Celebrating the Women Pioneers of Long Distance Running
In recognizing Women’s History Month, the Ted Corbitt Archives announces the start of a one year project of highlighting women running history milestones on social media and running blogs.
The project will place emphasis on accomplishments of women runners before 1970 covering both middle and long distance races.
Julia Chase, Chris McKenzie, and Diane LeChausse, competed in the 1961 Manchester Thanksgiving Day road race. This was a transformative event where for the first time a group of women raced against men in the United States. In the early 1960s it was against Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) rules for women to run more than 1.5 miles. These women set the stage for today’s generation of runners.
Gary Corbitt
Curator: Ted Corbitt Archives
Historian: National Black Marathoners Association (NBMA)