Diane Leather

Diane Leather

Diane Leather (born 7 January 1933, Streetly, West Midlands) is the first woman to run a mile in less than 5 minutes. Representing the Birchfield Harriers, Leather broke the 5 minute barrier with a time of 4 minutes and 59.6 seconds, during the Midlands Women's AAA Championships at Birmingham's Alexander Sports Ground[1][2] on 29 May 1954 - just 23 days after Roger Bannister became the first ever man to run a sub 4 minute mile. In 1955, Diane broke the mile record by a further 15 seconds, achieving her personal best of 4:45. This mile record remained untouched for a further 7 years until Marise Chamberlain ran a 4:41.4 in 1962. It was not until after 1967 that the IAAF started recognising women's world records at this distance.

Leather's trainer was Mrs Nelson Neal.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=9168
  2. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics-50-years-ago-roger-bannister-became-a-sporting-legend-with-his-fourminute-mile-why-is-his-female-equivalent-just-seen-as-an-alsoran-560512.html
  3. ^ "Almost the 5 Minute Mile". British Pathe. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=31891. Retrieved 11 November 2011. 

External links


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