Craig Virgin

Craig Virgin ( Steven Craig Virgin, born August 2, 1955 in Belleville, Illinois ) is a former American long-distance runner.

Virgin grew up on his family's farm in the vicinity of Lebanon (Illinois ). A birth defect in his urinary bladder also had a life-threatening and could only be removed surgically, when he was a teenager. As a student at Lebanon High School he played basketball and then started on the recommendation of his coach, who recognized his talent perseverance, with the cross-country running at. As a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana -Champaign, he was 1975 NCAA champion in cross-country running. The following year, he qualified in the 10,000 m for the Olympic Games in Montreal, retired from there but in the flow.

In 1978 and 1979 he was national champion in the 10,000 m, the second time with the U.S. record of 27:39,4 minutes. In 1980 he won at the World Cross Country Championships. In the summer he presented 27:29,16 min on another U.S. record and was by Henry Rono, the second runner ever to undercut the 27:30 minute mark. The Olympic boycott of his country prevented participation in the Olympic Games in Moscow.

The following year, he defended his title at the World Cross Country Championships and finished second in the Boston Marathon. In 1982, he was the third time U.S. champion in the 10,000 m. In 1984 he qualified for the third time for the Olympics, but came at the Games in Los Angeles does not return the lead out.

In 1992 he finished his competitive sports career and now focused on which he founded sports marketing company Front Runner Inc. 1993 had to be surgically removed his right kidney. 1997, his car collided with a ghost rider. Virgin suffered such severe injuries that rehabilitation dragged on for several years.

Personal Best

  • 3000 m: 7:48,2 min, July 9, 1979 Berkeley
  • 5000 m: 13:19,1 min, July 15, 1980, Oslo
  • 10,000 m: 27:29,16 min, July 17, 1980, Paris
  • 10 - km road race: 28:03 min, July 4, 1981, Atlanta
  • Half Marathon: 1:02:31 h, January 27, 1980 New Orleans
  • Marathon: 2:10:27 h, April 20, 1981, Boston
Belleville (Illinois) Long-distance running Lebanon (Illinois) Cross country running National Collegiate Athletic Association Boston-Marathon Wrong-way driving 3000 metres Berkeley, California 5000 metres
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