Bowling Green State University Athletics
Wottle Inducted to USTFCCCA Hall of Fame
August 29, 2023 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has inducted 14 former collegiate athletes, including Bowling Green alumni Dave Wottle into the Hall of Fame. The 2023 class is the second group of inductees into the Hall of Fame with the initial class being inducted in 2022.
"When I look at some of the names that were inducted last year and this year, it is people I looked up to, so it is quite an honor" said Wottle following his meeting with the Cross Country and Track and Field programs on Friday night (Aug 25).
Dave Wottle is a distinguished alumni of Bowling Green Athletics and the Cross Country program. From 1969 to 1973, the Canton, Ohio native competed for the Cross Country and Track and Field programs. Wottle earned an array of accolades on the team, conference, and national level. The most historic college performance came in the 1971 Cross Country season when he won the MAC Championship and went on to finish 12th at the NCAA Championships, earning an All-American honor.
Wottle is most notably known for his historic gold medal performance in the 1972 Olympic Games, passing nearly every runner in the field in the final straightaway, lunging across the finish line to beat a USSR runner by 0.03 seconds. Wottle remains a part of the exclusive club of four former BGSU athletes who have won a gold medal at the Olympics.
Dave Wottle continues to serve as an ambassador to the Cross Country and Track and Field programs. "Beyond the stats, Dave has been such an important ambassador for Bowling Green State University and the sport as whole for over 50 years" said head coach Lou Snelling.
2023 USTFCCCA Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame Inductees:
Dyrol Burleson (Oregon, 1959-1962)
Michael Carter (SMU, 1980-1984)
Joetta Clark (Tennessee, 1981-1984)
Michael Conley (Arkansas, 1982-1985)
Sheila Hudson (California, 1986-1990)
Holli Hyche (Indiana State, 1991-1994)
Edwin Moses (Morehouse, 1974-1977)
Renaldo Nehemiah (Maryland, 1978-1979)
Sonia O'Sullivan (Villanova, 1988-1991)
Julie Shea (NC State, 1978-1981)
Seilala Sua (UCLA, 1997-2000)
John Thomas (Boston U., 1959-1962)
Wyomia Tyus (Tennessee State, 1964-1967)
Dave Wottle (Bowling Green, 1969-1973)
"When I look at some of the names that were inducted last year and this year, it is people I looked up to, so it is quite an honor" said Wottle following his meeting with the Cross Country and Track and Field programs on Friday night (Aug 25).
Dave Wottle is a distinguished alumni of Bowling Green Athletics and the Cross Country program. From 1969 to 1973, the Canton, Ohio native competed for the Cross Country and Track and Field programs. Wottle earned an array of accolades on the team, conference, and national level. The most historic college performance came in the 1971 Cross Country season when he won the MAC Championship and went on to finish 12th at the NCAA Championships, earning an All-American honor.
Wottle is most notably known for his historic gold medal performance in the 1972 Olympic Games, passing nearly every runner in the field in the final straightaway, lunging across the finish line to beat a USSR runner by 0.03 seconds. Wottle remains a part of the exclusive club of four former BGSU athletes who have won a gold medal at the Olympics.
Dave Wottle continues to serve as an ambassador to the Cross Country and Track and Field programs. "Beyond the stats, Dave has been such an important ambassador for Bowling Green State University and the sport as whole for over 50 years" said head coach Lou Snelling.
2023 USTFCCCA Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame Inductees:
Dyrol Burleson (Oregon, 1959-1962)
Michael Carter (SMU, 1980-1984)
Joetta Clark (Tennessee, 1981-1984)
Michael Conley (Arkansas, 1982-1985)
Sheila Hudson (California, 1986-1990)
Holli Hyche (Indiana State, 1991-1994)
Edwin Moses (Morehouse, 1974-1977)
Renaldo Nehemiah (Maryland, 1978-1979)
Sonia O'Sullivan (Villanova, 1988-1991)
Julie Shea (NC State, 1978-1981)
Seilala Sua (UCLA, 1997-2000)
John Thomas (Boston U., 1959-1962)
Wyomia Tyus (Tennessee State, 1964-1967)
Dave Wottle (Bowling Green, 1969-1973)
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