1. Eugene George Venzke was an American middle-distance runner.
11 Facts About Gene Venzke
1. 2.
Gene Venzke had a long career, placing in the top five at the national outdoor championships ten times between 1930 and 1940.
3.
Gene Venzke was in excellent shape during the 1932 indoor season.
4.
Gene Venzke improved to 4:10.0 eleven days later at the Baxter Mile, in New York.
5.
Gene Venzke was considered extremely likely to make the Olympic team.
6.
At the 1933 indoor championships Gene Venzke beat the Olympic fourth placer, Cunningham, in 3:55.4.
7.
At the national championships Gene Venzke ran 1500 meters in 3:50.5; however, this was only good enough for third place as Bonthron broke the world record.
8.
Gene Venzke regained his national indoor title in 1936, scoring a close win over Cunningham in a world record time of 3:49.9.
9.
At the Olympics Gene Venzke won his heat and placed 9th in the final.
10.
Gene Venzke stayed in good shape for many more years, running his personal mile best of 4:08.2 in 1940.
11.
Originally from a poor family, Gene Venzke made money as an investor and opened a golf range in Reiffton, Pennsylvania after finally retiring from running.