance in 1971 and retired thereafter, although he continued running for pleasure.
1967 Pan American Games
The 5th Pan American Games were held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, from July 23 to August 6, 1967.Winnipeg was chosen as host of the Pan American Games on its second try. It first bid for the fourth Pan American Games at the 1959 PASO meeting in Chicago. It lost to São Paulo, Brazil...
.
Born in Minneapolis, Nelson attended Washburn High School
Washburn High School
Minneapolis Washburn High School is a four-year public high school serving grades 9–12 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By enrollment, Washburn is the fourth-largest high school in the Minneapolis Public School District.Principal Mrs...
and began competing in middle distance events there. He broke the school record for the mile run
Mile run
The mile run is a middle-distance foot race which is among the more popular events in track running.The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races...
and was ranked fifth nationally as a high school runner in 1964. He graduated that year (later being inducted into the school's hall of fame) and went on to study at St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
. He competed collegiately for the St. Cloud State Huskies
St. Cloud State Huskies
The St. Cloud State Huskies are the athletic teams for St. Cloud State University.The university currently sponsors 18 Division II teams and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference . SCSU competes in the for women's Nordic skiing. The St...
in NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
competitions. He was the team's captain in both track and field
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...
and 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...
and won seven titles and 12 All-American honours during his four years representing the institution. He was inducted into the St. Cloud Hall of Fame in 1983, featuring in the second group of athletes to be given the honour.
At the Drake Relays
Drake Relays
The Drake Relays is an annual outdoor track and field event held in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, in Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University...
, he won both the three-mile and six-mile races three times consecutively from 1966 to 1968. The 1967 season was the peak of Nelson's career. He won the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
six-mile title then completed a 5000 meters/10,000 meters track double at the 1967 World Student Games
Athletics at the 1967 Summer Universiade
Athletics events were contested at the 1967 Summer Universiade in Tokyo, Japan.-Men’s events:-Women’s events:-Medal table:-References:* - GBR Athletics* - GBR Athletics...
. He repeated this feat at the 1967 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 1967 Pan American Games
The Athletics Competition at the 1967 Pan American Games was held in Winnipeg, Canada.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, becoming the second man to complete the long-distance double after Argentina's Osvaldo Suárez
Osvaldo Suárez
Juan Osvaldo Roberto Suárez is a long-distance runner from Argentina who won four gold medals at the Pan American Games. He represented his native country at two Summer Olympics: 1960 and 1964. After his active career, he became a professional athletics coach.-References:...
.
Nelson made his Olympic debut in the 10,000 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. He was not used to the hot conditions and his performance suffered as a result. In spite of being ranked eighth in the world for that event, he finished in 29th place with a time of 31:40.2 minutes. Although, he had not performed well, he was pleased to have represented his country at the competition.
Nelson returned to his studies at St. Cloud State in 1969, but the year after he suffered a serious back injury due to heavy lifting and the surgery that followed impaired his running ability. He made his last international appearance in 1971 and retired thereafter, although he continued running for pleasure.