Lynn Jennings

Lynn Jennings is among the greatest-ever female distance runners in United States track history. Jennings was noted as a future star in high school and attended Princetonm but women’s collegiate track in that era did not have long enough distance races to cater to her talents and she left school feeling unfulfilled. After college, however, she competed for the United States at three Olympics Games, winning a bronze medal in the 1992 10,000 in an American record time of 31:19.89, and at four World Championships (1987, 1991, 1993, 1995), placing fifth in the 10K in 1991 and 1993 and sixth in 1987.

Jennings’ greatest international accomplishments came in cross-country. She ran in the International Cross-Country Championships eight times, winning the individual race three times consecutively (1990-92), placing second in 1986 and third in 1993. Her three consecutive titles in this event have only been matched by Norway’s Grete Waitz (who won four consecutively) and Kenya’s Edith Masai (who did it in the newer short-course event). Jennings also led the United States to a team victory in 1987, when she finished fourth individually.

On the track Jennings added a bronze medal in the 3,000 at the 1990 Goodwill Games and silver in the 3K at the 1995 World Indoors, after placing third in that event in 1993. She was a 10-time US champion on the track, winning the 5,000 in 1988, 1990, and 1996, and the 10K in 1987, 1991-93, 1995, and 1997-98. She was also ranked #1 in the USA nine times, in the 5,000 in 1988 and 1995-96, and in the 10,000 in 1987, 1991-93, 1995, and 1998. Jennings was world ranked six times in the 10,000, with a best of third in 1992, and ranking fifth in 1991 and 1993.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 15:07.92 (1990); 10000 – 31:19.89 (1992).