William Wuycke

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William Wuyke
800 meter track at the 1984 Summer Olympics.jpg
Wuycke (left) competing in the 800 metres of the 1984 Olympics
Personal information
Birth nameWilliam Wuycke
NationalityVenezuelan
Born (1958-05-28) 28 May 1958 (age 63)
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Sport
SportMiddle-distance running
Event(s)800 metres
College teamAlabama

William Wuycke (born May 21, 1958) is a former Venezuelan 800m runner, who set a personal best of 1:43.54 minutes at a 1986 meeting in Rieti (the race was won by Steve Cram). This result made Wuycke (as of 2021) the third-fastest South American 800m runner of all time.[1] He finished fourth in the 800 metres at the 1987 Pan American Games. He carried the flag for his native country at the opening ceremony at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

Athletics Career[]

As a youth, the Venezuelan Athletics Federation selected Wuyke to compete in the 1976 Central American and Caribbean Games in Xalapa, Mexico, where he won his first international gold medal.[2]

On April 20, 1980 Wuyke ran 1:47.00 for 800 meters, the fastest performance for a high school athlete in the world at the time.[3][4]

He competed at the 800 meter distance for Venezuela in the 1980 Summer Olympics. On July 25, 1980, Wuyke ran 1:47:38 in the third semi-final heat of the 800 metres.[5]

In 1980, University of Alabama coach Bear Bryant offered Wuyke an athletic scholarship. Bryant wanted to use Wuyke's speed on the football field. Wuyke eventually joined the track team instead.[6]

On June 2, 1983, Wuyke and his Alabama teammates ran 3:03.90 in the 4 × 400 metres relay, the 10th fastest time in school history as of October 2021.[7]

Wuyke won the 1,000 meter run at the 1984 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 2:24.27.[8]

Wuyke also competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics for Venezuela. He failed to advance to the 800 meter final, ending up 7th in the first semi-final heat with a time of 1:47.32.[9]

As of October 2021, Wuyke remains Alabama's outdoor 800 meter record holder having run 1:43.93 in Zurich, Switzerland on August 13, 1985.[10]

Wuyke continued competing after graduating from the University of Alabama. On September 7, 1986 in Rieti, Italy, he ran a personal best 1:43.54 in the 800 meter run. This was the third fastest time in the world in 1986, just 35 hundredths of a second behind world leader Steve Cram, who set his 1:43.19 mark in the same race as Wuyke.[11] As of October 2021, Wuyke's mark is still the Venezuelan national record.

Wuyke's last major international appearance was in Lausanne, Switzerland at the Stade olympique de la Pontaise, where he ran 1:50.34 for the 800 meters on July 12, 1990.[12]

Achievements[]

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Venezuela
1976 Central American and Caribbean Junior
Championships (U20) 		Xalapa, Mexico 1st 800 m 1:53.58 A
South American Junior Championships Xalapa, Mexico 3rd 400 m 48.88
3rd 800 m 1:52.32
2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:17.10
1979 South American Championships Bucaramanga, Colombia 2nd 800 m 1:47.9
1980 Olympic Games Moscow, Soviet Union 10th (sf) 800 m 1:47.4
1982 Central American and Caribbean Games Havana, Cuba 2nd 800 m 1:45.75
1983 World Championships Helsinki, Finland 5th 800 m 1:50.71
Pan American Games Caracas, Venezuela – 800 m DNF
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, United States 13th (sf) 800 m 1:47.32
1986 Central American and Caribbean Games Santiago, Dominican Republic 2nd 800 m 1:49.45
1987 Central American and Caribbean Championships Caracas, Venezuela 1st 800 m 1:49.10
Pan American Games Indianapolis, United States 4th 800 m 1:48.34
World Championships Rome, Italy 20th (qf) 800 m 1:46.38
1989 World Indoor Championships Budapest, Hungary 11th (sf) 800 m 1:53.52

Masters Athletics[]

On February 14, 1999, William Wuyke set a world masters record for the indoor 800 meter run with a time of 1:54.96, beating the previous record of 1:55.5 set by Ken Popejoy in 1993.[13][14]

On March 28, 1999 William Wuyke won the 800 meter run at the USA National Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships, running 2:01.69.[15]

Coaching and Teaching Career[]

William Wuyke holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from the University of Alabama in health, physical education and recreation. As of October 2021, Wuyke serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Physical Education, Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Director of the Connecticut College Fitness Center. [16]

He has coached at the National Sports Institute in Caracas and as a graduate assistant at the University of Alabama. Wuyke was the youth sports coordinator at the Memphis Jewish Community Center. He joined the faculty of Connecticut College in 1992, serving as head coach of the track and field team through 2006.[17][18]

Wuyke has trained multiple varsity teams at Connecticut College. He has also taught various fitness classes and organized informal workout groups for students.[19]

Recognition[]

Wuyke served as Venezuela's representative for the World Olympians Association at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[20]

On September 30, 2009, the Venezuelan Athletics Federation announced Wuyke would be inducted into its hall of fame.[21] He was formally honored in ceremonies on October 9-10, 2009 in Caracas, Venezuela.[22]

William Wuyke has also been recognized for his work in New London, Connecticut, helping area youth with both fitness and literacy. On January 29, 2010, he was honored with Connecticut College's Martin Luther King Service Award.[23]

See also[]

  • Venezuelan records in athletics

References[]

  1. ^ "South America All-Time - 800 Metres - men - senior - outdoor". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  2. ^ "William Wuyke, leyenda del atletismo venezolano". atletismosudamericano.org (in Spanish).
  3. ^ "William WUYCKE Profile World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  4. ^ "BEHIND WUYKE, CONN COLLEGE TRACK PROGRAM IS... - Hartford Courant". www.courant.com. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  5. ^ "William WUYCKE Profile World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  6. ^ "BEHIND WUYKE, CONN COLLEGE TRACK PROGRAM IS... - Hartford Courant". www.courant.com. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  7. ^ "All-Time Outdoor Track Top 10 Performances (PDF) - University of Alabama Athletics" (PDF). www.rolltide.com. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  8. ^ "NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  9. ^ "William WUYCKE Profile World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  10. ^ "All-Time Outdoor Track Top 10 Performances (PDF) - University of Alabama Athletics" (PDF). www.rolltide.com. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  11. ^ "1986 - 800 Metres - men - senior - outdoor". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  12. ^ "William WUYCKE Profile World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  13. ^ "USATF-NE Headline News (January - June 1999)". www.usatfne.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  14. ^ "800 meter ALL-TIME Rankings". www.mastersathletics.net. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  15. ^ "1999 USA National Masters". www.mastershistory.org. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  16. ^ "William Wuyke · Connecticut College". www.conncoll.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  17. ^ "Connecticut College - Men's & Women's Track & Field Coach". www.conncoll.edu. Archived from the original on 2002-08-27. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  18. ^ "Connecticut College - Men's & Women's Track & Field Coach". www.conncoll.edu. Archived from the original on 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  19. ^ "From Carrying the Torch to Camel Country - The College Voice". www.thecollegevoice.org. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  20. ^ "2009 · Connecticut College News". www.conncoll.edu.
  21. ^ "Atletismo – Salón De La Fama". atletismoperuano.com (in Spanish).
  22. ^ "2009 · Connecticut College News". www.conncoll.edu.
  23. ^ "The Day - Three honored with Connecticut College's Martin Luther King Service Awards - News from southeastern Connecticut". www.theday.com.


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