Polly Plumer
Encyclopedia
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 (Irvine, California). That distance is no longer run in high school competition since the NFHS converted to metric distances in 1980, but it its still an international record event. Her converted time is still superior to the best time achieved in the 1600 metres, the current equivalent distance, 4:33.82 by Chrisine Babcock. Coincidentally, Babcock ran for Woodbridge High School
also in Irvine, though she was born almost a decade after Plumer set the record. Only Jordan Hasay
's converted 1500 metres
time from the 2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
is considered marginally superior to Plumer's record.
A couple of weeks after setting the record, Plumer won her third consecutive championship in the 1600 metres at the CIF California State Meet
. Only Kira Jorgensen has duplicated that feat. Plumer's state meet record of 4:39.82 stood for 25 years, from 1982 to 2007, until being beaten by Babcock.
The University High School team of that time has been considered one of the best high school teams ever assembled. In 1981, Plumer was part of the team's course record at Mt. SAC
, the most commonly used course in Southern California, that stood for two decades. The team, including Plumer, Laura Sauerwein, Judy McLaughlin and Teresa Barrios continue to hold the national high school record for the 4x1500 meters relay at 18.52.5, set during the Mt. SAC Relays
in 1982.
Her older sister is PattiSue Plumer
, who ran collegiately for Stanford University
. After high school, Polly Plumer ran for UCLA, winning multiple All American Honors, despite suffering serious injuries. She ran in the 3000 metres at the 1988 Olympic Trials, finishing 10th in her heat, and the 1992 Olympic Trials, finishing 12th in her semi final in the 1500 and 10th in her semi final in the 3000. All three times she ran in the trials, her sister also ran and qualified for the Olympic team in those events. The alliterative
nature of both their names and their competition in the same events has led to confusion amongst some spectators. Polly is blonde while PattiSue has darker hair.
High School national records in track and field
This is a list of the national records in the sport of track and field at the United States high school level.While these records have been compiled for over 100 years, there are varying standards for these records. The National Federation of State High School Associations compiles records based...
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 (Irvine, California). That distance is no longer run in high school competition since the NFHS converted to metric distances in 1980, but it its still an international record event. Her converted time is still superior to the best time achieved in the 1600 metres, the current equivalent distance, 4:33.82 by Chrisine Babcock. Coincidentally, Babcock ran for Woodbridge High School
Woodbridge High School (Irvine, California)
Woodbridge High School is a public high school located in Irvine, California, serving grades 9-12. Founded in 1980, it has an approximate enrollment of 2,200 students. Woodbridge has many athletic teams which have participated in numerous competitions...
also in Irvine, though she was born almost a decade after Plumer set the record. Only Jordan Hasay
Jordan Hasay
Jordan Melissa Hasay is an American female middle-distance runner. She grew up in Arroyo Grande, attending Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. She was unanimously selected 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year by the voting panel at Track & Field News...
's converted 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...
time from the 2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
is considered marginally superior to Plumer's record.
A couple of weeks after setting the record, Plumer won her third consecutive championship in the 1600 metres at the CIF California State Meet
CIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
. Only Kira Jorgensen has duplicated that feat. Plumer's state meet record of 4:39.82 stood for 25 years, from 1982 to 2007, until being beaten by Babcock.
The University High School team of that time has been considered one of the best high school teams ever assembled. In 1981, Plumer was part of the team's course record at Mt. SAC
Mt. San Antonio College
Mt. San Antonio College is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut, California, 2.12 miles west of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ....
, the most commonly used course in Southern California, that stood for two decades. The team, including Plumer, Laura Sauerwein, Judy McLaughlin and Teresa Barrios continue to hold the national high school record for the 4x1500 meters relay at 18.52.5, set during the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
in 1982.
Her older sister is PattiSue Plumer
PattiSue Plumer
Patricia Susan "PattiSue" Plumer 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...
, who ran collegiately for 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...
. After high school, Polly Plumer ran for UCLA, winning multiple All American Honors, despite suffering serious injuries. She ran in the 3000 metres at the 1988 Olympic Trials, finishing 10th in her heat, and the 1992 Olympic Trials, finishing 12th in her semi final in the 1500 and 10th in her semi final in the 3000. All three times she ran in the trials, her sister also ran and qualified for the Olympic team in those events. The alliterative
Alliteration
In language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
nature of both their names and their competition in the same events has led to confusion amongst some spectators. Polly is blonde while PattiSue has darker hair.