Colleen De Reuck
South African born American long-distance runner / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Colleen S. De Reuck (born 1964 in Vryheid, Kwazulu-Natal) is a long-distance runner from South Africa, who became an American citizen on 11 December 2000. She has had a long-lasting career, running in her forties, and made a total of four appearances at the Summer Olympics.
Personal information | |
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Full name | Colleen Stella De Reuck |
Nationality | ![]() ![]() |
Born | Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal |
Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) |
Weight | 47 kg (104 lb) |
Sport | |
Sport | Running |
Event(s) | cross country half marathon marathon |
She was a late bloomer and her first major success came in 1995 and 1996, when she won the Honolulu Marathon and the Berlin Marathon. Despite numerous appearances in the Summer Olympics and the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, medals never came on the track. By virtue of winning the Olympic Trials, she was also the 2004 United States National Champion in the Marathon.[1] Just ten days short of moving into the Masters division, she broke the 16-year-old Trials record, and defeated eventually Olympic bronze medalist, Deena Kastor in the process.[2]
After her transfer to compete for the United States in 2000 she won her first major world medals, taking the individual bronze and team silver at the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Another team bronze came at the following year's championships and she won at the 2004 and 2005 USA Cross Country Championships.
She continues to run and finished third at the Houston Half Marathon in 2009, finishing in 1:12:14.[3]