Bob Seaman, a former UCLA observe star who turned one of many first Individuals to run a sub-four-minute mile, died Monday at his residence in Wilmington of problems from Parkinson’s illness. He was 88.
In 1956, Seaman set a UCLA report by working the mile in 4:01.4, the second-fastest mile in United States historical past on the time. In 1962, he was considered one of 4 runners to interrupt the four-minute barrier throughout a historic race in London, ending fourth with a time of three:58:07. That made him the eighth American to run the mile in below 4 minutes.
A local of Fowler, Calif., Seaman set a nationwide highschool mile report of 4:21.0 in 1953 as a senior at Reedley Excessive, the place he was additionally a ahead on the basketball staff and a defensive finish and halfback on the soccer staff. Seaman’s breakthrough efficiency within the mile drew curiosity from UCLA, which persuaded him to interrupt his verbal dedication to Occidental.
He went on to assist the Bruins win the convention mile relay in 1955 whereas later taking third within the mile on the NCAA meet to assist his staff end second nationally. He was joined on the staff by his little brother, John, the siblings crossing the end line holding palms after they tied within the mile on the Stanford meet.
Earlier than ending his UCLA profession as staff captain in 1957, Seaman additionally set faculty data within the 880 and some relays whereas serving to the Bruins overtake longtime energy USC because the dominant school observe staff in Los Angeles.
After his profession ended following an Achilles harm, Seaman turned a supervisor for the U.S. girls’s observe and discipline staff. He was inducted into the UCLA and Fresno athletic halls of fame. He’s survived by his spouse, Simie.
