Francie Larrieu-Smith
Encyclopedia
Francis Ann "Francie" Larrieu Smith (November 23, 1952 in Palo Alto, California
) was an American
track and field athlete, flagbearer at the Barcelona 1992
for the United States of America. Larrieu-Smith was the first female American athlete to make five Olympic teams, a feat equaled in 2008 by swimmer Dara Torres
.
Since 1999 she is cross country coach at the Southwestern University
.
, graduating in 1970 before any school in California had women's track teams. She attended California State University, Long Beach
and UCLA. Starting with the 1500 metre title in 1970 at age 17, Larrieu won 21 National Championships and set 13 world indoor records and 35 American records in her career. At the U.S./USSR Indoor meet in 1975, she ran 4:28.5 for the mile run
, Indoors, which bettered the standing outdoor World Record at the time.
as a 19 year old running the 1500 metres when it was the longest distance race for women, and again in the 1976 Olympics
. She also qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
that did not participate due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. Her best performance was when she finished 5th at Women's 10000 metres
in Seoul 1988
and her final appearance was finishing 12th in the marathon
in Barcelona 1992
, where as the elder stateswoman of American Track and Field at age 39 she was selected to be the flagbearer in the opening ceremonies.
She was elected into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
in 1998. She was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame
in 1999. Runner's World
magazine named her "The Most Versatile runner of the Quarter Century."
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
track and field athlete, flagbearer at the Barcelona 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
for the United States of America. Larrieu-Smith was the first female American athlete to make five Olympic teams, a feat equaled in 2008 by swimmer Dara Torres
Dara Torres
Dara Grace Torres is an American international swimmer and a twelve-time Olympic medalist. Torres was the first swimmer from the United States to compete in five Olympic Games , and, at age 41, the oldest swimmer ever to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic team...
.
Since 1999 she is cross country coach at the Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
.
Early career
She is the younger sister of American Olympic distance runner Ron Larrieu. She started running at age 13 and ran for the San Jose Cindergals, one of the first youth track clubs for women. She attended Fremont High School (Sunnyvale, California)Fremont High School (Sunnyvale, California)
Fremont High School is a comprehensive, co-educational, public secondary school in Sunnyvale, California, United States. Fremont is currently the only open public high school located in the city of Sunnyvale and is part of the Fremont Union High School District .-History:Fremont was originally...
, graduating in 1970 before any school in California had women's track teams. She attended California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
and UCLA. Starting with the 1500 metre title in 1970 at age 17, Larrieu won 21 National Championships and set 13 world indoor records and 35 American records in her career. At the U.S./USSR Indoor meet in 1975, she ran 4:28.5 for the mile run
Mile run
The mile run is a middle-distance foot race which is among the more popular events in track running.The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races...
, Indoors, which bettered the standing outdoor World Record at the time.
Longevity
She is notable for one of the longest distance running careers, spanning from the 1972 OlympicsAthletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics
At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, 38 events in athletics were contested, 24 for men and 14 for women. There were a total number of 1324 participating athletes from 104 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
as a 19 year old running the 1500 metres when it was the longest distance race for women, and again in the 1976 Olympics
Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics
At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, 37 events were contested in athletics. There were a total number of 1006 participating athletes from 80 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:**...
. She also qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
that did not participate due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. Her best performance was when she finished 5th at Women's 10000 metres
Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's 10000 metres
The Women's 10,000m at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entrylist of 43 competitors, with two qualifying heats before the final took place on Friday September 30, 1988.-Records:...
in Seoul 1988
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
and her final appearance was finishing 12th in the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
in Barcelona 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, where as the elder stateswoman of American Track and Field at age 39 she was selected to be the flagbearer in the opening ceremonies.
She was elected into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
National Track and Field Hall of Fame
The National Track and Field Hall of Fame located within the Armory Foundation at 216 Fort Washington Avenue, between 168th and 169th Streets, in Washington Heights, in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is a museum operated by The Armory Foundation in conjunction with USA Track & Field...
in 1998. She was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame
National Distance Running Hall of Fame
The National Distance Running Hall of Fame was established on July 11, 1998, to honor those who have contributed to the sport of distance running...
in 1999. Runner's World
Runner's World
Runner's World is a globally circulated monthly magazine for runners of all skills sets, published by Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
magazine named her "The Most Versatile runner of the Quarter Century."
Achievements
| Representing the | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | World Championships 1987 World Championships in Athletics The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995... |
Rome, Italy | 15th | 10,000 m | 32:30.00 |
| 1988 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul a total number of 42 events in athletics were contested: 24 by men and 18 by women. There were a total number of 1617 participating athletes from 149 countries.-Men's events:... |
Seoul, South Korea | 5th | 10,000 m | 31:35.52 Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's 10000 metres The Women's 10,000m at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entrylist of 43 competitors, with two qualifying heats before the final took place on Friday September 30, 1988.-Records:... |
External Links
- California State Records before 2000
- Profile of Francie Larrieu-Smith at Sports Reference