Career
Patrick is the husband of Sandra Farmer-Patrick, who was also an elite 400 metres hurdler. The two had a history of success at the same meets, including the 1989 IAAF World Cup in Barcelona, Spain where both took the gold medal. The couple were exorcising frustration at the 1988 United States. Olympic Trials when both failed to qualify.
Running in the difficult lane one, Patrick was behind off the final turn but made an impressive surge at the end of the race to miss making the team by.03.
His time makes him still the 22nd best performer in the event. That year, wife Sandra was disqualified after winning her semi-final.
David had also attempted to qualify in the 800 metres in 1988. In 1992, both made the Olympic team with David finishing second just behind Kevin Young and Sandra winning the Olympic Trials.
David Patrick was ranked in the top 10 Americans from 1981 to 1994, excepting 1982 and was in the top 5 through most of that from 1983 to 1993 when the United States was dominating the event with Moses, Phillips, Harris and Young being the best in the world.
He should not be confused with another David Patrick, from Villanova, who ran the 1500 metres in the 1968 Olympic Trials.