PattiSue Plumer
Encyclopedia
Patricia Susan "PattiSue" Plumer (born April 27, 1962 in Covina, California
) is a retired American
long-distance runner who ran twice in the Summer Olympics. She ran first in 1988
in Seoul, South Korea where she finished 13th in the now defunct 3000 metres. In 1992
in Barcelona, Spain she ran in two events, the 1500 metres
, finishing 10th and the 3000 metres finishing 5th.
On July 3, 1989 she set the American record in the 5,000 metres at 14:59.99 at DN Galan
in Stockholm, Sweden, the first woman to beat one of Mary Decker
's sweep of all distance running American records during the 1980s. She won the 1990 Fifth Avenue Mile
, setting a course record which remains unbeaten.
After spending her youth in Newport Beach, California
she moved with her father to Ridgeway, Colorado during junior high school. Her senior year, she took third place in both the mile (5:10A) and the 2 mile (11:20A) at the Colorado State Meet while running for Montrose High School. Next she went to Stanford University
, where she won the 1984 NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
at 5000 meters and the NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship
s at two-miles in 1983. She has won multiple national titles at 3000 meters (1989, 1992 Olympic Trials) and 5000 meters (1990, 1991), and was a three-time runner-up in the 1500 meters. She won a gold medal in the 3000 metres and a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 1990 Goodwill Games
. Her successes were interspersed with injuries and setbacks, including a broken leg after being hit by a taxi in Yokohama, Japan, several bouts with pneumonia
, food poisoning at the Seoul Olympics, pregnancy and a dog bite at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics
. She won the inaugural edition of the Carlsbad 5000
in 1986.
She received her Juris Doctor
(J.D.) from Stanford Law School, she worked as a lawyer for several years and now coaches cross-country and track at Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California)
in Northern California.
Her younger sister Polly Plumer
, who remained in California, set the still standing national high school record in the mile at 4:35.24 in 1982 while running for University High School (Irvine, California).
Covina, California
Covina is a small city in Los Angeles County, California about east of downtown Los Angeles, in the San Gabriel Valley region. The population was 47,796 at the 2010 census, up from 46,837 at the 2000 census...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
long-distance runner who ran twice in the Summer Olympics. She ran first in 1988
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:...
in Seoul, South Korea where she finished 13th in the now defunct 3000 metres. In 1992
Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 43 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 19 by women. The competition ran from July 31, 1992 to August 9, 1992. Fourteen world record-holders were among the contenders...
in Barcelona, Spain she ran in two events, the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
, finishing 10th and the 3000 metres finishing 5th.
On July 3, 1989 she set the American record in the 5,000 metres at 14:59.99 at DN Galan
DN Galan
-External links:**...
in Stockholm, Sweden, the first woman to beat one of Mary Decker
Mary Decker
Mary Slaney is an American former track athlete. During her career, she won gold medals in the 1500 meters and 3000 meters at the 1983 World Championships, and set 17 official and unofficial world records and 36 US national records.-Biography:Mary Decker was born in Bunnvale, Hunterdon County, New...
's sweep of all distance running American records during the 1980s. She won the 1990 Fifth Avenue Mile
Fifth Avenue Mile
The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual road race in New York City. The race begins at East 80th Street and heads straight down Fifth Avenue to East 60th Street...
, setting a course record which remains unbeaten.
After spending her youth in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
she moved with her father to Ridgeway, Colorado during junior high school. Her senior year, she took third place in both the mile (5:10A) and the 2 mile (11:20A) at the Colorado State Meet while running for Montrose High School. Next she went to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where she won the 1984 NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA team champions for Women's Outdoor Track and Field-By school:-See also:*AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Outdoor Track and Field Champions*NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship...
at 5000 meters and the NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA team champions for Women's Indoor Track and Field-See also:*AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Indoor Track and Field Champions*NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship...
s at two-miles in 1983. She has won multiple national titles at 3000 meters (1989, 1992 Olympic Trials) and 5000 meters (1990, 1991), and was a three-time runner-up in the 1500 meters. She won a gold medal in the 3000 metres and a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 1990 Goodwill Games
1990 Goodwill Games
The 1990 Goodwill Games was the second edition of the international multi-sport event created by Ted Turner, which was held between July 20 and August 5, 1990. Following an inaugural edition in Moscow, the second games took place in Seattle, United States, highlighting the competition's role in...
. Her successes were interspersed with injuries and setbacks, including a broken leg after being hit by a taxi in Yokohama, Japan, several bouts with pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, food poisoning at the Seoul Olympics, pregnancy and a dog bite at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics
1991 World Championships in Athletics
The 3rd World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan between August 23 and September 1 and athletes from 167 countries participated in the event.The event is best-remembered for the...
. She won the inaugural edition of the Carlsbad 5000
Carlsbad 5000
The Carlsbad 5000 is an annual road running event over which is typically held in April in Carlsbad, California, United States.The event was first held in 1986 and is organized by the Competitor Group...
in 1986.
She received her Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(J.D.) from Stanford Law School, she worked as a lawyer for several years and now coaches cross-country and track at Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California)
Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California)
Los Altos High School, established in 1954, is a public school located in the affluent Silicon Valley suburb of Los Altos, California. It has generally demonstrated a high level of academic achievement...
in Northern California.
Her younger sister Polly Plumer
Polly Plumer
Polly Anne Plumer is the National High School record holder in the Mile run at 4:35.24, set in open competition at UCLA May 16, 1982 while a student at University High School . That distance is no longer run in high school competition since the NFHS converted to metric distances in 1980, but it...
, who remained in California, set the still standing national high school record in the mile at 4:35.24 in 1982 while running for University High School (Irvine, California).