Gerard Donakowski
{{short description|American long-distance runner}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name = Gerard Donakowski
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
| sport = Track, long-distance running
| event = Mile, 3000 meters, 5000 meters, 10,000 meters
| nationality = American
|alias =
|club =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|02|20}}
|birth_place = Rochester, Michigan
|collegeteam = Michigan
|height =
|weight =
|turnedpro =
|retired =
|pb = Mile: 3:59.10{{cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/united-states/gerard-donakowski-720|title=Gerard DONAKOWSKI - Athlete Profile|work=IAAF}}
3000m: 7:52.79
5000m: 13:25.75
10,000m: 27:58.41
|olympics =
|worlds =
|highestranking =
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|medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's athletics}}
{{MedalCountry |the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|Goodwill Games}}
{{MedalSilver|1986 Moscow|Men's 10,000m}}
}}
Gerard Donakowski (born February 20, 1960) is a retired distance runner. He was especially successful in the 10,000 meter event, finishing as the men's runner-up in the 10,000 meters at the 1986 Goodwill Games. He was the men's winner of the 1987 Charlotte Observer Marathon. He is a brother of Bill Donakowski.
Running career
=Collegiate=
At the University of Michigan as a cross country runner he was an All-American in 1983.{{cite web|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/ccmen/ccmen.htm|work=Bentley Historical Library|title=U of M Men's Cross Country}} He was also an All-American in both indoor and outdoor track and field along with being a 3-time Big Ten Conference champion.{{cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/041812aaa.html|title=Six Former Wolverines Selected for U-M Track & Field Hall of Fame|date=April 18, 2012}}
=Post-collegiate=
Donakowski was the runner-up in the men's 10,000 meters at the 1986 Goodwill Games.{{cite web |url=http://www.goodwillgames.com/general/86.Medalists.html |title=1986 Goodwill Games Medalists |accessdate=2017-09-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031747/http://www.goodwillgames.com/general/86.Medalists.html |archivedate=2007-09-28 }}
On January 3, 1987, Donakowski won the Charlotte Observer Marathon in 2:20:17 in a close finish over Budd Coates.{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/1987/01/19/coates-makes-his-pocket-jingle-more-than-bells/|author=Mark Will-Weber|work=The Morning Call|title=Coates Makes His Pocket Jingle More Than Bells|date=January 19, 1987|access-date=October 27, 2018}} He got $2,000 in prize money for the win that day. Later that year, he won the men's 10,000 meter winner at the USATF Championships. This entitled him to compete in the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in the 10,000 meters. Although he was listed as a competitor, he was a no-show for the competition.
On July 15, 1988, Donakowski finished in fifth place of the first heat in the men's 10,000 meters at the USATF Olympic Trials, advancing to the finals.{{cite web|url=http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf|work=USATF|author=Richard Hymans|title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field|date=2008|access-date=2015-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327114422/http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-27|url-status=dead}} The conditions during the first heat race were hot enough that six of 17 runners in the race dropped out, among them being Nike Coast runner Jay Marden who was carried off the track in a stretcher. On July 18, 1988, Donakowski finished in 8th in the men's 10,000 meter final in a time of 29:46.04.
On May 20, 1990, after leading for the first two miles, he finished in third place at the Trib 10K in 28:28.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-21-sp-32-story.html|author=John Geis|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Vera Runs Smart, Wins Trib 10 Kilometer|date=May 21, 1990|access-date=October 27, 2018}} He got $1,000 in prize money for the performance. The course was downhill and was not eligible for records or rankings.[https://more.arrs.run/race/6334] Association of Road Racing Statisticians - Race profile: San Diego Tribune 10 km. May 20, 1990.
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{World Athletics||name=Gerard Donakowski}}
{{Footer US NC 10000m Men}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donakowski, Gerard}}
Category:American male long-distance runners
Category:Michigan Wolverines men's track and field athletes
Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics
Category:Michigan Wolverines men's cross country runners