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Jane Welzel
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born(1955-04-24)24 April 1955
Died31 August 2014(2014-08-31) (aged 59)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventLong-distance running
Achievements and titles
Personal bestMarathon: 2:33:01
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
World Athletics Championships
1988 Adelaide, Australia 15K
1989 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 15K
1992 Tyneside, United Kingdom Half Marathon
1993 Stuttgart, Germany Marathon
1993 San Sebastián, Spain Marathon
1994 Oslo, Norway Half Marathon

Jane Welzel (born April 24, 1955, d. Aug. 31, 2014) was a pioneering long-distance runner who advocated for women to be added to the sport.[1][2][3]

In 1990, she became the U.S. Marathon Champion when she ran 2:33:35 at Grandma's Marathon in Minnesota.[4] Her career spanned decades. She competed in five U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons and won more than 50 major races. She was selected to represent America at the 1988 and 1989 World Road Racing Championships as well as several World Championship races: the 1992 Half Marathon, the 1993 Marathon, the 1993 Marathon Cup, and the 1994 Half Marathon.[5][6]

Early career

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Welzel grew up in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the city that hosts the start of the Boston Marathon. She graduated from Hopkinton High School in 1973.

She attended University of Massachusetts and competed on the swim team, joining the water polo team as well. However, a problem with the pool facilities canceled practices during one season, and Welzel tried training with the nascent college cross country team. She won her first race and decided to stick with the sport, where she competed with many other pioneering female runners such as Joan Benoit.[7] She would spend three years in cross country, and two years on the track and field team. Her cross country team finished in the top 10 at the AIAW National Championship in 1975.[8][9]

In the middle of her college career, the age of 20, she trained for Boston, plodding 30–40 miles a week, never going past 10 miles for a run. On the day of the 1975 marathon, she entered the starting crowd, not realizing there was a qualification requirement. She ran as a bandit and finished around 3:35, somewhere in the top-30 women.[7]

She would advance in the marathon distance, and in 1979, she won the Nittany Valley Marathon in State College, Pennsylvania. She ran a 2:41:07 in Louisiana in 1980. Four times she tried to break the 2:40 barrier. Then in 1983, at age 28, she took the lead from the start and won the Philadelphia Marathon by eight minutes in 2:36:38, a personal best time.[10][11] She was present at the first U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, and ran with the fastest women in the nation to finish 14th in 2:35:53.[2][12]

Accident

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Jane Welzel and her husband were driving from Hamilton, New Zealand, to Auckland, New Zealand, while on vacation in 1984. On the way, their vehicle swerved on a gravel road and flipped into a cow pasture. The top of the car was crushed, and Welzel was trapped in the wreckage. He neck was broken. She survived, but spend several weeks strapped to a specialized bed that limited movement before being put into a full-body plaster cast for two months. For nearly three years, she persisted in regaining movement, then fitness, then competitive form.[13][2]

By the 1988 Olympic Trials Marathon, she had fully recovered and was a contender to win the race. She had qualified with a 2:42 time at the Twin Cities Marathon. She showed that she was back to form by finishing 13th in the trials in 2:36:08, prompting Runner's World to call her the "Comeback Runner of the Year."[7][12]

Return to running

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Welzel ran the 1990 Boston Marathon, finishing in 11th. In 1991, she was 10th. She was the first American woman in 1992 and 10th overall.[14]

She was the 1990 U.S. Champion in the marathon when she won the Grandma's Marathon (named for the sponsor, Grandma's Restaurant) in a personal best time of 2:33:25. The day was muggy and warm, and participants described struggling in the high heat index. Welzel went out faster than local favorite Janice Ettle, then caught Minnesotan Janis Klecker at the halfway mark. Welzel credited her training in Colorado with the ability to hold the lead to the finish.[8][15]

She raced to 6th place against international competition in the 1990 Berlin Marathon, in which she outran East Germans such as Birgit Jerschabek. She was sponsored by Reebok at the time. Welzel's father Hank, who had escaped Berlin in the late 1940s, returned to the city for the first time to see his daughter's race.[13]

In 1992, she finished 10th at the Boston Marathon just after running to 9th place at the 1992 Olympic Trials Marathon in 2:35:55 during the hot and humid weather Houston provided.[2][12]

She returned to Grandma's Marathon on the North Shore in June. Dueling with Gail Hall and Elena Semenova of Ukraine, she passed each and won in 2:33:01. It was the second-fastest time ever recorded for a woman on the course from Two Harbors, Minnesota to Duluth.[16][17]

She ran the World Half Marathon Championships in England, placing 43rd in 1:13:30.[18]

In the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, Welzel lined up in the morning heat and humidity, bracing for a hot race that went to the middle of the day. As her U.S. teammate Kimberly Rosenquist-Jones led athletes in the first laps inside the German "Neckarstadium," Welzel tucked into the pack. Paces were slow as predicted, and Junko Asari won. Jones finished 8th and Welzel finished 19th.[19][20]

Welzel trained for the U.S. National Championship 25K, which brought her to Grand Rapids, Michigan's Old Kent River Bank Run. The race featured many of the fastest in the U.S., and Alfredo Vigueras (who had just gained citizenship), was eyeing the men's championship. After the gun, Jerry Lawson led the crowd as crushing winds slowed the pace. For 10 miles, Welzel ran with Lorraine Hochella. Then Welzel drafted off a few men to gain ground, which she kept. Vigueras caught Lawson to win for the men, and it was Welzel for the women in 1:29:47—a national record for master's women runners.[21]

She qualified for and ran the 1996 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Columbia, South Carolina. During the Feb. 10 race, Jenny Spangler won and Welzel finished 88th in 2:53:40.[12] In September of the same year, she won the City of Lakes 25K.[22]

At the 2000 Trials, Welzel was one of four women to compete for the fifth time. The others were Julie Peterson, Beverly Docherty and Janice Ettle. Welzel finished 126th in 3:04:44 while Christine Clark took the win.[12][23]

She found more success in Master's categories (runners over 40 years old), winning dozens of 10Ks (such as the '97 Indy Grand Masters Prix and Sacramento's Avon Running 10K in '99). She set two U.S. records for women over 40 years old, one in the 5K and one in the 25K. She finished 15th at the Fifth Third River Bank Run in both 2002 and 2003, and was top 30 in a return to Grandma's Marathon in 2003 at the age of 48, still clocking a sub-three-hour marathon.[24][25][26][27]

Later in life, she became the race director of competitions in the Fort Collins, Colorado, area.[6]

Personal life

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Jane Welzel grew up around marathon culture in the town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, with her four siblings. Her father Hank grew up in Germany, then refused to fight for the Nazis, escaped to America, lived in a POW camp in Alabama, was sent back to East Germany, then escaped again (with U.S. help) to Hopkinton.[2]

Jane Welzel married Steve Liggett. They met at University of Massachusetts. Welzel was a professional counselor, specializing in eating disorders, couples counseling, personal growth, and sports psychology.

Jane served at a coach in Massachusetts and Penn State.[3]

After studying at, competing for, and coaching in the University of Massachusetts, Welzel was inducted to their Hall of Fame.

She spent the majority of her running career living in Colorado (moving there in 1989) and was included on the Colorado Running Hall of Fame in 2013. Two years later, she was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame.

She died at 59 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.[8]

In 1995, she was quoted as saying "For me, running is like a metaphor for life. You put yourself on the line, see what you can do. There are things in running you usually don't have a chance to face otherwise. It gives you strength in other areas."[7]

Achievements

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  United States
1979 Freihofer's Run for Women Albany, New York 2nd 10K 34:50
1980 Bonne Bell Mini Marathon Washington D.C. 1st 10K 35:38
1981 Freihofer's Run for Women Albany, New York 2nd 10K 36:36
1982 Avon Half Marathon New York City, New York 1st Half marathon 1:15:44
1983 Philadelphia Marathon Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1st Marathon 2:36:38
1988 Hokkaido Marathon Sapporo, Japan 1st Marathon 2:40:53
1988 World Road Race Championships Adelaide, Australia 35th 15K 53:31
1989 City of Lakes Minneapolis, Minnesota 1st 25K 1:28:27
1989 World Road Race Championships Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 17th 15K 52:44
1990 Boston Marathon Boston, Massachusetts 11th Marathon 2:42:04
1990 USA Marathon Championships at Grandma's Marathon Duluth, Minnesota 1st Marathon 2:33:35
1990 Berlin Marathon Berlin, Germany 6th Marathon 2:35:09
1991 San Francisco Marathon San Francisco, California 2nd Marathon 2:37:57
1992 Boston Marathon Boston, Massachusetts 10th Marathon 2:36:21
1992 Grandma's Marathon Duluth, Minnesota 1st Marathon 2:33:01
1992 World Half Marathon Championships Newcastle, United Kingdom 43rd Half marathon 1:13:30
1992 New York City Marathon New York City, New York 14th Marathon 2:41:22
1993 Boston Marathon Boston, Massachusetts 11th Marathon 2:39:38
1993 World Championships Stuttgart, Germany 19th Marathon 2:46:08
1993 IAAF World Marathon Cup San Sebastián, Spain 25th Marathon 2:37:53
1994 Las Vegas Mini Marathon Las Vegas, Nevada 1st Half marathon 1:13:54
1994 World Half Marathon Championships Oslo, Norway 61st Half marathon 1:15:24
1996 City of Lakes Minneapolis, Minnesota 1st 25K 1:31:58
1996 Amway River Bank Run Grand Rapids, Michigan 1st 25K 1:29:47

References

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  1. ^ Ken Young; Andy Milroy, eds. (2023). "Jane Welzel". arrs.com. Mattole Valley, California: Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Huebner, Barbara (15 April 1992). "Welzel makes it back: Return to Hopkinton had pitfalls". Sports. Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. pp. 49, 51.
  3. ^ a b Queenan, Bob (1 November 1999). "A second chance to continue life's race". Sports. The Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 2C.
  4. ^ Zavoral, Nolan (19 June 1992). "Grandma's field still has pizazz". Sports. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 3C.
  5. ^ Douglas, Scott (2 September 2014). "Former US Marathon Champion Jane Welzel Dies". Runner's World. Easton, Pennsylvania: Hearst. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b Meyers, Stephen. "Fort Collins runners mourn death of Jane Welzel". Colorodoan. Stephen Myers. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d Gillespie, Bob (10 February 1995). "Going Full Circle: Welzel winds way on 20-year odyssey". Carolina Marathon. The State. Columbia, South Carolina: Knight Ridder. p. C1, C7.
  8. ^ a b c "Jane Welzel Cross Country Locker Room". University of Massachusetts Minutemen. (signage). Amherst, Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts. 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. ^ "1975 AIAW National Cross Country Championship" (PDF). AIAW Archives. trackandfieldnews.com. Mountain View, California: Track and Field News. 15 November 1975. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 October 2020.
  10. ^ Freligh, Sarajane (28 November 1983). "Army officer runs off with Phila. Marathon". Sports Extra. Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. D1, D2, D9.
  11. ^ Kiessling, Bob (28 November 1983). "Pelletier gains marathon victory". Sports. Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. p. 1B, 5B.
  12. ^ a b c d e "2020 USA Women's Olympic Trials Marathon - Complete History 1984-2016". News. marathonguide.com. West Simsbury, Connecticut: Marathon Guide. 2023. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b Couzens, Gerald Secor (13 October 1990). "A Long Run to Recovery". Fitness. Newsday. Melville, New York: Newsday Media. p. II/7.
  14. ^ Derderian, Tom (2017). "Monday, April 18, 1983: Don't Let the Wise Guy Lead". Boston Marathon: Year-by-Year Stories of the World's Premier Running Event. New York, New York: Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 452–461. ISBN 978-1-5107-2428-0.
  15. ^ Zavoral, Nolan (24 June 1990). "Welzel is grand at Grandma's". Sports. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 1C, 7C.
  16. ^ Zavoral, Nolan (21 June 1992). "Duluth still Welzel's kind of town". Sports. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 1C, 10C.
  17. ^ Schmid, Pam (20 June 2002). "Race has elite pro route". Sports. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. C8.
  18. ^ Darke, Ian (20 September 2023). "1992 World Half Marathon Championships". BBC. 47 minutes 44 seconds. posted by World Athletics as 'Newcastle 1992 | World Half Marathon Championships' (published 6 February 2016) – via YouTube.
  19. ^ Moorcroft, Dave; Foster, Brendan (15 August 1993). "1993 World Championships". BBC. 27 minutes 50 seconds. London, England: posted by Basil Sage as '4230 World Track & Field 1993 Marathon Women' as first in a series of digitized (from VHS) videos for the full marathon (published 14 September 2017). Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ Moorcroft, Dave; Foster, Brendan (15 August 1993). "1993 World Championships". BBC. 7 minutes 20 seconds. London, England: posted by Basil Sage as '4253 World Track & Field 1993 Marathon Women' as last in a series of digitized (from VHS) videos for the full marathon (published 11 October 2017). Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ Henderson, Tom (12 May 1996). "Vigueras, Welzel winners in Old Kent River Bank run". Sports. The Detroit News. Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Media Partnership. p. 6D.
  22. ^ Bradley, Scott (9 September 1996). "Defending champ Kimeli, Welzel win City of Lakes". Sports. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. C3.
  23. ^ Sherrer, Diane (22 March 2004). "St. Louis to host Olympic team trials for women's marathon". Sports. The Star-Gazette. Elmira, New York. p. 3B.
  24. ^ "Grandma's Marathon—Leaderboard—Top10-F4549". mtecresults.com. St. Paul, Minnesota: MTEC Results. 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  25. ^ Fay, John (1 November 1999). "Keeler comes home, comes home first". Sports. Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. D6.
  26. ^ Davis, Mike (11 July 1997). "Indy's own face tough challenges". Sports. The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. C4.
  27. ^ "Road Racing-Bix 7—Women's Masters". Sports: Scoreboard. Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. 28 July 1996. p. 14C.
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