Alysia Montaño

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Alysia Montaño
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Montaño at the 2010 World Indoor Championships in Athletics.
Personal information
Nationality American
Born (1986-04-23) April 23, 1986 (age 37)
Queens, New York
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Sport
Sport Running
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) 400m: 52.09
800m: 1:57.34

Alysia Montaño (née Johnson) (born April 23, 1986) is an American middle distance runner. She is a six-time USA Outdoor champion 2007 (1:59.47), 2010 (1:59.87), 2011 (1:58.33); 2012 (1:59.08); 2013 (1:58.67); 2015 (1:59.15).[1] She perhaps gained more notoriety for the 2014 that she did not win. In fact, she finished dead last in the field, running 2:32.13 while 8 months pregnant. She has represented the United States at numerous international championships including the 2012 Olympics. She distinguishes herself by wearing a flower in her hair while running, a personal affectation she adopted to assert her femininity while training with men.

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“My life philosophy has been to be bold and courageous"

— Alysia Montaño[2]

On the international level she has exhibited a bold, front running style, challenging other runners to keep up with her.

At the 2012 Olympics, Montaño finished in fifth place. In November 2015, the World Anti-Doping Agency recommended two Russian women who finished in first and third be given lifetime bans for their doping violations at the Olympics.[3] The International Olympic Committee has not yet issued any disqualifications. If the IOC does disqualify the two athletes and advances the other finishers, Montaño could be awarded the bronze medal.[4]

Career

As Alysia Johnson, she had a spectacular career at Canyon High School in Santa Clarita, California, culminating in winning the 800 meters at the CIF California State Meet in 2004.[5] That year she was ranked #10 in the nation and finished fourth at the Golden West Invitational, a meet that proclaims itself to be a National championship of High School Track and Field.[6]

At the University of California, Berkeley she continued to improve. By 2006 she finished 3rd at the NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, setting personal bests three times during the competition. 2007 put her on the national stage, winning the NCAA Indoor Championship, the Outdoor Championship and breaking the 2 minute barrier.[7]

At the 2007 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Montaño won her first national title in the 800 m with a time of 1:59.47. At the 2007 World Athletics Championships, Montaño was eliminated in the heats of the 800 m by finishing 4th with a time of 2:02.11.[8]

At the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, Montaño won her first international medal, a bronze, in the 800 m, finishing with a personal best time of 1:59.60.[9] At the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Montaño won the 800 m title in a time of 1:58.33 to defend her 2010 crown. She placed fourth at that year's World Championships in Daegu with her second fastest time of 1:57.48 minutes.

She came close to a personal best at the 2012 Prefontaine Classic, winning the 800 m in 1:57.37 minutes.[10]

Won 2013 Milrose Games 600 meters and set American Indoor Record in 1:23.59 on 16 February.[11][12]

Won 2013 Penn Relays 4 x 800 meters and set American Outdoor Record in 8:04.31 on April 27.[13] Lea Wallace (2:02.0), Brenda Martinez (2:00.6), Ajee' Wilson (2:03.1), Alysia Montano (1:58.6).

Major Competition record

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  United States
2006 NACAC U23 Championships Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1st 800 m 2:03.87
2007 Pan American Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 6th 800 m 2:02.57
World Championships Osaka, Japan 29th (h) 800 m 2:02.11
2010 World Indoor Championships Doha, Qatar 3rd 800 m 1:59.60
2011 World Championships Daegu, South Korea 4th 800 m 1:57.48
2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 5th 800 m 1:57.93
2013 World Championships Moscow, Russia 4th 800 m 1:57.95
2015 World Relay Championships Nassau, Bahamas 1st 4×800 m relay 8:00.62 (AR)
World Championships Beijing, China 41st (h) 800 m 2:09.57

Personal bests

As of June 2, 2013.
Event Time Venue Date
400 m (outdoor) 52.09 Nuoro July 14, 2010
600 m (indoor) 1:23.59 AR New York February 16, 2013
800 m (outdoor) 1:57.34 Monaco July 22, 2010
800 m (indoor) 1:59.60 Doha March 14, 2010

Pregnant racing

Alysia garnered attention in June 2014 by competing in the USATF's USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships while eight months pregnant. She finished last in a field of 29 in the 800 meters preliminaries in 2:32.13.[14][15] She gave birth to Linnea Dori Montaño on August 15, 2014.[16] A year later in June 2015, Alysia returned and won the 800 meters final of the US Trials and was qualified to the World Athletics Championships 2015 in Beijing.

References

External links