Marla Runyan

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Marla Runyan (born January 4, 1969 in Santa Maria , California ) is a severely visually impaired former American middle and long distance runner .

Life

When she was nine years old, she was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease . As the disease progressed, her visual acuity deteriorated to 0.04. After graduating from Camarillo High School in 1987, Runyan began studying at San Diego State University , where she began competing in multiple disciplines such as heptathlon , hurdles , high jump, and 800-meter run . In 1994 she completed her studies with a master's degree .

Her international career as a runner began at the Pan American Games in 1999 , where she won the 1500 m race . Just one year later she was able to fight for eighth place over 1500 m at the Summer Olympics in Sydney . As the first Olympic athlete to previously take part in the Paralympics , Runyan subsequently achieved worldwide fame.

From 2001 to 2003 she was the US champion in the 5000 meter run , from 2002 to 2004 she won three times in a row at the Freihofer's Run for Women over 5 km. In 2002 she was fourth in the New York City Marathon in 2:27:10 h as the fastest American woman. In 2003 she was fifth in the Boston Marathon , in 2004 seventh in the Chicago Marathon . After she became national marathon champion by winning the Twin Cities Marathon in 2006 , she ended her sporting career.

Marla Runyan is 1.73 m tall and weighs 54 kg. On August 5, 2002, she married her coach Matt Lonergan, with whom she in Eugene ( Oregon lives). In 2005 she gave birth to a daughter.

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personal data
SURNAME Runyan, Marla
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American long-distance runner
DATE OF BIRTH 4th January 1969
PLACE OF BIRTH Santa Maria (California)