3-Aug-1980 – Avon International Women’s Marathon – 2:35:11 – Nike Mariah
Date of birth: 1-Jun-1955
Nationality: New Zealand
Women-Only World Record duration: 3 months, 13 days
The athlete:
After being held in Waldniel in 1979, the next round of the Avon International Women’s Marathon series would become the first marathon event ever held on the streets of London. It would feature 216 athletes representing 27 different countries, another clear indication of the breadth of international talent in women’s distance racing.
The event was even more significant as it came after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) postponed it’s decision on whether the women’s marathon would be included for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The decision was deferred until February 1981.
As it was, the race in London exceeded requirements for international participation set by the IOC for consideration of new events. In combination with efforts by Jacqueline Hansen and the International Runners’ Committee, the IOC would announce in February 1981 that the women’s marathon would make its Olympic debut in 1984.
With Joyce Smith still recovering from chicken pox, and Joan Benoit having an uncharacteristic dip in form, the 1980 Avon International Women’s Marathon became a race between Lorraine Moller of New Zealand and Nancy Conz of the USA. Moller would take the lead at the 21st mile and hold on to win, setting the new women’s only marathon world record in the process.
It was her her third marathon since her debut in 1979, Moller finding long distances suited her far better than the shorter distances where she started her career. Moller was also involved in changing the landscape for running off the track, her announcement that she would accept prize money at the 1981 Cascade Run Off one of the cracks that broke down the barrier to bring running into the modern professional arena.
She would go onto qualify for the first of her four Olympic marathons by winning the 1984 Boston Marathon, leading to her coming fifth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She would add multiple wins at the Osaka Women’s Marathon to get resume, as well as silver at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
After bone spur issues prevented her from competing at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, Moller switched her focus to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She trained on hills near her home, preparing for the 4 kilometre climb to the finish, acknowledging that she was not the strongest on hills.
Nonetheless on the day of the race she persevered, all of her training paying dividends as Moller moved into the bronze medal position at the 16th mile. Although she acknowledged she would not be able to catch the leaders, she held on to capture the final spot on the podium.
The shoes:
We have many clear photos of the 1980 Avon International Women’s Marathon, which equally clearly show Moller in a Special Make Up, or SMU, of the Nike Mariah. It was the same distincr colourway that Patti Catalano Dillon used to set the marathon world record in 1980.
The Mariah was the first racing flat to feature full-length air cushioning, testing promising an improvement of two percent in running efficiency. The Mariah released several months before the race in London and rapidly established itself as one of the most popular options for elite runners.
Ingrid Kristiansen set marathon world records using the shoe in 1984 and 1985, with Lisa Ondieki then using it to set the women’s only marathon world record in 1988. The Mariah was still an effective choice almost a decade after release.
References:
Mike Sekinger via Facebook
https://more.arrs.run/runner/1544
https://news.germanroadraces.de/international/a-pioneering-project-dr-david-martin-recalls-in-distance-running-how-an-extraordinary-race-staged-in-atlanta-30-years-ago-eventually-won-olympic-status-for-marathon-runners-25-years-avon-frauenl/
https://runyoung50.co.uk/the-first-london-marathon/
https://athletics.org.nz/legends/lorraine-moller/
https://www.thepost.co.nz/sport/350354171/olympics-where-are-they-now-distance-running-great-lorraine-moller
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/lorraine-moller-wins-olympic-bronze
https://more.arrs.run/runner/1544
https://kathrineswitzer.com/2020/08/15727/
https://wamsteeker.com/?p=1651
https://www.shoesyourvintage.com/product/vintage-1981-nike-mariah/