Dorothy Doolittle
{{short description|American marathon runner and athletics coach}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name = Dorothy Doolittle
|image =
|caption =
|sport = Athletics
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|10|17}}
|birth_place= Elgin, Texas, US
|death_date =
|death_place=
|pb =
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Marathon}}
{{MedalCompetition|Major marathons}}
{{MedalCountry |{{US}}}}
{{MedalBronze|1976 Boston|Marathon}}
{{MedalGold|1977 Chicago|Marathon}}
}}
Dorothy Doolittle (born October 17, 1946) is an American former marathon runner and athletics coach, who won the inaugural Chicago Marathon in 1977. She was an assistant coach of the US Women's team at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Early life
Doolittle was brought up in Elgin, Texas. She studied at the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor in Belton, Texas.{{cite news| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2002-09-19-0209190355-story.html| title= Remembering ex-winners| last=Hersh| first=Philip| work=Chicago Tribune| date=September 19, 2002| access-date=February 16, 2020}} At her college, women could only run in events up to 800m.
Career
Doolittle's first competitive event was the 1973 Houston Marathon.{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67528906/dorothy-doolittle-2004/| title= Paving the way| work=Austin American-Statesman| via=Newspapers.com| date=February 11, 2004| page=21| access-date=January 13, 2021}} In 1975, Doolittle won the Houston Marathon,{{cite web| url= https://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/the-first-thirteen/| title= The first thirteen| date= October 15, 2012| publisher=Houston Marathon| access-date=February 16, 2020}} and the Rice Festival Marathon in Crowley, Louisiana.{{cite web| url= http://arrs.auguszt.in/runner/1642| title= Dorothy Doolittle| publisher=Association of Road Racing Statisticians| access-date=February 16, 2020}} In 1976, she won the White Rock Marathon (now the Dallas Marathon), and came third at the Boston Marathon.{{cite magazine| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zCwEAAAAMBAJ| title=Texas Monthly| magazine=Domain: The Lifestyle Magazine of Texas Monthly| issn=0148-7736| date=July 1976| publisher=Emmis Communications}} She forgot to wear her running watch at the Boston Marathon, which she believes cost her many minutes of time, and a chance of victory.{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67528970/dorothy-doolittle-1977/| title=Doolittle ready for marathon – this time| work=Austin American-Statesman| via=Newspapers.com| date=April 17, 1977| page=45| access-date=January 13, 2021}} At the time, she was recorded as being the eight fastest female marathon runner in the world, and the fastest in Texas state. In the same year, Doolittle won the marathon event at the Amateur Athletic Union Championships.
In 1977, Doolittle won the Houston Marathon again, in a record time.{{cite web| url= https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Houston-Marathon-History-2068908.php| title=Houston Marathon History| work=Houston Chronicle| date=January 13, 2002| access-date=February 16, 2020}} As such, she was invited to attend the inaugural Chicago Marathon. She had to pay an entrance fee of $5 to enter the race,{{cite web| url= https://www.podiumrunner.com/events/history-of-the-bank-of-america-chicago-marathon/| title= History of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon| last=Juva| first=Theresa| publisher=Podium Runner| date=September 25, 2018| access-date=February 16, 2020}} and paid for her own transport to the event. Doolittle won the race, in a time of 2:50:47,{{cite magazine| url= https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20824969/chicago-marathon-at-a-glance/| title= Chicago Marathon at a Glance| magazine=Runner's World| date=September 23, 2009| access-date=February 16, 2020}} winning the race by over four minutes. Later in the year, Doolittle lost the trophy that had been awarded to her for winning the event.{{cite web| url= https://www.motivrunning.com/running-life/running-history/recalling-inaugural-chicago-marathon/| title= The winners of the 1977 race are still running 40 years later| last=Williams| first=Doug| publisher=Motiv Running| date=October 2, 2017| access-date=February 16, 2020}} The 1977 Chicago Marathon was Doolittle's last competitive race.
In 2002, Doolittle competed at the 5,000 meter race that accompanied that year's Chicago Marathon. It was the first time Doolittle had attended the marathon since her victory.
=Coaching career=
Doolittle has coached at high schools and colleges including Westlake High School, Hill Country Middle School, and the Universities of Missouri, Houston, Stanford and Tennessee. She was head coach at Tennessee from 1989 to 1997,{{cite web| url= https://utsports.com/news/2010/10/27/Sharon_Couch_Seagrave_Joins_T_amp_F_Staff.aspx| title= SHARON COUCH SEAGRAVE JOINS T&F STAFF| last=Trainer| first=Eric| publisher=University of Tennessee| date=October 27, 2010| access-date=February 16, 2020}} and whilst coaching there, she was selected as coach of the US women's team for the 1991 Pan American Games.{{cite news| url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-27-sp-167-story.html| title= Rosen, Jacket Elected as Olympic Coaches| work=Los Angeles Times| date=November 27, 1989| access-date=February 16, 2020}} She was also an assistant coach of the US women's team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.{{cite news| url= https://buffalonews.com/1995/11/13/bulletin-board-572/| title=Bulletin Board| newspaper=The Buffalo News| date=November 14, 1995| access-date=February 16, 2020}} In 1993, Doolittle was given the NACDA/USOC Collegiate Olympic Coaches award.{{cite web| url= https://nacda.com/sports/2018/7/17/nacda-nacda-awards-nacdausoc-html.aspx| title= NACDA/USOC Collegiate Olympic Coaches Recipients| publisher=National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics| access-date=February 16, 2020}} Doolittle returned to Elgin in 1999, to teach in the Elgin Independent School District.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Footer Chicago Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Doolittle, Dorothy}}
Category:American female marathon runners
Category:Chicago Marathon female winners
Category:People from Elgin, Texas
Category:University of Mary Hardin–Baylor alumni
Category:Missouri Tigers track and field coaches
Category:Houston Cougars track and field coaches
Category:Stanford Cardinal track and field coaches