The Nike OTC Marathon (sometimes styled "Nike/Oregon Track Club Marathon") was a

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There ...

held annually from 1973 to 1984 in

Eugene, Oregon Eugene ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the McKenzie River (Oregon), McKenzie and Willamette River, Willamette rivers, ...

. It was organized by the

Oregon Track Club The Oregon Track Club (OTC) is an American running organization based in Eugene, Oregon. History Emerald Empire Athletic Association Formed by Bill Bowerman, the Emerald Empire Athletic Association (EEAA) was the predecessor to the Oregon Track C ...

(OTC) and sponsored by

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine giv ...

. The women's world record for the marathon was set at the Nike OTC Marathon by

Jacqueline Hansen Jacqueline Hansen (born November 20, 1948) is a former long-distance runner from the United States who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world best in the marathon on two occasions. Biography ...

, who ran 2:38:19 in 1975. The American women's marathon record was broken four times at the Nike OTC Marathon in the 1970s and 1980s, by Jacqueline Hansen (2:38:19 in 1975), Kim Merritt (2:37:57 in 1977),

Julie Brown Julie Ann Brown (born August 31, 1958) is an American actress, comedian, musician, writer, and director. Early life Brown was born in Van Nuys, California, the daughter of Celia Jane (née McCann) and Leonard Francis Brown. Her father worked ...

(2:36:23 in 1978), and

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 ...

(2:26:11 in 1982). The

Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by eight cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was ins ...

is the only other race that has been the venue for more than three American women's marathon records.

Winners

Transition to 25K distance

''National Masters News'', self-described as the "official world and U.S. publication for Masters track & field, long distance running and race walking", reported in its 123rd issue in November 1988 that the race in Eugene that had formerly been the Nike Marathon became the Nike/OTC 25K as the course changed to a 25K in 1985 after Nike withdrew its prize money. In September 1988, Israeli Olympian

Shem-Tov Sabag Shem-Tov "Shemi" Sabag; later known by the surname Sagiv (; born April 13, 1959) is an Israeli former Olympic marathoner, former triathlon coach, and currently a chiropractor. He competed for Israel at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He ...

won the Nike/OTC (Nike/Oregon Track Club) 25K, with a time of 1:20:26, in what was to be the last running of the race, as Nike ended its sponsorship."Final Running of NlKE/OTC 25K,"
''National Masters News'', November 1988, issue 133, p. 7.

Notes

References

{{reflist, 30em 1973 establishments in Oregon 1984 disestablishments in Oregon Annual events in Eugene, Oregon Marathons in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1973 Sports competitions in Oregon Sports in Eugene, Oregon

Winners

Transition to 25K distance

Notes

See also

References