Patti Catalano Dillon (née Lyons, April 6, 1953) is a former long-distance runner from the United States who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set world bests in the half marathon, 30 kilometers, and 20 kilometers.[1][2][nb 1]

Early life

She grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts, in the working-class Houghs Neck neighborhood, the eldest of nine children. Her father was a second-generation Irish immigrant from Dorchester and an all-Navy boxer. Her mother, a Mi'kmaw woman, had run away from home in Nova Scotia when she was 11 and wound up in Quincy working as a nanny after lying about her age.[3]

Running career

Catalano has held the World Record in the marathon and American road records in the marathon, half marathon, 30 kilometers, 15 kilometers, 10 miles, and 5 mile (now 8 kilometers).[2][4] Described as "one of the most dominating American female road runners of the 1970s" and "the queen of U.S. women distance runners", she was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 2006.[2][5][6]

Catalano won five of the first six runnings of the Ocean State Marathon (1976-1979, 1981)[7][nb 2] and four consecutive at the Honolulu Marathon (1978-1981).[8] Included among the many races she has won are the Montreal International Marathon (1980), Crim 10 miler (1980, 1981), the Crescent City Classic 10 km (1980, 1981), and the Rio de Janeiro Marathon (1985).[9][10][11][12][nb 3]

Catalano won the Rio de Janeiro Marathon despite getting food poisoning. This was one of her final marathons.

Achievements

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing the  United States
1978 Honolulu Marathon Honolulu, Hawaii 1st Marathon 2:43:10
1979 Honolulu Marathon Honolulu, Hawaii 1st Marathon 2:40:07
1980 New York Marathon New York, New York 2nd Marathon 2:29:33
Honolulu Marathon Honolulu, Hawaii 1st Marathon 2:35:26
1981 Boston Marathon Boston, United States 2nd Marathon 2:27:52
Houston Marathon Houston, United States 1st Marathon 2:35:28
Eugene Marathon Eugene OregonNike-OTC 3rd Marathon 2:37:09
Honolulu Marathon Honolulu, Hawaii 1st Marathon 2:33:24

Personal life

In 1992, Catalano married the love of her life, Danny Dillon.[15] Dillon was a Big East champion in the 3,000 meters and a cross country All-American at Providence College.[16] As of 2003, they live in New London, Connecticut, with their two children. Catalano won Best in Show with a French Lop at the Pennsylvania Rabbit Convention.[17]

Notes

  1. ↑ The International Association of Athletics Federations credits Catalano's 20 kilometers performance as "Patty Lyons", her maiden name. Various sources report that she also held a world record in the 5 mile; however, the IAAF currently does not recognize a world record or world best at that distance.[1]
  2. ↑ According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, Catalano posted a 2:33:31 in the 1981 race but "ran in a special division due to questions regarding her amateur status. Mary Hynes was the official winner of the women's division in 2:52:12."[7]
  3. ↑ Unlike the International Association of Athletics Federations, the Association of Road Racing Statisticians recognizes Catalano as having set a world best in the marathon with her 2:30:57.1 performance at the Montreal International Marathon on September 6, 1980.[13] The IAAF progression includes two earlier marks from Grete Waitz, including a 2:27:33 performance at the 1979 New York City Marathon, which were set on a course that in 1981 was reported to be short.[1][14]

References

General
  • Jennes, Gail (April 20, 1981), "In the Long Run, Patti Catalano Aims to Be the Best in the World", People, retrieved May 25, 2010
  • Pileggi, Sarah (October 27, 1980), "No.1 Is No.2...and Closing", Sports Illustrated, archived from the original on 2012-11-02, retrieved May 25, 2010
  • Scherman, Tony (April 10, 1983), "Marathoner Patti Catalano: Off and Running Again", Family Weekly, pp. 10, 13, retrieved May 25, 2010
  • Steutermann Rogers, Kim (October 2003), "Dancing Through Life - Patti Dillon Today: Looking Forward, Looking Back", Running Times Magazine, retrieved May 25, 2010
Specific
  1. 1 2 3 "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009" (PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. p. 652. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Patti Catalano Dillon". Utica, NY: National Distance Running Hall of Fame. 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Patti Catalano - Running For Her Life".
  4. ↑ "USA Record Progressions- Road". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  5. ↑ Benyo, Richard; Henderson, Joe (2002). "C: Cabrera, Delfo to Curp, Mark". Running Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Source for Today's Runner. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics. p. 58. ISBN 9780736037341.
  6. ↑ "Seko Clocks A Boston Record". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AP. April 21, 1981. p. 19. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Ocean State Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Honolulu Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Montreal International Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Crim Road Race 10 mile". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Crescent City Classic 10 km". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Rio de Janeiro Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  13. ↑ "World Best Progressions- Road". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  14. ↑ "New York City Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  15. ↑ Preer, Robert (November 30, 2003), "Running For Her Life", The Boston Globe (Boston.com), retrieved May 25, 2010
  16. ↑ "Providence College Friars Official Athletic Site - Men's Track". www.friars.com. Archived from the original on 2000-02-04.
  17. ↑ "Introducing Patti". (Website of) Patti Catalano Dillon. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
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