Dana Coons
Encyclopedia
Dana Turner Coons Thiele (born September 27, 1978 in Fairfax County, Virginia
) is an American long distance runner. She is a two-time qualifier for the US Olympic Trials
(10,000m in 2004, marathon in 2008), and in 2007 was ranked 16th in the country for the marathon with a time of 2:38:18. In the 2008 Olympic Marathon trials in Boston, Coons finished 30th in a time of 2:41:31. Her twin brother, Jason Turner Coons, played club lacrosse at James Madison University
.
Coons went to college at the University of Virginia
, where she was a fine arts major. During her fourth and final year, she won the ACC title at 10,000m, and was an NCAA qualifier at that distance. Upon graduating from UVa, Coons spent two years in Charlottesville, VA as an assistant coach at UVa, and during that time she lowered her 10,000m personal best to 33:07 (Cardinal Invitational, 2003).
In September 2003, Coons moved to Minneapolis, MN to train with Team USA Minnesota, where she trained under coach Dennis Barker with Carrie Tollefson
, Katie McGregor
, and other elite athletes. It was during this time that she moved up to the marathon - she debuted in the Twin Cities Marathon
, running 2:46:54 in October, 2005. After spending two years with Team USA Minnesota, she then moved back to Charlottesville. One year later, she lowered her personal best to 2:38:18, at the 2006 Chicago Marathon
. She recently helped found, and coaches for Ragged Mountain Racing, a post-collegiate training team based in Charlottesville, VA and modeled after Team USA Minnesota.
Her time of 2:38:18 placed her 16th in the country, according to the official website of the US Olympic Trials.
Coons was married to Dr. Robert Thiele on June 7, 2008 in Madison County, Virginia. Thiele is a former runner at the University of Virginia. Thiele is also a former neurosurgery resident who recently switched into anesthesiology. The couple resides in Charlottesville, VA.
Personal Records
Summary of Accomplishments
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
) is an American long distance runner. She is a two-time qualifier for the US Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
(10,000m in 2004, marathon in 2008), and in 2007 was ranked 16th in the country for the marathon with a time of 2:38:18. In the 2008 Olympic Marathon trials in Boston, Coons finished 30th in a time of 2:41:31. Her twin brother, Jason Turner Coons, played club lacrosse at James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
.
Coons went to college at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, where she was a fine arts major. During her fourth and final year, she won the ACC title at 10,000m, and was an NCAA qualifier at that distance. Upon graduating from UVa, Coons spent two years in Charlottesville, VA as an assistant coach at UVa, and during that time she lowered her 10,000m personal best to 33:07 (Cardinal Invitational, 2003).
In September 2003, Coons moved to Minneapolis, MN to train with Team USA Minnesota, where she trained under coach Dennis Barker with Carrie Tollefson
Carrie Tollefson
Carrie Tollefson is an American middle distance runner who was on the US 2004 Summer Olympic team....
, Katie McGregor
Katie McGregor
Katie McGregor is an American runner who participates in track, cross country and the marathon.-High school:McGregor attended Willoughby South High School in Willoughby, Ohio...
, and other elite athletes. It was during this time that she moved up to the marathon - she debuted in the Twin Cities Marathon
Twin Cities Marathon
The Twin Cities Marathon is an annual marathon in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. The race is often dubbed "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America." The TCM was first run in 1982, and typically takes place during the first weekend in October. In 2006 the Marathon agreed to its first...
, running 2:46:54 in October, 2005. After spending two years with Team USA Minnesota, she then moved back to Charlottesville. One year later, she lowered her personal best to 2:38:18, at the 2006 Chicago Marathon
Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race...
. She recently helped found, and coaches for Ragged Mountain Racing, a post-collegiate training team based in Charlottesville, VA and modeled after Team USA Minnesota.
Her time of 2:38:18 placed her 16th in the country, according to the official website of the US Olympic Trials.
Coons was married to Dr. Robert Thiele on June 7, 2008 in Madison County, Virginia. Thiele is a former runner at the University of Virginia. Thiele is also a former neurosurgery resident who recently switched into anesthesiology. The couple resides in Charlottesville, VA.
Personal Records
- 5000m: 16:17 (Raleigh Relays, 2002)
- 10,000m: 33:07 (Cardinal Invitational, 2003)
- Marathon: 2:38:18 (Chicago, 2006)
Summary of Accomplishments
- ACC Champion at 10,000m (2001)
- Two-time Olympic Trials Qualifier (10,000m in 2004, marathon in 2008)
- Competed on US road racing teams in Seoul, Korea (2002), and Chiba, Japan (2004)
- Competed in the World Championships as a member of the US Marathon Team in Osaka, Japan (2007)