Miki Gorman, pioneer marathoner, dies

Pioneering marathoner Miki (Michio) Gorman has died. The Japanese-American runner was part of a group of women in the 1970s that changed the sport. Gorman won the Boston and New York City Marathons and set the women’s world record on two occasions, including her lifetime PB of 2:39:11. In 1976-77 she won back-to-back New York City Marathons at age 41 and 42. She also won Boston in 1974 and 1977. She is the last American woman to win the New York City Marathon.

Gorman died on Sept. 19 in Bellingham, Wash. at age 80. Her daughter Danielle Mika informed the public of her death in a blog post on Tuesday. She had lived in the Vancouver area over the last five years in order to be close to her daughter.