Jan Merrill
Jan Merrill| Personal information |
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June 18, 1956 |
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Janice ("Jan") Melbourne Merrill (born June 18, 1956 in New London, Connecticut) is a retired female middle distance runner from the United States. She was the dominant long distance runner of the middle 1970s, a notable front runner, her uniform with the large "M" on her chest would usually break away to an insurmountable lead in domestic meets. She was equally untouchable in self-promotion or dealing with the media, often deferring to her coach, Norm Higgins.[1] At various points in time she held the American record in the women's 1500 metres (4:02.61 set on July 29, 1976) during the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, the 3,000 metres and 5,000 metres.[2] She lost other record opportunities because the only times she could get a decent race in the United States was against men.[3]
She won the U.S. title at 1500 metres twice outdoors,[4] 3000 metres 4 times,[5] twice in the indoor mile,[6] twice in the indoor 2 mile[7] and twice in Cross Country.[8]
Merrill is now married hyphenating her name with Morin, and is an assistant coach at Rutgers University.[9]
Achievements
References
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- 1979–1991: 3000 metres
- 1995–present: 5000 metres
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| 1965–1979
Amateur Athletic Union | |
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| 1980–1992
The Athletics Congress | |
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| 1993–present
USA Track & Field | |
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| | Notes |
- OT: Since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials in Olympic years, otherwise held as a discrete event.
- Distance:The event was over one mile in 1973–4
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United States