Craig Steven Virgin (born August 2, 1955) is an American distance runner. He was born in Belleville, Illinois and grew up near Lebanon, Illinois. While in high school, Virgin won 5 state championships as well as setting the national outdoor 2-mile record of 8:40.9 (beating Steve Prefontaine's mark of 8:41.5, though slightly short of Gerry Lindgren's 8:40.0 indoor record from 1964).
While attending the University of Illinois, he won nine Big Ten Conference championships as well as the 1975 NCAA Cross Country championship. He was a three time Olympic qualifier at 10,000 meters. He was a seven time American record holder in road and track events, including a 27:39.4 in the 10,000 meters in 1979 (breaking Prefontaine's American record) and a 27:29.16 in 1980 that was the second fastest 10,000 meters in history at the time.
Virgin was a three time winner of the 10K Peachtree Road Race (1979-1981), a three time national champion in the 10,000 meters at the U.S. National Track & Field Championships (1978, 1979, and 1982) and the winner of the 1980 Olympic Trials 10,000 meters. He enjoyed success in the few marathons he ran, his fastest time coming in a 2nd place finish in the 1981 Boston Marathon (2:10:26). His biggest accomplishment was being the first (and still only) American man to win the IAAF World Cross Country Championships; which he did twice, in 1980 and 1981. He retired from competitive racing in 1992. In 2001, he was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. During his professional career he ran for the Saint Louis Track Club.
Despite his obvious running talents, Olympic success eluded Virgin. He was eliminated in the 10,000-metre heats at both the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics (see, for example, Matti Hannus, ed., "Montreal Olympic Book" / Montreal Olympiakirja, Helsinki: "Runner" / Juoksija magazine, 1976; "The Big Olympic Book" / Suuri Olympiateos, volume 4, published in Finland in 1984).
Personal Bests
- 5,000 Meters - 13:19
- 10,000 Meters - 27:29
- Marathon - 2:10:26
References
- National Distance Running Hall of Fame - Craig Virgin
- http://www.activeness.WOAGnet/2006/03/going-distance-catching-up-with-craig.html
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