David Wesley Santee was an American middle distance runner and athlete who competed mainly in the 1,500 meters and mile events.
Education
Born in Ashland, Kansas, Santee was nicknamed the "Ashland Antelope." Santee attended high school in Ashland, where he set a state record in the mile run. He later attended the University of Kansas where he set records in Cross Country and the mile and two-mile events.
Career
During this period, Santee was one of the top milers in the world, aspiring to become the first man to run a four-minute mile. His chief competitors were Great Britain"s Roger Bannister and Australia"s John Landy. On May 6, 1954, Bannister became the first to break the barrier with a time of 3:59.4.
Seven weeks later, Landy surpassed Bannister"s mark.
In early 1955, Santee came close to a four-minute mile of his own, with a time of 4:00.5, but he would never surpass this time. Shortly afterwards, Santee was suspended by the Amateur Athletic Union (Amateur Athletic Union) in a dispute over his amateur status.
Amateur Athletic Union rules at that time limited amateurs to $15 per diem expenses to cover food and lodging, and the costs of air traveling Foreign three track meets over a nine-day period in May, 1955, Santee had been paid $1,127.85 of expenses
In 1956, Santee was permanently barred from amateur events, ending his chance to surpass Bannister and Landy and also costing him a place in the 1956 Summer Olympics at Melbourne, Australia.
Santee had previously been banned from competing internationally because of early questions surrounding his status as an amateur.
During his abbreviated career, Santee set world records in the 1,500 meter run, indoor 1,500 meter run and indoor mile. Santee"s track career, including his rivalry with Bannister and Landy and his troubles with the Amateur Athletic Union, is chronicled in Neal Bascomb"s 2004 book The Perfect Mademoiselle (Miss) A film based on Bascomb"s book is currently under development.
He died of cancer in Eureka, Kansas on November 14, 2010.