Sydney Maree
Encyclopedia
Sydney Maree is a former middle distance
runner who competed at the international level in the 1980s. He was born in South Africa
, in the dusty mining town of Cullinan
, east of Pretoria
, but later became a U.S. citizen, running for the United States
in the 5000 meters at the 1987 IAAF World Championships in Athletics
(11th place) and 1988 Olympic Games
(where he finished in fifth place in the final). He attended Villanova University
where he was NCAA All American in cross country, two time NCAA champion in the 1500 meters (1980 & 1981) and once in the 5000 meters (1979).
Maree's greatest success came in August 1983 when he broke Steve Ovett
's world record over 1500 m at a meeting in Cologne
. Maree clocked 3:31.24 min. Two years later, Maree broke the 3:30 min-barrier when he set a new US record of 3:29.77 min. However, this was not a world record as a few weeks before Steve Cram
and Saïd Aouita
had already run 3:29.67 and 3:29.71 min respectively. Maree was an excellent 5000 m runner, as well. In Oslo
in 1985 he set a new US record at 13:01.15 min. finishing just behind Aouita who set a world record.
Maree's personal bests include the aforementioned 3:29.77 for the 1500 meters (1985, the American Record for 21 years until 2006), 3:48.83 for the mile (1981), 4:54.20 in the 2000 meters (1985, an American Record at the time), 7:33.37 for 3000 meters (1984, also an AR at the time), and the previously mentioned AR of 13:01.15 in the 5000 meters. He also won the inaugural Fifth Avenue Mile
in 1981 with 3:47.52, which remains the course record.
Maree is married with five children. In 1995 he moved back to South Africa, later forming the asset management group Franklin Zamani, in Johannesburg
, of which he became the CEO.
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
runner who competed at the international level in the 1980s. He was born in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, in the dusty mining town of Cullinan
Cullinan, Gauteng
Cullinan is a small town 30 km east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Sir Thomas Cullinan discovered a rich diamond pipe here in 1902 and soon afterwards, on 25 June 1905, the famed Cullinan Diamond, the largest in the world at , was discovered by Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier...
, east of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, but later became a U.S. citizen, running for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 5000 meters at the 1987 IAAF World Championships in Athletics
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
(11th place) and 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...
(where he finished in fifth place in the final). He attended Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
where he was NCAA All American in cross country, two time NCAA champion in the 1500 meters (1980 & 1981) and once in the 5000 meters (1979).
Maree's greatest success came in August 1983 when he broke Steve Ovett
Steve Ovett
Stephen Michael James "Steve" Ovett OBE , is a former middle distance runner from England. He was gold medalist in the 800 metres at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, U.S.S.R., and set world records for 1500 metres and the mile run...
's world record over 1500 m at a meeting in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. Maree clocked 3:31.24 min. Two years later, Maree broke the 3:30 min-barrier when he set a new US record of 3:29.77 min. However, this was not a world record as a few weeks before Steve Cram
Steve Cram
Stephen "Steve" Cram MBE is a British retired athlete. Along with fellow Britons Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, he was one of the world's dominant middle distance runners during the 1980s. Nicknamed "The Jarrow Arrow", Cram set world records in the 1500 metres, 2000 metres and the mile during a...
and Saïd Aouita
Said Aouita
Saïd Aouita is a former Moroccan athlete, winner of 5000 meters at the 1984 Summer Olympics, 5000 meters at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics, 3000 meters at the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships, and former world record holder at 1500m , 2000m , 3000m , and twice at 5000m [ and ]...
had already run 3:29.67 and 3:29.71 min respectively. Maree was an excellent 5000 m runner, as well. In Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1985 he set a new US record at 13:01.15 min. finishing just behind Aouita who set a world record.
Maree's personal bests include the aforementioned 3:29.77 for the 1500 meters (1985, the American Record for 21 years until 2006), 3:48.83 for the mile (1981), 4:54.20 in the 2000 meters (1985, an American Record at the time), 7:33.37 for 3000 meters (1984, also an AR at the time), and the previously mentioned AR of 13:01.15 in the 5000 meters. He also won the inaugural Fifth Avenue Mile
Fifth Avenue Mile
The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual road race in New York City. The race begins at East 80th Street and heads straight down Fifth Avenue to East 60th Street...
in 1981 with 3:47.52, which remains the course record.
Maree is married with five children. In 1995 he moved back to South Africa, later forming the asset management group Franklin Zamani, in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, of which he became the CEO.