Jack Bacheler

Inducted 1976

Born 30 December 1943

Jack Bacheler was a latecomer to high school track & field, having played basketball before going out for cross country. He was soon successful as a runner, and earned NCAA All-American honors twice while competing for Miami (Ohio) University, placing seventh in the NCAA cross-country meet in 1964 and second in the steeplechase in 1966 . Graduating from Miami in 1966, he entered the graduate program in entomology at the University of Florida, where he was a founding member of the Florida Track Club. As an FTC member, Bacheler was a finalist in the 1968 (Mexico City) Olympic 5,000 meter run and placed ninth in the 1972 (Munich) Olympic marathon.
He also won honors as AAU-USA cross-country champion in 1969, six-mile track champion in 1969 and six-mile track co-champion (with Frank Shorter) in 1970.