Kathy Gibbons
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 1, 1954 |
| Died | January 13, 1982 Boulder, Colorado, U.S. |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event | 10000 meters |
Kathy Gibbons (later Kathy Gibbons Jackson) (August 1, 1954 – January 13, 1982) was a world record holder in the women's 10,000 meters.
Early life
Gibbons attended Alhambra High School Phoenix, Arizona, then Northern Arizona University, and then Arizona State University, where she completed a master's degree in exercise physiology.[1]
Athletics career
Gibbons recorded one world record in the women's 10,000 metres of 34:51.0 on 12 June 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona.[2]
Gibbons is also credited with the first world best time (according to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians) in the women's half marathon. She recorded a time of 1:23:56 in Phoenix, Arizona on the 7 March 1971.[3][4]
Gibbons achieved the following results at the United States outdoor track and field championships:
- First in the 1500 m in 1971.
- Third in the 1500 m in 1972.
- Second in both the 1 mile and 2 miles in 1973.
Gibbons was also champion at the mile in the 1970 United States indoor championships.
Later life and death
After college, Gibbons was a teacher and coach at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona and then a coach at the University of Colorado. Gibbons was killed in 1982 after being struck by a vehicle while running in Colorado.[5][6]
In 1982, the Kathy Gibbons Jackson Memorial Scholarship was established in her honor at Arizona State University.[7]
In 1987, Gibbons was elected to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.[8]
In 2013, Gibbons was elected to the Phoenix 10K and Marathon Hall of Fame.[9]
References
- ^ "Forever Five: Finding Alhambra High School's all-time greatest athletes". eu.azcentral.com.
- ^ Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p. 553.
- ^ "Kathy Gibbons Jackson". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Sayer, Amber (January 24, 2024). "What's The Fastest Half Marathon Time Ever? Progression Of The Half Marathon World Record". Marathon Handbook. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ "Top Distance Runner Killed in Colorado". Arizona Daily Sun. January 14, 1982. p. 3.
- ^ "Top 20 all-time Arizona girls high school track and field athletes". eu.azcentral.com.
- ^ "Kathy Gibson Jackson Memorial Scholarship". chs.asu.edu.
- ^ "Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Members". Arizona Sports and Entertainments Commission. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ "50th Annual Phoenix 10k & Marathon: ARIZONA RUNNER'S HALL OF FAME". Phoenix 10K and Marathon. Retrieved November 2, 2025.