Miki Gorman did not lift her arms when she crossed the finish line first at the New York City marathon in 1976. She didn't have the strength.
"I used up all my energy," said Ms. Gorman, who left Japan in 1964 and became an American citizen a few years later. Crowds cheered Ms. Gorman to two straight victories in 1976 and 1977. And then they never witnessed an American woman win the race again.
"Isn't that ridiculous?" said Ms. Gorman recently by phone, now 75 years old and living in Canada. "I can't believe it."
It has been 32 years since an American woman won the ING New York City marathon, a fact that baffles not only Ms. Gorman, but the race organizers, as well.
"It's got to be one of the longest-standing streaks in athletics I can think of," said New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. "For a major marathon like ours not to have an American winner for women since 1977 is a bit surprising."
An initially promising field this year has been whittled down. READ ON
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