Adrienne Beames

Adrienne Beames (born 7 September 1942 in Victoria, Australia[1]) is an Australian long-distance runner frequently credited as the first woman to break the 3-hour barrier in the marathon.[2][3] On 31 August 1971, Beames ran a 2:46:30 in Werribee, Victoria, Australia, shattering the previous women’s world best of 3:01:42 set three months earlier by US-American Beth Bonner at the AAU Eastern Regional Championships in Philadelphia.[2][4] According to some sources, this mark stood until 27 October 1974 when Chantal Langlacé ran 2:46:24 in Neuf-Brisach, France.[2]

Some sources question the validity of Beames’ run and indicate that it was Bonner who actually first broke three hours with a 2:55:22 at the New York City Marathon on 19 September 1971.[5] In the early 1970s, women's marathoning was met with deep hostility;[3][6][7] the 1500 meters was the longest track event officially recognized for women.[8] When Beames' attempts to officially enter a marathon were thwarted, she and her coach, Fred Warwick, organized an invitational event to be run over a certified course in Werribee.[3][8] Despite Warwick's request, the now defunct Victorian Women's Amateur Athletic Association refused to time the event.[8] Dismissed by the press as a "time trial", Beames performance was not officially verified or recognized.[3][6][9][10] The International Association of Athletics Federations, the international governing body for the sport of athletics, does not recognize the mark in their progression for the marathon world best.[11]

Beames was suspended by local officials in Sydney when she entered a race without their permission, thereby ending her hopes of competing in the 1972 Munich Olympics.[3] In the 1970s, she moved to the United States where she studied, worked, and competed on the American road racing circuit.[3][8] By 1973, Beames held women’s world bests in the 5000 and 10000 as well as the marathon.[12] Beames posted an official 2:46:32 at a marathon in Scottsdale, Arizona on 10 December 1977.[13] She won the inaugural Asics Half Marathon with a 1:22:15 on 23 July 1983.[14][15]

Adrienne Beames is the daughter of Australian rules footballer, first-class cricketer, and journalist Percy Beames.[8] She excelled in tennis and squash before taking up running.[8] In 1990, she earned a graduate diploma in sports science.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Australian All Time List Archived 24 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine., compiled by Paul Jenes - AA Statisticia, accessed June 2009
  2. 1 2 3 "Women's World Record Times - 1971 to 1977". Marathonguide.com. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Howe, Charles. "Out of the bushes, ahead of the ambulance, and into the spotlight: milestones in the history of women’s (mostly distance) running, Part I" (PDF). Rundynamics. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  4. ↑ http://www.arrs.net/MaraList/ML_1971.htm
  5. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=Kqc1SkRr9UwC&pg=PA290&lpg=PA290&dq=%22adrienne+beames%22&source=bl&ots=2CPxIuhGCV&sig=u22e8vm9kBFot6JwK8x21zHYIfA&hl=en&ei=vWEgSoCpEKWKtgPYscz4Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA291,M1
  6. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  7. ↑ http://www.marathonguide.com/history/olympicmarathons/chapter25.cfm
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 http://www.ultralegends.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/beames2.jpg
  9. ↑ http://www.arrs.net/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1971.htm
  10. ↑ http://www.cafyd.com/HistDeporte/htm/pdf/2-23.pdf - states that Beames was disqualified by the Australian Federation
  11. ↑ "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009." (PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. p. 653. Archived from the original (pdf) on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  12. ↑ benson.com Archived 14 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ http://www.arrs.net/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1977.htm - Beames was officially disqualifed for course cutting and second placed Sue Kinsey credited with winning
  14. ↑ Gold Coast Marathon Archived 30 December 2012 at Archive.is
  15. ↑ arrs.net
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