Lorraine Mary Moller (born 1 June 1955) is a former athlete from New Zealand, who competed in track athletics and later specialised in the marathon. Moller's international career lasted over 20 years and included winning a silver medal in the marathon at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and a bronze medal in the marathon at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona at the age of 37. A four-time Olympian, she also completed the marathon at the 1984, 1988 and 1996 games. Her other marathon victories included the 1984 Boston Marathon and being a three-time winner (1986, 1987, 1989) of the Osaka International Ladies Marathon.
Early life Moller was born in Putāruru on 1 June 1955. She studied physical education at the University of Otago from 1973 to 1975, and subsequently worked as a teacher in the Bay of Plenty for two years.
Track career Moller's first international competition was the 1974 British Commonwealth Games at Christchurch, where she finished fifth in the 800 m. Her time of 2:03.63 was her lifetime best and is still the fastest ever by a New Zealand junior (under 20) woman.Athletics New Zealand Records: Best Performances
Although Moller ran her first marathon in 1979, there were no sanctioned marathons for females at an international athletics competition until 1984. Moller was instead selected for both the 1500 m and 3000 m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, winning bronze medals for both events.
In 1985 Moller broke the New Zealand 1500 m record, running 4:10.35 at Brussels. In 1986 at the Commonwealth Games, as well as the marathon (see below), she competed in the 3000 m, finishing fifth.
, Moller ranked in the all-time top ten in New Zealand for the 1500 m, mile, 3000 m and 5000 m. She also ranked 11th for the 10,000 m.
Personal bests Event Time Date Place 800 m 2:03.63 1974 Christchurch 1500 m 4:10.35 1985 Brussels Mile 4:32.97 1985 3000 m 8:51.78 1983 5000 m 15:35.75 1985 10000 m 32:40.17 1988 Marathon 2:28:17 1986 Edinburgh
Marathon career Moller ran her first marathon on 23 June 1979, winning Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota in 2:37:37. The time was the fastest ever by a New Zealander and the sixth-fastest ever run by a woman.Heidenstrom, P. (1992) Athletes of the Century. Wellington: GP Publications. She then won her next 7 marathons.
She was a triple winner of the Osaka Ladies Marathon, and in 1984 won the Boston Marathon.
All of Moller's appearances at the Olympic Games were in the marathon. Her full records are: 1984: 5th (2:28:34) 1988: 33rd (2:37:52) 1992: 3rd (2:33:59) 1996: 46th (2:42:21)
She also won the silver medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, running 2:28:17, her lifetime best.
In 2012 she was inducted into the Boulder (Colorado) Sports Hall of Fame. She has worked with the Lydiard Foundation and the Master Plan training system to share the lessons of running coach Arthur Lydiard.
Achievements Representing 1974Commonwealth GamesChristchurch, New Zealand5th800 m2:03.631979Grandma's Marathon Duluth, United States 1stMarathon2:37:371980Grandma's Marathon Duluth, United States 1stMarathon2:38:351981Grandma's Marathon Duluth, United States 1stMarathon2:29:351982Commonwealth GamesBrisbane, Australia 3rd1500 m4:12.67 3rd3000 m8:55.76London MarathonLondon, England 2ndMarathon2:36:151984Boston Marathon Boston, United States 1stMarathon2:29:28Olympic GamesLos Angeles, United States5thMarathon2:28:54 1986Osaka Ladies Marathon Osaka, Japan 1stMarathon2:30:24Commonwealth GamesEdinburgh, Scotland5th3000 m9:03.89 2ndMarathon2:28:17 1987Osaka Ladies Marathon Osaka, Japan 1stMarathon2:30:40World Championships Rome, Italy21st10,000 m34:07.261988Olympic GamesSeoul, South Korea33rdMarathon2:37:521989Osaka Ladies Marathon Osaka, Japan 1stMarathon2:30:21Hokkaido MarathonSapporo, Japan 1stMarathon2:36:391991Hokkaido MarathonSapporo, Japan 1stMarathon2:33:201992Olympic GamesBarcelona, Spain 3rdMarathon2:33:591996Olympic Games Atlanta, United States46thMarathon2:42:21
Honours and awards In 1990, Moller was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. In the 1993 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to athletics. In the 2026 New Year Honours, Moller was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to athletics.
Moller was inducted into the University of Otago School of Physical Education's wall of fame.
Personal life Moller moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1982. She was married to fellow Olympian Ron Daws whom she later divorced.STEVE HOAG, Running Minnesota blog, 28 January 2007, retrieved 20 April 2010Twists in the road: Moller's book recounts her struggles as marathoner, wife, Barbara Matson, The Boston Globe, 16 April 2009, retrieved 1 June 2024. She then married Harlan Smith and they have one daughter.
Author Moller, Lorraine. On the Wings of Mercury: The Lorraine Moller Story. 2007. Longacre Press. .Longacre Press
Audio interviews TheFinalSprint.com's Podcast Interview: "Lorraine Moller: Female running pioneer and Lydiard protégé: "Part 1" and "Part 2"
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