Dana Coons

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Dana Turner Coons (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 is currently ranked 16th in the country for the marathon with a time of 2:38:18.

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 [1], 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.

Her time of 2:38:18 places her 16th in the country, according to the official website of the US Olympic Trials [2].

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)