American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
long-distance runner
Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength.
Within endurance ru ...
, winner of major marathons and top finisher in dozens of road races, as well as a competitor at the 1987 World Marathon Cup and fourth-place finisher at the
Havana, Cuba
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.1991 Pan American Games women's marathon. Ettle was a five-time competitor at the US Olympic Marathon Trials.
Professional career
In 1980, she won the Las Vegas Celebrity Sun Marathon in 2:47:50. In 1982, Ettle won
Grandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon (sport), Marathon (Grandma's) is an annual Road running, road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the city of Two Harbors, Minnesota, Two Harbor ...
in
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth ( ) is a Port, port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County, Minnesota, St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population ...
in 2:41:21. She also came in second in the
Honolulu Marathon
The Honolulu Marathon (branded JAL Honolulu Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is a marathon (26.2 miles or 42.2km) in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was first held on December 16, 1973, and it typically takes places on the second Sunday in December. The ma ...
that year (2:43:46). The same year, she won the
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario and the second most populous (after Greater Sudbury) municipality in Northern Ontario. Its population i ...
Half Marathon (1:15:50), and the Dallas 20K (1:13:48).
Between 1986 and 1990, Ettle finished in the top five for the woman's US National Championship in the marathon.
In 1984, Ettle finished sixth in the first woman's United States Olympic marathon trials, in 2:33:41, just ahead of Nancy Ditz. It was the 18th best marathon time by a US woman.
Joan Benoit
Joan Benoit Samuelson (born May 16, 1957) is an American marathon runner who was the first women's Olympic Games marathon champion, winning the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She held the fastest time for an American wo ...
, who won the race, later won the gold medal in the event at the Olympics.
She ran in four more US Olympic Marathon Trials. In 1992, she finished 10th; and 20th in 1988.
In 1984, Ettle won the
Freihofer's Run for Women
The Delightful® Run for Women (formerly Freihofer's Run for Women) is an annual five-kilometer road running competition for women that is usually held in late May or early June in Albany, New York, United States. First held in 1979, the race has ...
. Also in 1984, Ettle came in third at the Philadelphia Distance Classic Half Marathon, a race with 7,300 runners. She ran a 1:12:01, finishing behind
Joan Benoit
Joan Benoit Samuelson (born May 16, 1957) is an American marathon runner who was the first women's Olympic Games marathon champion, winning the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She held the fastest time for an American wo ...
Twin Cities Marathon
The Twin Cities Marathon is a marathon in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area which normally takes place the first weekend in October. The race is often called "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America" due to a course that winds through down ...
Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
, when she posted the ninth best time that year in the United States for women: 2:35:47.
In 1986, Ettle ran and won the Alaska 10-K Classic, a race that offered a showdown of many top American runners, including
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar (born August 7, 1958) is an American former track coach and long-distance runner. Born in Cuba, Salazar immigrated to the United States as a child with his family, living in Connecticut and then in Wayland, Massachusetts, where ...
and
Don Clary
Donald Gene Clary Jr. (born July 29, 1957) is an American former long-distance runner who competed mainly in 5000 meters and cross country running. He represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics and competed three times at the IAAF ...
, who won for the men and said "if Janice wouldn't have been here, I couldn't have done it." She finished in 33:43. The next month, on route to a fifth-place finish in the Twin Cities Marathon, just missed getting hit by a car on Summit Avenue in
St. Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 311,527, making it Minnesota's second-most populous city a ...
. Unfortunately, Laura Albers was struck. Ettle witnessed her skid on the ground, get up, and keep running to finish sixth.
The year 1987 saw Ettle compete on the global stage at the 1987 World Marathon Cup, where she finished first for the American women and 14th overall in a time of 2:37:02.
She earned a trip to
Havana, Cuba
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.1991 Pan American Games women's marathon on the US team, and she finished fourth in 2:49:22. The US took second overall in the competition.
She was also a winner of many other 10K, 5K, 10-mile races, as well as marathons and half marathons, including the North Country Marathon in
Walker
Walker or The Walker may refer to:
People
*Walker (given name)
*Walker (surname)
*Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer
Places
In the United States
*Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County
*Walker, Mono County, California
* ...
, Minnesota, the City of Lakes 25K run. Ettle won the City of Lakes 25K twice, in 1985 (1:29:12) and 1992 (1:32:49).
Ettle qualified for and raced in the 1992 United States Olympic Trials for the 10,000 meter race.
Early and personal life
Ettle grew up in
Stearns County
Stearns County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,292. Its county seat and largest city is St. Cloud.
Included within the Minnesota Territory since 1849, the county was founded by Europe ...
, Minnesota. She began running in 1974 and set girl’s high school records in the state. The high school sports association named her the 1977 Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
She graduated from Albany High School in 1977. Instead of moving away to college, she went to
Alexandria Technical and Community College
Alexandria Technical and Community College is a public community college in Alexandria, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (Minnesota State) system. Approximately 3,700 students are enrolled, 41% ...
. She became a medical laboratory technician.
Later in life she coached and assisted many emerging runners in Minnesota. She is known for her kindness and mental toughness. Ettle has been inducted into the Albany High School Hall of Fame and the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...
Track and Field Hall of Fame. Ettle later lived near Minneapolis where she worked as a dental hygienist.