Lorraine Mary Moller MBE (born 1 June 1955) in Putāruru 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 in 1984 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 June 1955 Putāruru, New Zealand |
| Sport | |
| Coached by | John Davies |
Medal record | |
Track career
editMoller'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.[2]
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.
As of June 2008[update], 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
editMoller 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.[3] She then won her next 7 marathons.
She was a triple winner of the Osaka Ladies Marathon, and in 1984 won the Boston Marathon.[4]
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.
In 2012 she was inducted into the Boulder (Colorado) Sports Hall of Fame. She has worked with the Lydiard Foundation and the Master Plan training system to share the lessons of running coach Arthur Lydiard.[5]
Achievements
editHonours and awards
editIn the 1993 New Year Honours, Moller was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to athletics.[6]
Personal life
editMoller moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1982.[7] She was married to fellow Olympian Ron Daws whom she later divorced.[8] [9] She then married Harlan Smith and they have one daughter.[7]
Author
edit- Moller, Lorraine. On the Wings of Mercury: The Lorraine Moller Story. 2007. Longacre Press. ISBN 978-1-877361-99-9.[10]
Audio Interviews
edit- TheFinalSprint.com's Podcast Interview: "LORRAINE MOLLER: Female running pioneer and Lydiard protégé: "Part 1" and "Part 2"
- Interview at flotrack
References
edit- ^ Profile at the official New Zealand Olympic Committee website
- ^ Athletics New Zealand Records: Best Performances
- ^ Heidenstrom, P. (1992) Athletes of the Century. Wellington: GP Publications.
- ^ Matson, Barbara (16 April 2009). "Twists in the road". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
- ^ "Mike Sandrock: Lorraine Moller to be inducted into the Boulder Sports Hall of Fame". Boulder Daily Camera. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "No. 53154". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1992. p. 30.
- ^ a b McLaughlin, Aiden (23 May 2024). "Where is she now? Lorraine Moller". Newsroom. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ STEVE HOAG, Running Minnesota blog, 28 January 2007, retrieved 20 April 2010
- ^ Twists in the road: Moller's book recounts her struggles as marathoner, wife, Barbara Matson, The Boston Globe, 16 April 2009, retrieved 1 June 2024. Archived 2012-10-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Longacre Press Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine