Marla Runyan

USAWomen

Birth dateJan 4, 1969

BirthplaceSanta Maria, United States

Height-

Weight-

Marla Lee Runyan (married name Lonergan; born January 4, 1969) is an American track and field athlete, road runner, and cyclist who is legally blind. She is a six-time Paralympic medalist in track and field, two-time Olympian in track and field, and Paralympian in para-cycling.

She was the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympics and is the only American to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics. Runyan's accomplishments include three back-to-back national titles in the 5,000 meters and top American finishes at the Boston, Chicago, and New York marathons.

She formerly held the American records in the 800m event of the heptathlon and 20k road race, as well as the highest American woman finish in the 1500 meters at the Olympics. She currently holds numerous para-athletics world and national records in sprint, long distance, and field events.

Key facts

1500 m

4:02.95

#329 all-time

3000 m

8:39.36

#247 all-time

2006 season best

15:15.00

May 5, 2006 · Eugene, OR (USA)

2006 season best

Age

57 years old

As of Sep 16, 2026: 1500 m 4:02.95 (#329 all-time), 3000 m 8:39.36 (#247 all-time), 2006 season best 15:15.00 (May 5, 2006, Eugene, OR (USA)) · 57 years old

Personal bests

2:03.18

4:02.95

4:43.90

8:39.36

14:59.20

32:11.92

1:11:19

2:27:10

13.59*

15:24

9:01.29

48:43

31:46

53:37

4:43.90

15:07.33

1:05:52

* Wind-assisted (> 2.0 m/s)

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2006	5000m	15:15.00	-	May 5, 2006	↓	Eugene, OR (USA)
2006	10000m	32:11.92	-	Apr 21, 2006	↑	Eugene, OR (USA)
2006	10Kilometr	33:18	-	Aug 19, 2006	↓	Minneapolis, MN (USA)
2006	20Kilometr	1:08:28	-	Sep 4, 2006	↓	New Haven, CT (USA)
2006	Marathon	2:32:17	-	Oct 1, 2006	↓	St. Paul (USA)
2004	1500m	4:06.37	-	Jun 19, 2004	↓	Eugene, OR (USA)
2004	5000m	14:59.20	-	May 29, 2004	↓	Waltham, MA (USA)
2004	10000m	32:39.46	-	May 21, 2004	↑	Salem, OR (USA)
2004	Semi	1:11:19	-	Sep 19, 2004	→	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2004	Marathon	2:28:33	-	Oct 10, 2004	↓	Chicago Marathon
2003	5000m	15:16.18	-	Jun 20, 2003	↓	Palo Alto, CA (USA)
2003	5Kilometre	15:25	-	May 31, 2003	↓	Albany, NY (USA)
2003	15Kilometr	48:43	-	Mar 8, 2003	↑	Jacksonville, FL (USA)
2003	20Kilometr	1:05:52	-	Sep 1, 2003	↓	New Haven, CT (USA)
2003	Marathon	2:30:28	-	Apr 21, 2003	↓	Boston Marathon
2002	1500m	4:02.85	-	Jul 12, 2002	↓	Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA)
2002	3000m	8:39.36	-	May 26, 2002	↑	Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA)
2002	5000m	15:07.19	-	Jun 22, 2002	↓	Palo Alto, CA (USA)
2002	10Kilometr	31:46	-	Oct 14, 2002	↓	US Women's 10km Championships
2002	15Kilometr	52:20	-	Mar 17, 2002	↑	Portland, OR (USA)
2002	10MilesRoa	53:37	-	Apr 7, 2002	-	Washington, DC (USA)
2002	Semi	1:11:19	-	Sep 15, 2002	→	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2002	Marathon	2:27:10	-	Nov 3, 2002	↓	New York Marathon
2001	1500m	4:06.31	-	Jun 9, 2001	↓	Palo Alto, CA (USA)
2001	Mile	4:43.90	-	Feb 2, 2001	-	New York, NY (USA) (i)
2001	mile-short-track	4:43.90	-	Feb 2, 2001	-	New York, NY (USA) (i)
2001	3000m	8:44.69	-	May 27, 2001	↑	Eugene, OR (USA)
2001	5000m	15:05.48	-	Jul 22, 2001	↓	Crystal Palace, London (GBR)
2001	5000m-short-track	15:07.33	-	Feb 18, 2001	-	New York, NY (USA) (i)
2000	1500m	4:06.14	-	Sep 28, 2000	↓	The XXVII Olympic Games
2000	3000m	8:56.27	-	Feb 18, 2000	↑	Moscow, ID (USA) (i)
2000	3000m-short-track	9:01.29	-	Mar 4, 2000	-	USA Indoor Combined Events Championships
2000	5000m	15:07.66	-	May 13, 2000	↓	Eugene, OR (USA)
2000	5Kilometre	15:24	-	Mar 26, 2000	↓	Carlsbad, CA (USA)
1999	800m	2:03.18	-	Jul 10, 1999	↑	Dedham, MA (USA)
1999	1500m	4:05.27	-	Aug 27, 1999	↓	IAAF World Championships, La Cartuja, Sevilla
1998	800m	2:09.87	-	Mar 21, 1998	↑	Eugene, OR (USA)
1996	100mH	13.59	+2.5	Mar 16, 1996	-	San Luis Obispo, CA (USA)

2006

6 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Marathon	2:32:17	-	Oct 1	St. Paul Twin Cities Marathon, St. Paul
20Kilometr	1:08:28	-	Sep 4	New Haven US 20K Championships, New Haven, CT
10Kilometr	33:18	-	Aug 19	Minneapolis Guidant Heart of Summer, Minneapolis, MN
5000m	15:31.78	-	Jun 23	US Championships, Indianapolis, IN
5000m	15:15.00	-	May 5	Eugene Oregon Twilight, Eugene, OR
10000m	32:11.92	-	Apr 21	Eugene Oregon Invitational, Eugene, OR

2004

10 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Marathon	2:28:33	-	Oct 10	Chicago Marathon
Semi	1:11:19	-	Sep 19	Philadelphia Half Marathon, Philadelphia, PA
5000m	15:24.88	-	Aug 20	The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina
5000m	15:24.88	-	Aug 18	The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina
1500m	4:09.63	-	Jul 16	USA Championships
5000m	15:07.48	-	Jul 12	USA Championships, Sacramento, CA
5000m	15:36.75	-	Jul 9	USA Championships, Sacramento, CA
1500m	4:06.37	-	Jun 19	Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, OR
5000m	14:59.20	-	May 29	Waltham Boston High Performance Series, Waltham, MA
10000m	32:39.46	-	May 21	Salem Willamette Last Chance, Salem, OR

2003

7 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Marathon	2:45:12	-	Nov 2	New York City Marathon
Semi	DNF	-	Oct 4	Vilamoura IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
20Kilometr	1:05:52	-	Sep 1	New Haven US 20 km Championships, New Haven, CT
5000m	15:16.18	-	Jun 20	USA Championships, Palo Alto, CA
5Kilometre	15:25	-	May 31	Freihofer's Run for Women, Albany, NY
Marathon	2:30:28	-	Apr 21	Boston Marathon
15Kilometr	48:43	-	Mar 8	Jacksonville Gate River Run, Jacksonville, FL

2002

13 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Marathon	2:27:10	-	Nov 3	New York Marathon
10Kilometr	31:46	-	Oct 14	US Women's 10km Championships
Semi	1:11:19	-	Sep 15	Philadelphia Half Marathon, Philadelphia, PA
5000m	15:18.36	-	Jul 20	Heusden-Zolder Night of Athletics, Heusden-Zolder
1500m	4:02.85	-	Jul 12	-
1500m	4:02.95	-	Jul 12	Roma Golden Gala
1500m	4:07.86	-	Jul 5	Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France
3000m	8:46.67	-	Jun 30	Sheffield Norwich Union Classic, Sheffield
5000m	15:07.19	-	Jun 22	USA Championships, Palo Alto, CA
3000m	8:39.36	-	May 26	Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
5000m	15:13.96	-	May 18	Portland adidas Oregon Track Classic, Portland, OR
10MilesRoa	53:37	-	Apr 7	Washington Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, Washington, DC
15Kilometr	52:20	-	Mar 17	Shamrock Run, Portland, OR

2001

8 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
5000m	15:24.30	-	Aug 9	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
5000m	15:24.30	-	Aug 3	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
5000m	15:05.48	-	Jul 22	London Norwich Union British Grand Prix, Crystal Palace, London
5000m	15:08.03	-	Jun 24	USA Championships, Eugene, OR
1500m	4:06.31	-	Jun 9	Palo Alto Peregrine Systems US Open, Palo Alto, CA
3000m	8:44.69	-	May 27	Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, OR
5000m-short-track	15:07.33	-	Feb 18	New York Inv., New York, NY (i)
mile-short-track	4:43.90	-	Feb 2	New York Millrose Games, New York, NY (i)

2000

6 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
1500m	4:08.30	-	Sep 30	The XXVII Olympic Games
1500m	4:06.14	-	Sep 28	The XXVII Olympic Games
1500m	4:10.83	-	Sep 27	The XXVII Olympic Games
1500m	4:06.14	-	Sep 22	The XXVII Olympic Games
1500m	4:10.83	-	Sep 22	The XXVII Olympic Games
1500m	4:08.30	-	Sep 22	The XXVII Olympic Games

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Marla Runyan's 1500 m personal best?

Marla Runyan's 1500 m personal best is 4:02.95, set on Jul 12, 2002 in Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA), #329 on the all-time list.

Which events does Marla Runyan compete in?

Marla Runyan competes in the 1500 m and 3000 m.

How did Marla Runyan perform in 2006?

2006 season best: 15:15.00, set on May 5, 2006 in Eugene, OR (USA).