Lorraine Moller
Encyclopedia
Lorraine Mary Moller 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 three Commonwealth
and four Olympic Games
. She won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
at the age of 37.
She was married to fellow Olympian Ron Daws
.
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.
Although Moller ran her first marathon in 1979, there were no sanctioned marathons for females at an international athletics competition until 1984. Moeller 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.
, 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 10000 m.
Personal Bests:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 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
|}
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. She then won her next 7 marathons.
She was a triple winner of the Osaka Ladies Marathon, and in 1984 won the Boston Marathon
.
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.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
who competed in track athletics and later specialised in the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
. Moller's international career lasted over 20 years and included three Commonwealth
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
and four Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. She won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
at the age of 37.
She was married to fellow Olympian Ron Daws
Ron Daws
Ron Daws was a runner and 1968 Summer Olympics men's marathon athlete. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he also competed at the 1967 Pan-American Games marathon and finished first in the National AAU Marathon also in 1967 on June 11.Daws was a friend of Steve Hoag and married to Lorraine Moller in...
.
Track career
Moller's first international competition was the 1974 British Commonwealth Games1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games....
at Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
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.
Although Moller ran her first marathon in 1979, there were no sanctioned marathons for females at an international athletics competition until 1984. Moeller was instead selected for both the 1500 m and 3000 m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, winning bronze medals for both events.
In 1985 Moller broke the New Zealand 1500 m record, running 4:10.35 at Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. In 1986 at the Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
, as well as the marathon (see below), she competed in the 3000 m, finishing fifth.
, 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 10000 m.
Personal Bests:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 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 MarathonGrandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth...
in Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
in 2:37:37. The time was the fastest ever by a New Zealander and the sixth-fastest ever run by a woman. She then won her next 7 marathons.
She was a triple winner of the Osaka Ladies Marathon, and in 1984 won the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
.
All of Moller's appearances at the Olympic Games were in the marathon. Her full records are:
- 19841984 Summer OlympicsThe 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
: 5th (2:28:34) - 19881988 Summer OlympicsThe 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
: 33rd (2:37:52) - 19921992 Summer OlympicsThe 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
: 3rd (2:33:59) - 19961996 Summer OlympicsThe 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
: 46th (2:42:21)
She also won the silver medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, running 2:28:17, her lifetime best.
Achievements
| Representing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth... |
Duluth, United States Duluth, Minnesota Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,... |
1st | Marathon | 2:37:37 |
| 1980 | Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth... |
Duluth, United States Duluth, Minnesota Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,... |
1st | Marathon | 2:38:35 |
| 1981 | Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth... |
Duluth, United States Duluth, Minnesota Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,... |
1st | Marathon | 2:29:35 |
| 1984 | Boston Marathon Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest... |
Boston, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:29:28 |
| Olympic Games Olympic Games The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate... |
Los Angeles, United States | 5th | Marathon | 2:28:54 | |
| 1986 | Osaka Ladies Marathon | Osaka, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:30:24 |
| Commonwealth Games 1986 Commonwealth Games The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:... |
Edinburgh, Scotland | 2nd | Marathon | 2:28:17 | |
| 1987 | Osaka Ladies Marathon | Osaka, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:30:40 |
| World Championships 1987 World Championships in Athletics The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995... |
Rome, Italy | 21st | 10,000 m | 34:07.26 | |
| 1988 | Olympic Games Olympic Games The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate... |
Seoul, South Korea | 33rd | Marathon | 2:37:52 |
| 1989 | Osaka Ladies Marathon | Osaka, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:30:21 |
| Hokkaido Marathon Hokkaido Marathon The Hokkaido Marathon held in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan, is one of the prominent marathon races of the year.The starting point for the race is on the east side of Nakajima Park and the race finishes at Nishi 8-chome of Odori Park... |
Sapporo, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:36:39 | |
| 1991 | Hokkaido Marathon Hokkaido Marathon The Hokkaido Marathon held in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan, is one of the prominent marathon races of the year.The starting point for the race is on the east side of Nakajima Park and the race finishes at Nishi 8-chome of Odori Park... |
Sapporo, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:33:20 |
| 1992 | Olympic Games Olympic Games The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate... |
Barcelona, Spain | 3rd | Marathon | 2:33:59 |
| 1996 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested, 24 by men and 20 by women. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.-Men:... |
Atlanta, United States Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... |
46th | Marathon | 2:42:21 |
Author
- Moller, Lorraine. On the Wings of Mercury: The Lorraine Moller Story. 2007. Longacre Press. ISBN 978-1-877361-99-9.
Audio Interviews
- TheFinalSprint.com's Podcast Interview: "LORRAINE MOLLER: Female running pioneer and Lydiard protégé: "Part 1" and "Part 2"
- Interview at flotrack