Douglas ("Doug") Padilla (born October 4, 1956 in Oakland, California) is a former middle and long distance runner from the United States, who won the overall Grand Prix 1985 and the World Cup 5000m race in 1985. He finished fifth in the 5000m final at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, and seventh in the 5000m final at the 1984 Summer Olympics. In the 1983 World Championships 5,000-metre final, Padilla was among the favourites, but he succumbed to the radically accelerating pace of top runners, such as Ireland's Eamonn Coghlan, East Germany's Werner Schildhauer and Finland's Martti Vainio, during the last lap. He lost to the winner, Coghlan, by 3.55 seconds, but managed to defeat another unlucky favourite, West Germany's Thomas Wessinghage, by 0.38 seconds. By contrast, the fast 1984 Olympic 5,000-metre final was tough for Padilla already after 3,000 metres, and he painstakingly defeated New Zealand's John Walker who finished eighth (see, for example, "The World Athletics Championships 1983" / Yleisurheilun MM-kisat 1983, written by the "Runner" / Juoksija magazine's journalists and published in Finland in 1983; "The Big Olympic Book 4" / Suuri Olympiateos 4, published in Finland in 1984). He was ranked No.1 in the world in 1983 over 3000m.
Padilla was a very fast sprinter. When he was in top shape, he was known for his ability to outkick many other world-class runners, including the 10,000-metre European, World and Olympic champion Alberto Cova of Italy (see, for example, "The Sports Information 1985" / Urheilutieto 1985, a sports yearbook published in Finland in 1985 or 1986).
Padilla lost his top form after 1986, and was eliminated in the 5,000-metre heats at the 1987 World Athletics Championships in Rome (see, for example, "The World Athletics Championships 1987" / Yleisurheilun MM-kisat 1987, written and published by the "Runner" magazine's journalists in Finland in 1987). He still qualified for the 1991 World Athletics Championships 5,000-metre final in Tokyo, but there he ran very badly, finishing 14th and last - and losing to the winner, Kenya's Yobes Ondieki, by over 1 minute 20 seconds (see, for example, "The World Athletics Championships 1991" / Yleisurheilun MM-kisat 1991, written by the "Runner" / Juoksija magazine's journalists and published in Finland in 1991).
Padilla graduated from BYU in 1983. He currently works for BYU with their sports programs, he also volunteers with the Utah South Area athletic council in coordinating 5k and 10k races.[1]
Padilla is a Latter-day Saint.[2]
IAAF profile for Doug Padilla
| Sporting positions | ||
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| Preceded by David Moorcroft |
Men's 3.000m Best Year Performance 1983 |
Succeeded by Saïd Aouita |
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