Lorraine Moller
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1 June 1955 Putaruru, New Zealand |
| Sport | |
| Coached by | John Davies |
Medal record
| |
.svg.png){kind=icon}
.svg.png){kind=icon}
Lorraine Mary Moller MBE (born 1 June 1955) is a former athlete from New Zealand, who competed in track athletics and later specialised in the marathon. Moller's international career lasted over 20 years and included winning a silver medal in the marathon at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and a bronze medal in the marathon at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona at the age of 37.[1] A four-time Olympian, she also completed the marathon at the 1984, 1988 and 1996 games. Her other marathon victories included the 1984 Boston Marathon and being a three-time winner (1986,87,89) of the Osaka International Ladies Marathon.
Moller was married to fellow Olympian Ron Daws[2] and coached by John Davies.
Track career
Moller's first international competition was the 1974 British Commonwealth Games at Christchurch, where she finished fifth in the 800 m. Her time of 2:03.63 was her lifetime best and is still the fastest ever by a New Zealand junior (under 20) woman.[3]
Although Moller ran her first marathon in 1979, there were no sanctioned marathons for females at an international athletics competition until 1984. Moller was instead selected for both the 1500 m and 3000 m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, winning bronze medals for both events.
In 1985 Moller broke the New Zealand 1500 m record, running 4:10.35 at Brussels. In 1986 at the Commonwealth Games, as well as the marathon (see below), she competed in the 3000 m, finishing fifth.
In the 1993 New Year Honours, Moller was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to athletics.[4]
As of June 2008, Moller ranked in the all-time top ten in New Zealand for the 1500 m, mile, 3000 m and 5000 m. She also ranked 11th for the 10,000 m.
Personal Bests:
| Event | Time | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 m | 2:03.63 | 1974 | Christchurch |
| 1500 m | 4:10.35 | 1985 | Brussels |
| Mile | 4:32.97 | 1985 | |
| 3000 m | 8:51.78 | 1983 | |
| 5000 m | 15:35.75 | 1985 | |
| 10000 m | 32:40.17 | 1988 | |
| Marathon | 2:28:17 | 1986 | Edinburgh |
Marathon career
Moller ran her first marathon on 23 June 1979, winning Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota in 2:37:37. The time was the fastest ever by a New Zealander and the sixth-fastest ever run by a woman.[5] She then won her next 7 marathons.
She was a triple winner of the Osaka Ladies Marathon, and in 1984 won the Boston Marathon.[6]
All of Moller's appearances at the Olympic Games were in the marathon. Her full records are:
She also won the silver medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, running 2:28:17, her lifetime best.
Achievements
Author
- Moller, Lorraine. On the Wings of Mercury: The Lorraine Moller Story. 2007. Longacre Press. ISBN 978-1-877361-99-9.[7]
Audio Interviews
- TheFinalSprint.com's Podcast Interview: "LORRAINE MOLLER: Female running pioneer and Lydiard protégé: "Part 1" and "Part 2"
- Interview at flotrack
References
- ↑ Profile at the official New Zealand Olympic Committee website
- ↑ STEVE HOAG, Running Minnesota blog, 28 January 2007, retrieved 20 April 2010
- ↑ Athletics New Zealand Records: Best Performances
- ↑ London Gazette (supplement), No. 53154, 30 December 1992. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ↑ Heidenstrom, P. (1992) Athletes of the Century. Wellington: GP Publications.
- ↑ Matson, Barbara (April 16, 2009). "Twists in the road". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
- ↑ Longacre Press