Marla Runyan to run Boston Marathon (former Camarillo HS HJer, San Diego State Heptathlete, who switched to distances after showing great potential in 800m segment of the multi-event competition - 8th in Olympic 2000 Games (her book below takes you through that period - amazing New York Marathon effort last November!!)

Marla Runyan, after placing fourth in her marathon debut last fall at the New York City Marathon, has announced she will compete in the 107th Boston Marathon April 21. It will be the second marathon in less than sixth months for Runyan, the two-time defending U.S. 5,000-meter champion who finished eighth in the 1,500m at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Runyan thrilled fans with her memorable marathon debut in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7, finishing in 2 hours 27 minutes and 10 seconds. Her performance earned her the top spot in the 2002 Track and Field News U.S. marathon rankings published in the January issue. It was the best placing by American woman in the five-borough race since Kim Jones finished fourth in 1996 in 2:34:46.

(ed note - I just finished reading Marla Runyan's fine book by Sally Jenkins - "No Finish Line - My Life as I see It -Marla Runyan." Marla suffers from Stargadt's disease, that causes visual degeneration to the point where one is legally blind and very, very partially sighted. She is the first legally blind runner to compete in the Olympic Games. Hers is an amazing story, read it if you can!! - Amazon.com ad for the book!! - would be worth while reading for any young runner - Doug Speck)

body

is published by

Editors: Doug Speck and Rich Gonzalez
Publisher: John Dye

�2002 by DyeStat