Christa Vahlensieck

Christa Vahlensieck (née Kofferschläger; born 27 May 1949) is a German former long distance runner and pioneer in the marathon for women. During her running career, from 1973-1989, she simultaneously achieved a world record in the 10,000 metres, in the 25k road race and the marathon; she holds 17 German champion titles.[1]

Biography

On 28 October 1973, Vahlensieck became the first German woman to complete the marathon in under three hours (2:59:26), as a youth in a German Forestrun. She set another German record (2:53:00) at the Boston Marathon on 15 April 1974. Both times were also European bests.

In the same year, she won the Essen Marathon in 2:42:38. The time was not recognized as a world record because the course was 745 m too short.

On 3 May 1975, she succeeded at setting the world record at Dülmen with a time of 2:40:16. In the same year, she was the first German winner at the Schwarzwald Marathon in 2:45:43, a time that still stands as the course record.

On 10 September 1977, her victory at the Berlin Marathon in 2:34:48 gave her another world record.

At the 1983 World Championship in Helsinki she placed 19th (2:40:43).

From 1973 to 1989, she won 21 marathons, among them the 1977 Berlin Marathon, five times at the Košice Peace Marathon (1981, 1984, 1986 - 1988) and the 1989 Vienna Marathon. In 1988 Vahlensieck ran in the special event "Friendship Run Wuppertal-Košice", a course over 1765 km, trespassing the Iron curtain: "an awesome experience", as she remembers.[2]

Other Records
  • World record in the hour run: 16,872 meters, 24 May 1975 in Bochum
  • World record in the 10000 metres: 34:01.4, 20 August 1975 in Wolfsburg
  • World record in the 20000 metres: 1:10:50.2, 25 October 1975 in Essen
  • Four world records in 25km road race: 1:31:52, 23 March 1975 in Düren; 1:31:01, 13 September 1975 in Rheydt; 2 May 1976 in Ameln; 1:28:33, 22 November 1978 in Griesheim
  • World record in the Marathon: 2:40:15.8, 3 May 1975 in Dülmen; 2:34:47.5 10 September 1977 in Berlin
  • German Record in 100km run: 7:50:37, 4 September 1976 in Unna

She won 11 West German national titles:

  • in Marathon: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980
  • in 25 Kilometer Road race: 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980
  • in 15-Kilometer Road race: 1988
  • in Cross country 1978

Achievements
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing  West Germany
1977 Berlin Marathon Berlin, West Germany 1st Marathon 2:34:48
1982 Osaka Ladies Marathon Osaka, Japan 3rd Marathon 2:34:42
1983 World Championships Helsinki, Finland 19th Marathon 2:40:43
New York City Marathon New York City, United States 6th Marathon 2:35:59
1986 California International Marathon Sacramento, United States 1st Marathon 2:39:31
New York City Marathon New York City, United States 9th Marathon 2:38:12
1989 Vienna Marathon Vienna, Austria 1st Marathon 2:34:47

References
  1. "Online portal 'Leichtathletik' 'Was macht eigentlich Christa Vahlensieck?' (By the way, how is Christa Vahlensieck doing?)" (in German). Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  2. "Westdeutsche Zeitung, May 26th 2009, 'Lauflegende Christa Vahlensieck: "Doping kannten wir nicht" (Running Legend Christa Vahlensieck: "Doping we didn't know"" (in German). Retrieved 13 June 2016.
Records
Preceded by
Liane Winter		 Women's Marathon World Record Holder
3 May 1975 – 12 October 1975		 Succeeded by
Jacqueline Hansen
Preceded by
Chantal Langlacé		 Women's Marathon World Record Holder
10 September 1977 – 22 October 1978		 Succeeded by
Grete Waitz
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