Violet Piercy

Violet Piercy was an English long-distance runner who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set the first women's world best in the marathon on October 3, 1926 with a time of 3:40:22.^{[1] [nb 1]} Piercy was reported to have run unofficially^[4] and her mark was set on the Polytechnic Marathon course between Windsor and London.^{[5][nb 2]}

According to the IAAF, Piercy's mark stood 37 years until Merry Lepper's 3:37:07 performance at the Western Hemisphere Marathon on December 16, 1963.^{[1][nb 3]}

Notes

1. ^ The marathon world record progression of the Association of Road Running Statisticians includes Piercy, however, it notes Marie-Louise Ledru of France as the first woman.^[2] According to the ARRS, Ledru ran 5:40:xx at the Tour de Paris Marathon held on September 29, 1918.^[3]
2. ^ A number of sources, including Kathrine Switzer, have reported that the venue for Piercy's mark was the actual Polytechnic Marathon;^[6] however, records from the Association of Road Racing Statisticians confirm that the 1926 Polytechnic Marathon was held on May 18th.^[7] The course for the Polytechnic Marathon did vary over the years^[8] and there is currently very little information available to state exactly which route was run by Piercy. Although the IAAF progression notes the location for her performance as "Chiswick",^[1] the Polytechnic Marathon did not end in Chiswick until 1938.^[8] Prior to 1933, the Polytechnic Marathon ended at Stamford Bridge in West London.^[8] An ESPN reference does note Stamford Bridge as the location where Piercy's run finished.^[9]
3. ^ According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, the course for the Western Hemisphere Marathon was short in 1962 and 1963.^[10] The ARRS also notes the date of the race as December 14, 1963.^[10][11]

References