Van Nelson (1983) - Hall of Fame - St. Cloud State University Athletics

Van Nelson

Induction:
1983
Class:
1968

Letterman in cross country from 1964-67 and track and field from 1965-68. A four-time NAIA cross country All-American and three-time indoor track NAIA All- American. Finished as high as third at NAIA Nationals (cross country). Three-time NAIA indoor two-mile run champion. Won NAIA outdoor three-mile championship in 1966 and 1967 as well as mile run in 1967 and 10,000 meter race in 1968. Placed fourth as a team at 1967 NAIA Nationals (outdoors) with 24 points, consisting of wins in three-mile and mile and fourth-place in steeplechase.

A member of United States track team to Europe in 1966 and ranked 24th in the world at three-mile and 28th at six-mile. Member of United States Pan American team in 1967 and won Pan Am Games titles at 5,000 and 10,000 meters that year (both records). Member of United States World team in 1967, finishing second at 5,000 meters and second at 10,000. Member of United States track team to Europe in 1967. Ranked fourth in world at three-mile and eighth at six-mile in 1967. Member of United States Olympic team in 1968 and finished 28th at 10,000 meters at Mexico City.

Ranked sixth in the world at 5,000 meters and fifth at 10,000. Installed in the NAIA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Drake Relays Hall of Fame the same year. Elected to "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities" in 1968 and received a "House Resolution" by the Minnesota State Legislature, authorized by Jack Kleinbaum, in 1967. His career included teaching at Edina High School.