Marla Runyan returns from maternity, threatens W35 records
Marla Runyan, the legally blind Olympian, on Saturday ran her first race since giving birth to her daughter, Anna, in September 2005. Now 37, Marla clocked 32:11.92 for 10,000 meters at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. That’s not far off the listed American W35 record of 31:28.92 by Francie Larrieu in 1991. The listed world best is 31:20.28 by Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen in 1991.
The Eugene paper reported:
“Runyan’s husband and coach, Matt Lonergan, said Runyan’s next race will probably be a 5,000 in the Oregon Twilight Meet, and that will probably be her event in the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis in June, although Friday’s time was well under the “A” standard qualifying time for the 10,000, 33:50.”
In 2004, at age 35, Marla ran a 5000 on the track in 14:59.20 — which by all rights should be the W35 world and American record. But nope — the listed AR is 15:15.2 by Larrieu in 1988. At the very least, Marla’s time in the 2004 Olympic Trials should be kosher enough for a masters age-group record. She ran 15:07.41 at the Trials. (Guess she forgot to fill out the masters record paperwork.)
Marla’s time also beats the listed W35 world record for 5000 of 15:11.28 by American Lynn Jennings in 1995. So that’s another embarrassment for USA masters records — dueling American bests.
Marla doesn’t have time to straighten out this nonsense, but someone in USATF Masters officialdom should right this injustice. A complete review of all M35 and W35 American records is overdue.
Rant over, man.
