Bruin Great Bob Day Has Passed Away

Day, a standout distance runner for the men's track and field team during the 1960s, passed away on Thursday after a battle with cancer.


March 16, 2012


Bob Day, who was a standout distance runner for the Bruin track and field program during the 1960s, has passed away after a battle with bladder cancer. Day passed away at the age of 67 on Thursday morning in Irvine, surrounded by his wife Jenny and their family.

Day was a beloved figure in the track and field world, especially at UCLA and in Irvine where he coached at Beckman High School since 2005. He was the first track and field/cross country coach for Beckman HS and built the program from the ground up.

During his career as a Bruin, Day won the 1965 NCAA title in the mile and placed sixth in the event at the 1964 Championship. He set the school record in the event in 1965 (3.56.4), a mark that would stand for 40 years in the Bruin record books before it was broken in 2005 by Jon Rankin. Day still ranks second all-time in the two-mile (8:33.0 indoor), fourth in the 5000m (13:44.2) and eighth in the 1500m (3:42.1) at UCLA. His indoor 2-mile mark (8:33.0) is still the school record.

Day also still holds the sophomore class record in the 1500m (3:41.04), and the freshman/sophomore (3:58.9) and junior (3:56.5) class records in the mile. Day also set a collegiate record in the two-mile (8:35.4) and indoor 2-mile (8:33.0).

In 1966, Day served as team captain, but an injury to his heel kept him out of the NCAA Championship.

He went on to win the 1968 USATF Senior National crown in the 5000m and represented the U.S. in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in the event.

Memorial services are pending. Visit here for information when services have been set.

Courtesy UCLA