This Day in Track & Field, October 25, Alberto Salazar wins second NYC Marathon (1981)

Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)

Deep Thoughts on the Grand Slam Track Kingston Meeting

NIKE and Faith Kipyegon announce the next “Moonshot”, an attempt to break the 4-minute threshhold by a woman!

Coffee with Larry, April 11, 2025, big weekend with European Road Championships and Arcadia Invitational !

This Day in Track & Field–October 25

1981–It was thought at the time that Alberto Salazar (2:08:13) and New Zealand’s Allison Roe (2:25:28) had set World Records at the NY City Marathon, but it was later determined that the course was short, a ruling that didn’t sit well with NY organizers, who argued that the course was measured accurately, based on the standards in place at the time. (See Coming Up Short link).

Alberto Salazar wins his second NYC Marathon, 1981, featured on cover of The Runner

It was the 2^nd win in a row for Salazar, while Norway’s Grete Waitz, the 3-time defending women’s champion, was forced to drop out after 15 miles with painful shin splints.

(The IAAF didn’t officially recognize World Records for road races, including the marathon, until 2004).

In September, 2021, Salazar lost his appeal of a 4-year ban imposed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for

violations of doping regulations during his career as a coach. He ultimately received a lifetime ban.

Other Notable Finishers:

Men: 2.Jukka Toivola (Finland/2:10:52), 3.Hugh Jones (GBR/2:11:00)…6.Tony Sandoval (2:12:12), 7.Rodolfo Gomez (Mexico/2:12:47)

Women: 2.Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway/2:30:08), 3.Julie Shea (2:30:11), 4.Laura Fogli (Italy/2:34:47)…9.Julie Brown (2:40:48).

Starters/Finishers: 14,496/13,223; Men: 13,411/11,466 , Women: 2,405/1,757

Top 25: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_New_York_City_Marathon

https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/26/sports/2-world-records-set-as-13360-finish-marathon.html

Full Race Videos

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9H8chvDg78

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hORTCxwPPkw

Salazar’s Finish(race director Fred Lebow is pulled to the sidelines by a policeman before breaking away to follow Salazar to the finish!) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1u97Ic_aQo

Short?-In-Depth Discussion: http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4272828

The Ban

https://www.usada.org/wp-content/uploads/Salazar-AAA-Decision-1.pdf

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-world-salazar/watchdog-will-take-close-look-at-usada-report-into-salazar-ban-coe-idUSKBN1WM003

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/06/sports/salazar-doping-nike-oregon-project.html

For RW Subscribers

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/g29323802/alberto-salazar-nike-oregon-project-doping/

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a29432537/nike-shuts-down-oregon-project/

Ban Upheld: https://www.si.com/track-and-field/2021/09/16/track-alberto-salazar-four-year-doping-ban-upheld-cas

Lifetime Ban: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/sports/alberto-salazar-sexual-assault.html