Gerry Davidson
Encyclopedia
Gerry Davidson was an American long distance runner from Fallbrook, California
. She is the current world record holder
in the W85 Mile run (and previously in the W80 division). She is also the American record holder
in most W80 and W85 track events from the 400 metres
through the 10,000 metres and several road running records going back to 1991 when she was 70 years old.
Davidson first took up jogging for exercise when she moved to Fallbrook in the 1970s. It was the era of the running boom of the 1970s
and the thing to do. Eventually she took on competitive running by entering the annual L'eggs Mini-Marathon
in nearby San Diego. That was the only race she did for several years until it was discontinued. The competitive bug had bitten, she became a fixture in the local running scene, has run in marathon
s coast to coast and began running in the sport of masters athletics.
It was coincidental that she set her Mile world record on the same day that Alan Webb
broke Jim Ryun
's fabled high school mile record. She died in Seal Beach, California
on August 5, 2011.
Fallbrook, California
Fallbrook is an unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. The Fallbrook census-designated place population was 30,534 at the 2010 census, up from 29,100 at the 2000 census....
. She is the current world record holder
Masters Athletics World Records
These are the current world records in the various age groups of Masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
in the W85 Mile run (and previously in the W80 division). She is also the American record holder
United States records in masters athletics
These are the current American records in the various age groups of masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
in most W80 and W85 track events from the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
through the 10,000 metres and several road running records going back to 1991 when she was 70 years old.
Davidson first took up jogging for exercise when she moved to Fallbrook in the 1970s. It was the era of the running boom of the 1970s
Running boom of the 1970s
At the 1972 Summer Olympics, American long distance runner Frank Shorter won the 1972 Olympic Marathon. He was the third American to win the Olympic marathon, but the first event since 1908. The victory was covered by ABC, including dramatic coverage of the finish, when a German imposter ran into...
and the thing to do. Eventually she took on competitive running by entering the annual L'eggs Mini-Marathon
L'eggs Mini-Marathon
The L'eggs Mini-Marathon was a series of women only 10 kilometer road races held in the 1970s and 1980s, sponsored by the L'eggs hosiery company. The race grew from a small single event in 1972 into a national series with the sponsorship...
in nearby San Diego. That was the only race she did for several years until it was discontinued. The competitive bug had bitten, she became a fixture in the local running scene, has run in 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...
s coast to coast and began running in the sport of masters athletics.
It was coincidental that she set her Mile world record on the same day that Alan Webb
Alan Webb (athlete)
Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:...
broke Jim Ryun
Jim Ryun
James Ronald Ryun is an American former track athlete and politician, who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007, representing the 2nd District in Kansas. In the 2006 election, Ryun was defeated by Democratic challenger Nancy Boyda...
's fabled high school mile record. She died in Seal Beach, California
Seal Beach, California
-Neighborhoods:Seal Beach encompasses the Leisure World retirement gated community with roughly 9,000 residents. This was the first major planned retirement community of its type in the U.S...
on August 5, 2011.