USATF Foundation Ultimate Art Auction spotlights Mary Slaney, American distance running legend

INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Foundation has announced Mary Slaney will be among the distance running greats that will appear on a commissioned piece of art entitled, "Running Legends: A Signature Piece," honoring 12 of the greatest living American distance runners of all time. All proceeds from the auction will benefit USA Track & Field Foundation grant programs for emerging elite athletes and youth clubs.

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In addition to Mary, the piece created by renowned artist Roald Bradstock, includes the likenesses and original signatures of Joan Benoit Samuelson, Frank Shorter, Billy Mills, Bill Rogers, Jim Ryun, Dave Wottle, Steve Scott, Bob Schul, Alberto Salazar, Lynn Jennings and Craig Virgin.

Interested parties may bid on ebay.com beginning Friday, June 18 at 1:30 PM EST and ending on Sunday, June 27 at 1:30 PM EST, the last day of the Outdoor National Championships in Des Moines, IA. Please insert item number “130397667863” into the search box to access the auction web page.

Additionally, 25 limited edition prints (also with original signatures) will be available for purchase for $2,500. Interested parties may contact USATF Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic at tom.jackovic@usatf.org or (412) 398-2484 for more information.

MARY SLANEY BIOGRAPHY:

Date of Birth: August 4, 1958
USATF Hall of Fame Induction: 2003

Events
800 Meters (1:56.90)
1,500 Meters (3:57.12)
1 Mile (4:16.71)
3,000 Meters (8:25.83)
5,000 Meters (15:06.53)
10,000 Meters (31:35.30)

The only athlete ever to hold every American record from 800 meters to 10,000 meters, Mary Decker Slaney continues to own the U.S. women's records in the 1500 (3:57.12), mile (4:16.71) and 3000 (8:25.83). Her greatest international achievement came at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki, where she won the 1500 and 3000 meters -- a feat that would become known as the "Decker Double" and that helped earn her the title of Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year for 1983. A year earlier, she set world records in the mile (4:18.08), 2000m (5:32.7), 3000m indoors (8:47.3), 5000m (15:08.26) and 10,000m (31.35.3, in her first race at that distance), and won the AAU Sullivan Award. Over her career, Decker Slaney set 36 national records and 17 official and unofficial world records at various distances. A six-time winner at the Millrose Games in New York, she won her first Millrose crown at age 15 and her last at age 38. Decker Slaney first received international fame at the age of 14 with a surprise victory in the 800 meters at a USA vs. USSR dual meet, and she went on to qualify for four Olympic teams. She competed in her final Olympics in 1996 at the age of 37.

Records Held
American Record: 800 Meters - 1:56.90 (August 16, 1985)
American Record: 1,500 Meters - 3:57.12 (July 26, 1983)
American Record: 1 Mile - 4:16.71 (August 21, 1985)
American Record: 3,000 Meters - 8:25.83 (September 7, 1985)
American Record: 5,000 Meters - 15:06.53 (June 1, 1985)
American Record: 10,000 Meters - 31:35.30 (July 16, 1982)

Championships
1988 Olympics: 1,500 Meters (8th)
1988 Olympics: 3,000 Meters (10th)
1983 World Outdoors: 1,500 Meters (1st)
1983 World Outdoors: 3,000 Meters (1st)

Education
High School: Orange (Orange, California), 1976
Colorado (Boulder, Colorado), 1978

Occupation
Runner

The USATF Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track & field programs with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, distance training centers and anti-doping education. The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors and from generous fans of track & field.

MARY SLANEY