Sydney Maree

Sydney Maree (born September 9, 1956) is a former middle distance runner who competed at the international level in the 1980s. He was born in Cullinan, South Africa,[2] but later became a U.S. citizen, running for the United States in various competitions.

Sydney Maree
Personal information
NationalitySouth African-American
Born (1956-09-09) September 9, 1956
Cullinan, South Africa
Sport
Country United States
 South Africa
SportAthletics/Track, Mid-distance running
Event(s)1500 meters, Mile, 5000 meters
College teamVillanova Wildcats
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)

Running career

Maree attended Villanova University, where he was eight-time NCAA All American, including once in cross country, thrice indoors, and four times outdoors;,[3] two-time NCAA champion in the 1500 meters (1980, 1981), distance medley relay (1980, 1981) and once in the 5000 meters (1979).[4] He also won the inaugural Fifth Avenue Mile in 1981 with 3:47.52, which remains the course record.

Maree's greatest success came in August 1983 when he broke Steve Ovett's world record over 1500 m at a meet in Cologne, clocking 3:31.24 min. Two years later, Maree set a new US record of 3:29.77 min; however, this was not a world record as a few weeks before Saïd Aouita had run 3:29.46. Maree was an excellent 5000-m runner, as well. In Oslo in 1985, he set a US record at 13:01.15 min. finishing just behind Aouita who set a world record.

Maree's personal bests include the aforementioned 3:29.77 for the 1500 meters (1985, the American Record for 20 years), 3:48.83 for the mile (1981), 4:54.20 in the 2000 meters (1985, then a US record), 7:33.37 for 3000 meters (1984, also then an American record, and the previously mentioned American record of 13:01.15 in the 5000 meters. He was USA's runner in the 5000 meters at the 1987 IAAF World Championships in Athletics (11th place) and the 1988 Olympic Games (where he finished in fifth place in the final).

Personal life

Maree is married with five children. In 1995 he moved back to South Africa, later forming the asset management group Franklin Zamani, in Johannesburg, of which he became the CEO.[5]

References


Records
Preceded by
Steve Ovett
Men's 1,500m World Record Holder
August 28, 1983 September 4, 1983
Succeeded by
Steve Ovett
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Dieter Baumann
Men's 3,000m Best Year Performance
1988
Succeeded by
Saïd Aouita


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