Craig Virgin
Craig Virgin ( Craig Steven Virgin ; born August 2, 1955 in Belleville , Illinois ) is a retired American long-distance runner .
Virgin grew up on his family's farm near Lebanon, Illinois . A birth defect in his bladder was life-threatening and could only be surgically removed when he was already a teenager. As a student at Lebanon High School , he first played basketball and then started cross-country running on the recommendation of his coach, who recognized his endurance talent . As a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , he became an NCAA cross-country champion in 1975 . The following year he qualified over 10,000 meters for the Olympic Games in Montreal, but dropped out there in advance.
In 1978 and 1979 he was national champion over 10,000 meters, the second time with the US record of 27: 39.4 minutes. In 1980 he won the World Cross Country Championships . In the summer he set another US record with 27: 29.16 minutes, making him the second runner ever after Henry Rono to break the 27:30 minute mark. The Olympic boycott of his country prevented participation in the Olympic Games in Moscow .
The following year he defended his title at the World Cross Country Championships and finished second in the Boston Marathon . In 1982 he became US champion over 10,000 meters for the third time. In 1984 he qualified for the third time for the Olympics, but again did not get past the lead at the Games in Los Angeles .
In 1992 he ended his competitive sports career and now concentrated on the sports marketing company Front Runner Inc. he founded . In 1993, his right kidney had to be surgically removed. In 1997 his car crashed into that of a ghost driver . Virgin suffered such serious injuries that rehabilitation took several years.
Personal bests
- 3000 m : 7: 48.2 min, July 9, 1979, Berkeley
- 5000 m : 13: 19.1 min, July 15, 1980, Oslo
- 10,000 m: 27: 29.16 min, July 17th 1980, Paris
- 10K road run : 28:03, July 4, 1981, Atlanta
- Half marathon : 1:02:31 h, January 27, 1980, New Orleans
- Marathon : 2:10:27 h, April 20, 1981, Boston
Web links
- Official website
- Craig Virgin in the database of World Athletics (English)
- Craig Virgin in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
- Entry into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Virgin, Craig |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Virgin, Craig Steven |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American long distance runner |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 2nd August 1955 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Belleville, Illinois |